Disney Junior's Ariel

We saw the ads for a new Ariel show from Disney but were even more excited it was going to be a spin off for Disney Junior!! They started off the show with a preview season that was only 5 minutes per episode which was a great way to get my 3 year old hooked for the full season.

The full season is quite fun to watch for all the children and adults in the room. The show follows Ariel as she goes on adventures with her friends throughout her kingdom. It is also educational since one of Ariel's friends is into different types of fish. As the adults, we have even learned about different fish.

What I really love is the attention to detail, Ariel's red hair has texture and it is a show focused on mermaids who would technically be in the Carribbean or West Africa. Ariel's friends are diverse which is great to see in 2024.

Ursula is a loving aunt and King Triton's character is just a fun loving dad. I really like how they refreshed the characterization of the cast for Disney Junior.

As a Caribbean woman, I find this show to be a delightful celebration of culture and creativity. I love how colorful and relaxing it is, and I appreciate how the characters are relatable and diverse. I think it's a lovely addition to the Disney legacy. I watched it with my niece, and she loved it!

It's not fair that adult fans of the original Ariel are giving this show a bad rating just because it doesn't match their expectations. Open your minds, people! There can be 100 different Ariels in this fantasy world, and that's okay. Let's embrace more acceptance, stop being so rigid, be more objective, and refrain from rating shows out of anger and disappointment.

Why is this Ariel's hair vibrant red while the live action version was stuck with that washed out ginger? Why are all her family members black and not split between all races anymore? Why does flounder actually look like himself? Why does Sebastian suddenly sound Jamaican again? Why do we get to see the city of Atlantica here, with the merfolk involved?

Why is a TV show made for preschoolers made with more love and effort than a multi million dollar live action adaptation? These shows take years to make, so that means this version existed to base everything off of. Instead, we got thrown to the wolves with the least effort put in any Disney live action made yet.

I'm glad young children will have this version to grow up with but it's extremely disappointing to see what that live action could (and should) have been. It's visually beautiful, has lessons and songs in every episode and it's bright and colorful enough to keep any child enthralled!

I wish I could rate this lower than one star. Disney Jr.'s Ariel is another painful example of how far modern animation companies will go to "modernize" classic characters-at the cost of everything that made them iconic in the first place. Ariel has been completely redesigned, and instead of feeling fresh or exciting, it just comes off as forced and unnecessary.

This show claims to be "fun-filled and action-packed," but in reality, it lacks charm, creativity, and any of the heart that made the original Little Mermaid so magical. It feels more like a checklist of trends than an actual story kids can fall in love with.

I'm tired of studios constantly rebooting beloved characters with new styles and personalities just to appeal to "modern" audiences. What's wrong with letting new generations experience the real Ariel-the one so many of us grew up loving? Not everything needs to be reimagined.

This isn't about race or representation-it's about preserving the legacy of timeless characters. Disney Jr.'s Ariel strips away the essence of the original and replaces it with a version that feels generic, awkward, and far removed from what made the story special in the first place.

Nostalgia aside, even as a standalone show, it's just not good. The writing is bland, the tone is overly sanitized, and the animation style doesn't feel inspired. Disney can do better-and used to.

I'm not one to watch animated stuff, but upon watching the first episode of Ariel, I was hooked. Ariel and her best friend, Lucia, are so charming and feisty.. Love this series. Once O watched the first episode, I watched two more right away. The charm of the series gives me such a warm feeling, unlike some animated stuff, that feels a bit cold...not humane.

Ariel is the best.

I think that the charm could translate into a live action film or series. That's how much I've connected with these characters and the ambience. Even the "scene sets" are so much more alive...real...than many other animated films.

Love "Ariel" so much. I'll be watching the new episodes this week!