Ariel is a mermaid, and the youngest of King Triton's seven daughters. Although she seems to have a happy life under the sea, she is intensely curious about humans and longs to join them on land.

She falls in love with a human, Prince Eric, and rescues him from drowning. At that point, she's willing to do just about anything to be a part of his world.




A Character Analysis of Ariel
Ariel is beautiful and charming, but she also has many flaws. She's naive, impulsive, and easily swept away by her emotions. She repeatedly disobeys her father, risks her life on several occasions, and falls in love with Prince Eric on sight.

She hardly knows anything about Eric or the human world when she decides to become a human herself. This would be risky enough without entering into a dangerous bargain with Ursula, who will enslave Ariel if the mermaid doesn't succeed in winning Eric's love within three days.

And yet for all her faults, she still charms everyone around her. She is King Triton's favorite daughter, and she has loyal friends who will do anything for her. Ariel looks at the world with wonder and excitement; she sees the beauty around her and delights in it. It is perhaps these very qualities (along with her beauty) that make people fall in love with her.



Quick Facts About Ariel


Ariel was voiced by Jodi Benson, a stage actress. The directors felt it was important for the voice actress to do both the speaking and singing parts, and they were attracted to the youthful quality of Benson's voice.

Ariel's design was based on an animator's wife and on model Sherri Stoner.

The Disney studio mixed up a color just for her fin. The color was subsequently called "Ariel."

Until Giselle came along in 2007, Ariel was the only redheaded Disney princess.