Ariel (Disney Junior)

[Sotiris]

Disney is developing a new The Little Mermaid show for Disney Junior. They recently registered several trademarks for it.

https://uspto.report/TM/97495529
https://uspto.report/TM/97495531
https://uspto.report/TM/97495530
https://uspto.report/TM/97495535
https://uspto.report/TM/97495526

[Disney's Divinity]

Oh, yay! I'm especially glad it'll be on Disney Junior, that way I can watch it as it airs. If it was Disney+ exclusive, I'd see it eventually, it would just take me longer since I don't have direct access to that or anything.

I wonder if Jodi Benson will be returning for it or not? I'm expecting it could possibly be sort of like the Alice show, where it looks very, you know, very loosley based and baby-ish designs, that kind of thing (since it's Disney Junior and all).

[DisneyFan09]

It`s nice to see another spinoff series from The Little Mermaid being released. But I`ll guess that it will most likely be in CGI. But it`s interesting that it`s named just Ariel. I wonder how it will be compared to the previous Mermaid show (which I already love).

[Farerb]

I wonder if this show is about original Ariel or remake Ariel. Since we haven't heard anything new about it, I wonder if they wait to see if the movie is successful and then officially announce it while the hype is still fresh.

[UmbrellaFish]

Somehow I missed this! I would love for Ariel to have a series again!

I wonder if this show is about original Ariel or remake Ariel. Since we haven't heard anything new about it, I wonder if they wait to see if the movie is successful and then officially announce it while the hype is still fresh.

I am getting the vibe that Halle’s Ariel will have more staying power than the other remakes. Ariel is such a popular character, it would be useful for Disney to have two versions just like Barbie. If this series is about Halle’s Ariel, I hope they will write a new character for Jodi Benson to play. Maybe Ursula and Morgana have another sister?

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, this will probably be terrible just like the Alice show considering the preschooler demo it's aimed at, so have at it if they want. That said, I don't think it would be remake related, since off-shoots of those usually end up on Disney+ (like the hypothetical Little Town and Aladdin spinoff series were going to be anyway).

But anyway, "There's Only One Ariel"--and that's Jodi Benson. She's the only thing that might make me endure through a DisneyJunior show.

[Farerb]

This was the show that was announced today:

Disney Branded Television Greenlights ‘Disney Junior’s Ariel,’ Inspired by ‘The Little Mermaid’


https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/disn ... 235642365/

[Lele]

So disney is premanently blackwashing the little mermaid huh

What an abomination

[Mooky]

Stop pushing and perpetuating that stupid narrative. Nothing and no one is being permanently blackwashed ( ) or replaced. If Disney somehow destroys all existing physical media copies of the original, removes the original and its spin-offs from Disney+, has only Bailey's Ariel at theme parks, and starts packaging Bailey's Ariel dolls alongside other Disney Princess dolls and toys, then and only then would that ridiculous idea have some ground to stand on. Different iterations of characters can coexist and have for decades.

The show would look bad even if white Ariel was in the pic instead; it's just the nature of cheap Disney Junior shows.

[Disney's Divinity]

At least her hair is red. Keeping the ugly pink tail is more concerning. All while Flounder looks exactly the same.

[blackcauldron85]

It's good that Flounder is cute again!

[Lele]

Different iterations only weaken and erase the original. What other Disney princesses or characters have literally different version with opposing looks and different races?

And a Disney character is not only the past movies but current and future projects too. So replacing and blackwashing are fitting words. And looks like they are intending on keeping it, despite the ridiculous excuse about the better fitting actress they used for the live action lol. What's the excuse for an animation then?

[UmbrellaFish]

Mooky, I agree with you!

I guess both Flounder and Sebastian will look like their 1989 versions? I think that’s a good call. Like I said earlier, I hope a part is written for Jodi!

[Sotiris]

This is really weird. This doesn't seem to be Halle's Ariel, but rather the Ariel from the original, only race-switched. If she was meant to be the remake's Ariel, and this show a canonical animated prequel to the remake, they wouldn't have changed her hairstyle and accessories or kept the original design for Flounder. It really seems Disney is trying to replace Ariel's image in people's minds and particularly in young kids'. This means that in every new TLM project moving forward, Ariel will be portrayed as Black. They won't be able to go back now, as any attempt will be met with accusations of whitewashing and racism.

Won't having two different animated Ariels cause character dilution and brand confusion? Will Disney be doing this to other characters as well? Will Tinker Bell be Black in future animated Peter Pan projects too, for example? This also means the remakes will be having a larger impact on Disney's future and the characters they portray than they previously did.

This is a mess. Disney, what are you doing?

[Mooky]

I honestly can't tell if that was supposed to be sarcasm or you genuinely believe all that because it borders on paranoia. Which is a shame because I usually find you one of the most level-headed members here and enjoy reading your posts.

