The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008): Cast & Plot
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning is a 2008 family animated film directed by Peggy Holmes, starring Jodi Benson as Ariel (voice), Jim Cummings and Lorelei Hill Butters. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 17m (77 min)
- Director
- Peggy Holmes
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- DisneyToon Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning About?
The premise of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Before she trades her tail for legs, Ariel embarks on a daring under‑sea adventure. After her beloved mother, Queen Athena, is slain by pirates, King Triton bans all music, leaving Ariel heart‑broken. Determined to restore song to the kingdom and hoping for true love, she teams with Flounder and Sebastian to challenge her father's decree.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- prequel
- mermaid
- king
- disney animated sequel
- sebastian the crab character
- little mermaid
- apostrophe in title
- redheaded girl
- villain arrested
- underwater
- family relationships
- music club
+38 more Show fewer
- kingdom
- third part
- narrated by character
- castle
- pirate
- queen
- voice over narration
- death of wife
- assistant
- jail
- starfish
- mother daughter relationship
- swordfish
- rivalry
- musician
- wig
- father daughter relationship
- seashell bikini
- anthropomorphic animal
- jamaican
- villainess
- singing animal
- evil mermaid
- merman
- anthropomorphism
- finale
- singing
- prison
- electric eel
- band
- fight
- pirate ship
- ninja
- martial arts
- good versus evil
- octopus
- turtle
- manta ray
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Cast & Characters
Jodi Benson leads the cast as Ariel (voice), with Jim Cummings as King Triton / Shelbow / Additional Voices (voice) and Lorelei Hill Butters as Queen Athena (voice). Directed by Peggy Holmes; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Peggy Holmes
-
Jodi Benson as Ariel (voice) -
Jim Cummings as King Triton / Shelbow / Additional Voices (voice) - Lorelei Hill Butters as Queen Athena (voice)
- Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian (voice)
Also Starring in The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning
· 9 more- Parker Goris Flounder (voice)
- Kari Wahlgren Attina (voice)
- Tara Strong Adella / Andrina / Additional Voices (voice)
- Grey DeLisle Aquata / Arista (voice)
- Jennifer Hale Alana (voice)
- Sally Field Marina Del Ray (voice)
- Jeff Bennett Benjamin / Additional Voices (voice)
- Rob Paulsen Ink Spot / Swifty / Additional Voices (voice)
- Kevin Michael Richardson Cheeks / Ray Ray (voice)
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Plot Summary
What happens in The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Atlantica is a shimmering underwater kingdom where every corner hums with music and joy, a place ruled with steady authority by King Triton [Jim Cummings] and his wife Queen Athena [Lorelei Hill Butters]. They preside over seven daughters who grow up amid singing seashells and playful currents: Attina [Kari Wahlgren], Alana [Jennifer Hale], Adella / Andrina [Tara Strong], Aquata / Arista [Grey DeLisle], and the youngest, Ariel [Jodi Benson]. The family’s life is bright and bustling until a sudden tragedy changes everything. When a pirate ship breaches the lagoon in pursuit of a mysterious music box, Athena tries to recover it and is killed as the vessel collides with the water’s edge.
Full summary
The whole story of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, scene by scene
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning.
How Well Do You Know The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which of King Triton's daughters is the youngest?
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning Also Known As
46 alternative titles, including “The Little Mermaid III” and “A Pequena Sereia: A História de Ariel”.
- Also known as
-
- The Little Mermaid III
- A Pequena Sereia: A História de Ariel
- Малката русалка: Началото на Ариел
- Arielle, die Meerjungfrau 3 - Wie alles begann
- La Sirenita 3 Los comienzos de Ariel
- La Sirenita 3: Los comienzos de Ariel
- O Segredo da Pequena Sereia
- La petite sirène 3 - Le secret de le petite sirène
- De kleine zeemeermin: Ariel, hoe het begon
- La Sirenita 3: El Origen de la Sirenita
- La Petite Sirene 3 - Le Secret de la Petite Sirene
- The Little Mermaid III Ariels Beginning
+34 more Show fewer
- 인어공주 3; 에리얼의 어린 시절
- 인어공주 3: 에리얼의 어린 시절
- 小魚仙 3 - 快樂從音樂開始
- 小美人鱼3：回到当初
- Arielle, die Meerjungfrau - Wie alles begann
- La sirenetta - Quando tutto ebbe inizio
- De Kleine Zeemeermin - Ariel hoe het begon
- Le Secret de la Petite Sirène
- Русалочка: Начало истории Ариэль
- Den lilla sjöjungfrun - Sagan om Ariel
- Den lille havfrue: Historien om Ariel
- A kis Hableány - A kezdet kezdete
- El origen de la sirenita
- Mała Syrenka 3: Dzieciństwo Ariel
- 小美人鱼3：爱丽儿的起源
- Η Μικρή Γοργόνα 3: Τα Πρώτα Χρόνια της Άριελ
- בת הים הקטנה: סיפורה של אריאל
- Mica sirenă: Începutul lui Ariel
- リトル・マーメイドIII はじまりの物語
- Malá mořská víla: Jak to všechno začalo
- Pieni merenneito - Arielin tarina
- Den Lille Havfruen: Fortellingen om Ariel
- 인어공주 3
- Malá morská víla 3
- 小美人魚3：回到當初
- La petite sirène : Ariel au commencement
- پری دریایی کوچولو ۳: سرآغاز آریل
- กำเนิดแอเรียลกับอาณาจักรอันเงียบงัน
- Русалонька: Початок історії Аріель
- Nàng Tiên Cá 3: Câu Chuyện Bắt Đầu
- Küçük Deniz Kızı: Ariel'in Başlangıcı
- حورية البحر الصغيرة بداية ارييل
- Mala morska deklica 3
- Litla hafmeyjan 3
Seen The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning?
Movies Like The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid.
-
The Little Mermaid 1989 -
The Little Mermaid 2023 -
The Little Mermaid 1968 -
The Little Mermaid 1992 -
The Little Mermaid 1998 -
The Little Mermaid 1976 -
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid 1975 -
The Little Mermaid Live! 2019 -
Adventures of the Little Mermaid 1991 -
The Little Mermaid 1976 -
The Little Mermaid 1987 -
The Little Mermaid 2018
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning?
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).
When was The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning released?
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning was released on August 22, 2008.
Who directed The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning?
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning was directed by Peggy Holmes.
More films by Peggy Holmes Who is in the cast of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning?
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning stars Jodi Benson as Ariel (voice), Jim Cummings as King Triton / Shelbow / Additional Voices (voice) and Lorelei Hill Butters as Queen Athena (voice), among 13 credited actors.
Does The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning have a post-credit scene?
No. The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
