Disney Pushes Back Against ‘Little Mermaid’ Trolls with Ariel Series Announcement

The Walt Disney Company is pushing back against their live-action The Little Mermaid online troll critics with a brand new announcement. While much of the recent media has focused on Ariel’s race in the new film, the company is moving forward with the franchise. Disney Branded Television has greenlit a series aimed at preschoolers called Disney Junior’s Ariel. The announcement was made during the 2023 Annecy Animation Festival. Inspired by the story of The Little Mermaid, the new show will explore the world of Atlantica through the eyes of a young Ariel. The series utilizes its cartoonish roots while keeping the modern Ariel in the forefront.

Ariel Explores the Caribbean Seas

Disney Junior’s Ariel seems to take place before the events of the main narrative. Beloved characters will explore the kingdom of Atlantica with Ariel. From the promotional art, it looks as if Flounder will see a return to his familiar animated form. Other characters said to show up in the show include Sebastian, King Triton, and Ursala.

Journey under the sea with Disney Junior's Ariel, an all-new animated series coming soon to Disney Junior 🦀✨ #Disney100 #AnnecyFestival pic.twitter.com/Q0aW8qmpbw

— Disney Junior (@DisneyJunior) June 13, 2023

The show is aimed at preschoolers, meaning it will be driven by Ariel’s curiosity and desire to learn about the world around her. Her friends will help her discover new treasures to add to her collection. A new aspect of the show is that Ariel’s tail will change colors and glow depending on her emotions. Alyssa Sapire, senior vice president of development, stated:

As we were developing Disney Junior’s Ariel, we knew that we wanted to create an atmosphere that was vibrant and magical and showcased our young Ariel’s imagination, which, like our preschool audience watching at home, is as big as the sea.

The animated series will once again feature the oceans of the Caribbean as the setting for the young mermaid’s home. Here, Ariel will learn to appreciate the world around her and inspire others.

Addressing the Inevitable Backlash

Disney Junior’s Ariel is aimed at young children. However, it would be ignorant to expect certain loud people on social media not to harbor the same backlash that they felt with the recent live-action movie. Many criticized the casting of black actress Halle Bailey in the film. Some boycotted it entirely, though the adaption has been successful domestically. However, the film did not do as well outside of the United States, especially in China. Critics have latched on to this to say that the movie is a flop and a direct result of the company going “woke.”

Regardless of the online drama, the Walt Disney Company is pushing forward with its reimagined Ariel. It is unknown whether Hally Bailey will reprise her role for this series, but preschoolers can look forward to seeing the character again when Disney Junior’s Ariel arrives in 2024.