The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008)

The kingdom of Atlantica where music is forbidden, the youngest daughter of King Triton, named Ariel, discovers her love to an underground music club and sets off to a daring adventure to bring restoration of music back to Atlantica.

Director:

Peggy Holmes

Writers:

Robert Reece (screenplay), Evan Spiliotopoulos (screenplay)

Stars:

Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Jim Cummings

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jodi Benson	...	Ariel (voice)
Samuel E. Wright	...	Sebastian (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	King Triton / Shelbow (voice)
Sally Field	...	Marina Del Ray (voice)
Parker Goris	...	Flounder (voice)
Tara Strong	...	Adella / Andrina (voice)
Jennifer Hale	...	Alana (voice)
Grey Griffin	...	Aquata / Arista (voice) (as Grey DeLisle)
Jeff Bennett	...	Benjamin / Guards (voice)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Attina (voice)
Lorelei Hill Butters	...	Queen Athena (voice)
Kevin Michael Richardson	...	Cheeks / Ray Ray (voice)
Rob Paulsen	...	Ink Spot / Swifty (voice)
Maurice LaMarche	...	Scuttle (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michelle Loucadoux	...	Adella

Storyline

After a terrible tragedy in King Triton's once-happy undersea kingdom of Atlantica, the dejected ruler decrees that all music be banned from his realm. Almost a decade later, Princess Ariel--the most rebellious of Triton's seven charming daughters who still cannot understand why her father is against melody--sneaks out one night, only to discover an illegal speakeasy brimming with music. Excited, Ariel wants more; however, with a headstrong father and a vigilant nanny, she has her work cut out for her. Can Ariel, the little mermaid, restore happiness and harmony to Atlantica?

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | prequel | mermaid | king | disney animated sequel | 

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Taglines:

Every Story Has a Beginning, But Only One Begins Under the Sea

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Disney - DVD Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Little Mermaid III

Company Credits

Production Co:

Disneytoon Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ink Spot and Swifty are voiced by Rob Paulsen, who previously filled in for Christopher Daniel Barnes as Prince Éric in The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000).

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Goofs

In the scene where Swifty asks Triton to raise his right hand for the oath, Triton raises his left hand instead of his right.

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Quotes

King Triton: You are all confined to the palace.
Attina: Yes, father.
Ariel: Why don't you just lock us in jail.
King Triton: Ariel, you are confined to the palace until you understand what you've done.
Ariel: What did we do? Tell me, daddy.
Attina: Ariel, leave it alone.
Ariel: No. We haven't done anything wrong. All we did was listen to music.
King Triton: Which you know is forbidden!
Ariel: But why? Why can't we have music?
King Triton: This discussion is over.
[...]

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Connections

Follows The Little Mermaid (1989)

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Soundtracks

I Remember
Music and Lyrics by Jeanine Tesori
Performed by Jodi Benson
Arranged by Doug Besterman

User Reviews

Everyone's lovable red-head is back starring in the first Disney prequel

Everyone's lovable red-head we all know and loved is back in a new adventure. You know who I am talking about - it's Ariel and starring in the first Disney prequel, 'cause I wouldn't call it a sequel. Set before she walked on land and married her Prince.

Under the narration of Sebastian, the story starts with King Triton and his wife, Queen Athena, have seven young daughters (the youngest of whom is Ariel). The entirety of the underwater kingdom of Atlantica is filled with joy, music and laughter. The merfolk are shown relaxing in a lagoon above water, and Triton gives Athena a small music box. A pirate ship approaches and they attack, stealing the merpeople's possessions. Everyone escapes except Queen Athena, who is crushed by the pirate ship. Devastated by Athena's death, Triton throws the music box away and bans music from the kingdom. Ten years later, Triton's daughters live under a strict schedule maintained by their governess, Marina Del Rey an original villainess voiced by Sally Field; no relations to the two witches what so ever. Marina hates her job and longs for Sebastian's, who is the king's attache. Ariel is frustrated by their current lifestyle, which brings her into conflict with her strict father. During their morning "walk", Ariel tickles her sister Adella with kelp, and she is given the punishment of cleaning barnacles. While carrying out her punishment, Ariel encounters Flounder, a fish, who is making music. That night, Ariel sees Flounder outside the window, and follows him to an underground music club. She is overjoyed by the presence of music, and is shocked when she learns that Sebastian performs at the club. When her presence is revealed, at first all the club patrons flee, but Ariel sings a song explaining her love of music, and she joins the club with an oath. That's all I am telling you. You will have see it for yourself.

It's great to finally see Ariel's mother Queen Athena, who looks like Ariel. But I can see some differences between mother and daughter: Athena's hair is a different shade of red compare to Ariel and done up almost like a ponytail. And her eyes I think are green. Overall, Ariel's Beginning is another excellent Disney OAV (original animated video),and prefect to go with the original film and "Return to the Sea." I love out of Ariel's sisters Alana (pink fin), Arista (red fin) and Attina (orange fin).