The Little Mermaid
1992
Original language: English
- family
- animation
- kids
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
Disney's The Little Mermaid is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation based on the 1989 Disney film of the same name. It features the adventures of Ariel as a mermaid prior to the events of the film. This series is the first Disney television series to be spun off from a major animated film. Some of the voice actors of the film reprise their roles in the series, among them Jodi Benson as Ariel, Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, Kenneth Mars as King Triton, and Pat Carroll as Ursula.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn cel animation in bright, saturated colour: sunlit reef greens, turquoise shallows, coral in pinks and oranges, and the shifting blue-gold light that filters down through water. Underwater scenes have a soft, floating quality, with bubbles, drifting seaweed and fish darting across open frames, while the palace and grottos offer warmer, rounder shapes. The sound is bouncy and playful, with cheerful musical cues and the familiar voices of the film's cast giving the series a comfortable, recognisable warmth. The vibe is bright, sweet and low-stakes, the kind of thing to put on for a lazy weekend morning, a sick day on the sofa, or a child's bedtime wind-down. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with each short story resolving neatly, and the tone stays playful and affectionate, following a headstrong young mermaid as she learns about friendship, loyalty and growing up. Intensity is very mild: slapstick mishaps, mild peril and a few sulky villain moments, with no gore, no real violence and nothing frightening for young viewers. It suits young children, families watching together, and adults who want something gentle, sunny and nostalgic.
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