In Disney's 2023 live-action The Little Mermaid, Halle Bailey stars as Ariel, with a cast including Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric), Melissa McCarthy (Ursula), Javier Bardem (King Triton), Daveed Diggs (voice of Sebastian), Awkwafina (voice of Scuttle), and Jacob Tremblay (voice of Flounder).
Halle Bailey as Ariel, a curious, adventurous, and headstrong mermaid princess and King Triton's youngest daughter who is fascinated with the human world.
To summarize, the live-action The Little Mermaid was able to maintain the queer allegory of the original story, honoring Andersen. McCarthy's portrayal of Ursula was incredible and took the character to the next level, honoring both Divine and Ashman's vision for the character.
Disney cast a Black actress, Halle Bailey, as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid primarily because she had the perfect voice, spirit, and talent for the role, with the decision also aligning with Disney's broader strategy to increase diversity, offer representation to Black audiences, and reimagine classic characters, building on the original fairy tale's flexibility regarding appearance and the film's Caribbean setting.
Melissa McCarthy impressively sings as Ursula in the live-action Little Mermaid, showcasing unexpected talents as a singer. McCarthy initially felt nervous about singing, but with the help of a vocal coach, she realized singing could be approached like acting.
In this case, the diminutive priest officiating the ceremony of Prince Eric's wedding has what appears to be a notable bulge. This was in the original theatrical release as well as the first video (1990) and second (1998-1999) video releases. This shot was altered for all future releases beginning with the 2006 DVD.
Queen Latifah as Ursula, a sea witch who takes Ariel's voice and is determined to replace Ariel's father, King Triton, as ruler of Atlantica.
In the end, Tinker Bell didn't lose her status — she evolved beyond it. Rather than being one princess among many, she became a standalone icon, proving that you don't need a crown to be one of Disney's most magical and enduring characters.
Eric's mother in this rendition is Black, and this is explained - Eric is adopted. Triton, however, is Spanish I assume (since he's played by Javier Bardem), and all his daughters are different races. I saw a white, Asian and Black mermaid at a minimum, and this is not explained.
The movie that almost ruined Disney was The Black Cauldron (1985), a dark fantasy animated film that was a massive box office bomb, nearly leading to the closure of Disney's animation division due to its huge budget, disappointing returns, and challenging themes that were too intense for its family audience. Its failure prompted major restructuring, eventually paving the way for the Disney Renaissance led by films like The Little Mermaid.
In the movie The Little Mermaid (Clements & Musker, 1989), Ariel displays symptoms of disposophobia, which is defined as the fear of getting rid of things.
Strange World, which was released on November 23, 2022, features Ethan Clade, who is the first gay lead character in a Disney animated film.
Director Rob Marshall said that Bailey "possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance—plus a glorious singing voice—all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role". In an interview with Deadline, Marshall expressed that he was brought to tears by Bailey's singing.
Esmeralda was removed in 2005. Tinker Bell was also removed in 2005, but she would go on to headline the sister franchise Disney Fairies (also created by Mooney).
People are canceling Disney+ subscriptions due to a combination of factors, primarily a large-scale boycott following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in late 2025, triggered by his monologue about political figures, leading many to protest Disney's perceived censorship and alignment with certain values, alongside ongoing frustrations with rising prices, lack of fresh content, and app performance issues.
Princess Eilonwy has been nicknamed by fans as the "Forgotten Disney Princess" because of her little-known status and the fact she is not an "official" Disney Princess, despite being a princess by birth, like Kida Nedakh from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
The Disney 3-2-1 rule is a popular, unofficial planning strategy to make park days less overwhelming by focusing on three core priorities: 3 must-do rides, 2 key entertainment experiences (like shows, parades, or character meets), and 1 special dining reservation or treat, with everything else considered a bonus. This fan-created framework helps manage expectations, reduces decision fatigue, and ensures a magical, burnout-free day by setting achievable goals rather than trying to do everything.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Ariel, the mermaid princess from Disney's The Little Mermaid, is known for lines expressing her yearning for the human world, especially "Part of Your World," "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?", and her iconic declaration, "Who says that my dreams have to stay just my dreams?," highlighting her desire for adventure and human life. She also has memorable moments with her collections of human treasures and her growing fascination with Prince Eric, contrasting with her father King Triton's strict rules.
Auliʻi Cravalho. Chloe Auliʻi Cravalho (/aʊˈliːʔi krəˈvɑːljoʊ/; born November 22, 2000) is an American actress. She made her acting debut as the voice of the titular character in the Disney animated musical film Moana (2016) and reprised her role in the 2024 sequel. Kohala, Hawaii, U.S.