Parents' Guide to

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

By Erika Milvy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Before the prince, Ariel discovers music's magic.

Movie NR 2008 100 minutes
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Miloww
Miloww Adult
May 10, 2020
age 5+

stereotype movie

By no means this is a special one, is actually quite shallow. Full of female stereotypes, it lacks enormously that magic of other Disney movies. It even tries to make children laugh with no success either. Very disappointing.
Darkseid
Darkseid Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
April 29, 2020
age 4+

A surprising heart warming film in Ocean.

My kids are 5 and 7. Spoilers AHEAD...This is an okay movie, a few good singing scenes that my kids and I dance a little to, but nothing like the original. The added history to the characters, sisters, mother, and father, made the movie go from okay to good. I loved the fact that the father's mood was shown as affecting everyone around him, including his family.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Ariel's family life was the very model of mermaid domestic bliss. She and her sisters wiggled and giggled as daddy Triton (voiced by Jim Cummings) and mommy Athena (Lorelei Hill Butters) danced and sang in their underwater kingdom -- and then Queen Athena is captured by pirates, and the now-joyless Triton bans music from the kingdom. When Ariel (Jodi Benson) discovers an underground underwater jazz club where the sea nightlife bops, she re-learns the magic of music. But with a furious father, a dastardly nanny, and a flock of bickering teenage sisters to cope with, Ariel is soon in hot water. It's up to her -- and fish friends Flounder (Parker Goris) and Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright) -- to bring harmony back to her family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (7 ):

For a direct-to-DVD movie seemingly made to capitalize on The Little Mermaid's popularity, ARIEL'S BEGINNING is actually pretty darn good. Romance-happy kids may find the lack of a prince in this tale a weakness, but this story is a nice break from the typical formula. In lieu of amour, music becomes the sought-after but forbidden aspiration, making room for much deep-sea musicality and witty visual humor with sea critters jamming on inventive undersea instruments.

Parents will particularly enjoy Sebastian's rendition of Harry Belafonte's infectious Calypso "Jump in Line" -- a real show-stopper. Kids will also appreciate the amusing sibling rivalries and spats between Ariel's six very different mermaid sisters. As a bonus, Sally Field takes on the role of villainous nanny Marina del Rey with juicy malice.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Ariel's disobedience and King Triton's unreasonable rules. Why does he ban music? Was it right for Ariel to disobey him? Families can also discuss how this movie fits in with the original Little Mermaid. Does it change how you see that story at all?

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