‘The Little Mermaid’ Animated TV Series ‘Ariel’ Greenlit at Disney Junior
A new generation can go under the sea with Ariel in the new animated series, Disney Junior’s Ariel, coming to Disney platforms worldwide in 2024.
The news out of Disney Branded Television comes after Halle Bailey reintroduced the beloved story in the live-action The Little Mermaid on the big screen.
Inspired by The Little Mermaid and for preschoolers, Ariel will feature fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian, and Flounder — and exciting new additions to the ensemble.
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, announced the news about Ariel during the Annecy International Film Festival in Annecy, France.
“For more than 30 years, the story of The Little Mermaid has been beloved by audiences all over the world. It brings me so much joy to be able to introduce our new Disney Junior version of Ariel to preschoolers everywhere,” Davis said.
“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,” Alyssa Sapire, senior vice president of Development, Series, and Strategy for Disney Junior, added.
Ariel‘s description is as follows:
Set in the fantastical Caribbean-inspired underwater kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows Ariel as she embarks on fun-filled, action-packed mermaid adventures with her friends. Driven by a deep and unending curiosity about the world around her, Ariel discovers land treasures, like a big floppy hat, squeaky rubber ducky and whisk, that she collects and keeps safe in her crystal cavern. Sometimes, Ariel uses the treasures to help solve problems. With each discovery, Ariel is filled with joy, and her mermaid tail, which changes colors depending on her emotions, lights up and shimmers. Full of charm, big ideas and a powerful voice, Disney Junior’s Ariel is coming into her own, learning how to discover and appreciate the world around her and use her voice to inspire others.
Ariel will highlight the multicultural diversity of the Caribbean through music, food, festivals, fashion, language, and folklore.
The Disney Junior series has the help of Dr. Patricia Saunders, professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami and author of two books, who acts as a cultural consultant, and Sean Skeete, chair of Berklee College of Music’s ensemble department, who is the Caribbean music consultant.
CBS’ The Little Mermaid, which aired for three seasons from 1992 to 1994, took inspiration from 1989’s The Little Mermaid, with Jodi Benson returning to voice the titular role. Disney Junior’s Ariel is inspired by Bailey’s iteration of the iconic character in 2023’s The Little Mermaid. There is no word on who will voice Ariel.
Lynne Southerland executive producers Ariel, with Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner as the story editors. Ezra Edmond is a producer. Kuni Tomita Bowen is the supervising director, and Chrystin Garland is the art director. Wild Canary, in association with Disney Junior, produces Ariel.
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Ariel premieres on Disney platforms in 2024.
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Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.