Before the 1989 film, Ariel lived a completely different life on Saturday morning television.
In short: Long before modern streaming, Disney launched an ambitious animated prequel to its hit film The Little Mermaid. Running from 1992 to 1994, the series explored Ariel's life under the sea, featuring original musical numbers and a groundbreaking focus on a strong female lead that captured significant media attention.
The Little Mermaid television series, which premiered on CBS on September 11, 1992, was Disney's third attempt to spin off a major animated film into a series. Originally, Disney had planned a project called The Little Mermaid's Island, which would have utilized puppets from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. However, following the death of Jim Henson and the massive success of the 1989 film on home video, the studio pivoted to a more ambitious animated format. The resulting show served as a prequel, detailing Ariel's life with King Triton, Sebastian, and Flounder before the events of the feature film.
The production brought together a mix of film veterans and animation experts. Mark Dindal, who served as the chief of special animated effects for the 1989 movie, acted as a consultant, while Robby Merkin arranged the music for the first season. The series was notable for its time, as it was one of the few cartoons then featuring a strong female protagonist. This earned the show significant media coverage, including multiple segments on Entertainment Tonight. The series ran for three seasons, concluding in 1994 after CBS decided not to order further episodes.
The show's continuity remains distinct from other Disney projects; for instance, the 2008 film Ariel's Beginning features events that contradict the series, rendering them independent timelines. Despite its age, the show has maintained a legacy, with critics like Caroline Siede praising its character development. Furthermore, the series is remembered for its inclusivity, specifically the character Gabriella, a deaf mermaid of color. While the show has never received an official DVD release, all 31 episodes were made available in HD on digital platforms by 2018, and most are currently streaming on Disney+.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Little Mermaid (TV series)
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