You all seriously need to stop with these doom and gloom scenarios that have no basis in reality whatsoever. If a dozen different media versions of Batman, Barbie, and Spider-Man can coexist in 2023, sometimes even in the same film to audience's delight, then OG Ariel will be just fine.

Mickey Mouse changed so much from his first appearances (in personality and visually) that he might as well be a different character. And yet, the Steamboat Willie version hasn't been given The Dip treatment, still shows up opening every DAC, and is celebrated through countless items of merchandise.

And maybe, just maybe, Disney Junior's Ariel is not meant to be a prequel to anything, just its own thing aimed at TODDLERS that picks and chooses visual representation from various existing TLM properties. It's way too early to be drawing any conclusions, let alone ones that sound manic and unreasonable, and stating them with what appears to be absolute certainty.

[Sotiris]

I never said the original Ariel was going to disappear. Just that future projects involving Ariel will most likely keep her Black. That's not a far-fetched thing to say, given Disney is already doing this for the stage and any character they race-flip like Kristoff or Belle remains that way across productions all over the world. Do you honestly believe there wouldn't be severe backlash if Disney ever attempted to make a new project featuring a white Ariel now?

Disney can't give their animated characters the Marvel treatment. A Little Mermaid "multiverse" doesn't work. Marvel introduced this concept early on and cemented it as a comic book trope. You can't just start creating multiple iterations of the same animated character like they are from different Earths or timelines the way superhero comic books do. How does this show, which is neither fully based on the original nor the remake, fit in with the rest of the franchise? Where's the continuity? Where's the consistency? They are picking and choosing elements from both, creating a Frankenstein of a show. How is that a positive thing?

I think the only reason people are defending this is because of the politics surrounding racebending and representation. Disney can promote diversity without sacrificing the integrity of their characters and their worlds. I also came against the new Disney Jr. Alice show which also doesn't make sense and doesn't fit with the established Wonderland universe and mythos. You may think these shows are harmless because they are aimed at preschoolers, but that's how brand cohesion gets chipped away.

[UmbrellaFish]

We know Jodi Benson has recorded something TLM-related recently. I believe it is likely for the 100th Anniversary short.

[Lele]

Mickey Mouse didn't become a kangaroo or they didnt push him suddenly becoming all pink and blue with flat downturned ears.

And a disney princess cant be compared to a brand of dolls, especially as even for Barbie they arent remaking all her movies where she's of a different race, and the original always remained the center without being replaced. That's not the case here. And it's not like she can just be referred as live action Ariel since now they are pushing it beyond the live action too, though they could have have just made her hair orange and keep the realistic Flounder.

[Thumper_93]

This Ariel is weird. She doesn't look like Halle. She doesn't even have Halle's Mark. Maybe they don't want to make Disney's junior Ariel similar to Halle in order to avoid image rights and save some money.
I don't know, She looks cute but Ariel is a very famous caracteres and with this they are making people feel confused. In the social media people is complaining because they think that classic's Ariel is going to be replaced florever.

[Patricier21]

I never said the original Ariel was going to disappear. Just that future projects involving Ariel will most likely keep her Black. That's not a far-fetched thing to say, given Disney is already doing this for the stage and any character they race-flip like Kristoff or Belle remains that way across productions all over the world. Do you honestly believe there wouldn't be severe backlash if Disney ever attempted to make a new project featuring a white Ariel now?

Disney can't give their animated characters the Marvel treatment. A Little Mermaid "multiverse" doesn't work. Marvel introduced this concept early on and cemented it as a comic book trope. You can't just start creating multiple iterations of the same animated character like they are from different Earths or timelines the way superhero comic books do. How does this show, which is neither fully based on the original nor the remake, fit in with the rest of the franchise? Where's the continuity? Where's the consistency? They are picking and choosing elements from both, creating a Frankenstein of a show. How is that a positive thing?

I think the only reason people are defending this is because of the politics surrounding racebending and representation. Disney can promote diversity without sacrificing the integrity of their characters and their worlds. I also came against the new Disney Jr. Alice show which also doesn't make sense and doesn't fit with the established Wonderland universe and mythos. You may think these shows are harmless because they are aimed at preschoolers, but that's how brand cohesion gets chipped away.

How does Disney Junior Alice not fit in with the established wonderland universe? It takes inspiration almost seemingly more from the live action adventures in Wonderland, since a lot of the characters are modelled very similarly. It won’t be far fetched to suggest that adventures in Wonderland is a pre modern prequel to Disney Junior Alice and then Disney Junior Alice continues with her still being the great granddaughter of the original Disney Alice and adventures in Wonderland Alice being Disney Junior Alice’s mom etc. would make sense considering not only the visual continuity but that Disney Junior Alice actually has an American accent like adventures in Wonderland Alice, things like that