Mykal-Michelle Harris, Amber Riley, and Taye Diggs Join the Cast of Disney Junior’s ‘Ariel’
Isn’t this neat?! Disney Junior announced many exciting details about new and returning TV shows, including Disney Junior’s Ariel, at the “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California.
Along with announcements including the new iteration of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse coming in 2025 and Halloween episodes of SuperKitties and specials like “Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats,” Disney Junior shared that Taye Diggs, Amber Riley, and Mykal-Michelle Harris will star in the animated musical series Ariel.
Mykal-Michelle Harris will fill the tail in the titular role of the 8-year-old mermaid princess in the series inspired by The Little Mermaid. Harris stars on Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home as Alice Baxter, the daughter of Raven’s cousin Betty Jane. The That’s So Raven spinoff series is currently airing its sixth season.
As previously reported, Ariel was greenlit in June 2023, when Disney Junior released details about the show. “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,” per its synopsis.
The show, coming to Disney Junior and Disney+ in 2024, will include familiar characters like King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian, and Flounder, as well as new ones.
Disney Junior has announced that Taye Diggs and Amber Riley will voice King Triton and Ursula in the series.
Additionally, Elizabeth Phoenix Caro and Cruz Flateau join the cast as Ariel’s friends Lucia and Fernie, respectively, while Gracen Newton will voice Flounder.
“With each discovery, Ariel is filled with joy, and her mermaid tail, which changes colors depending on her emotions, lights up and shimmers,” per Ariel‘s synopsis. The Disney Junior series will see the beloved mermaid come into her own — and her voice.
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, made the announcements about Ariel and other Disney Junior projects during the “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate.”
The event will last three days and move to the Downtown Disney District on Saturday, August 19, and Sunday, August 20.
“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure, and heart,” said Davis.
“From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play,” Davis concluded.
In association with Disney Junior, Wild Canary produces Disney Junior’s Ariel, and Lynne Southerland executive produces while Ezra Edmond produces.
The supervising director on the project is Kuni Tomita, with Chrystin Garland as the art director. Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner are the story editors on Ariel.
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Disney Junior’s Ariel is coming to Disney platforms worldwide 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.