Each episode focuses on a different preschool-appropriate takeaway like celebrating each other's differences, listening to your friends, and starting out small when you're first learning something.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Ariel is a fantastic role model. She is kind and caring and takes initiative. She also makes mistakes sometimes but always apologizes and learns from her mistakes. All other residents of Atlantica have positive social-emotional skills as well.
Educational Value
a lot
Each episode teaches a social-emotional lesson that is simple enough for preschoolers to understand.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Celebrates diverse Caribbean cultures (but never mentions where in the world Atlantica is or names any specific cultures). Main characters are racially diverse: Ariel is a Black girl mermaid with red locks, and her sisters and father King Triton are also Black. Her best friends are Lucia, a Spanish-speaking girl with brown skin and a bigger body type than other kid characters, and Fernie, a boy with brown skin. Ursula sheds the purple skin from the original movie and is reimagined as a Black woman with a curvy body type. Sebastian has a Caribbean accent. Background extra characters have varying skin tones and body types. Gender wise, Ariel is not stereotypically girly and subservient like the original; instead she is a bold leader. Behind-the-scenes: The show is directed by a Black woman, and the voice actors generally match their on-screen identities.
Parents need to know that Disney Jr.'s Ariel is a version of the world of The Little Mermaid that's appropriate for even the youngest viewers. Ariel (voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris) and her friends face gentle challenges, and former villain Ursula (Amber Riley) is now a kind older woman who shares her magical powers for good, with the help of her friendly eel sidekicks, Ebb and Flow. There are no romantic storylines, and none of the mermaids wear revealing clothing. Each episode focuses on a positive social-emotional lesson, and the series celebrates Caribbean people and cultures through music and other details.
WONDERFUL! I’ll never forget this monumental moment! Go watch it!
All my life as a child, I always wanted to see a characters, who looks exactly like me, to be on TV back then, but I never got a chance to see that. However, now that I’m in my late 20s, I finally get a chance to see that. I already got a chance to fulfill my expectations after seeing “The Little Mermaid” 10 times in the movie theater. Now I can finally get a chance to watch a Kids TV show that represents real representation. 10 out of 10!
Katherine R.Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
June 23, 2024
age 3+
What's the Story?
In DISNEY JR.'S ARIEL, the favorite characters of The Little Mermaid return in a reimagined Atlantica. Mermaid princess Ariel (voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris) lives under the sea with her father, King Triton (Taye Diggs), and twin sisters Alanna and Ayanna. Ariel plays with her best merfriends, Lucia and Fernie, and her fish friend Flounder. They go to music class with teacher Sebastian (Kevin Michael Richardson) and learn magic from Tantie Ursula (Amber Riley). Ariel and her friends face a different challenge each day, whether it be getting ready for a big race, learning magic, or writing a song for Atlantica Day. They learn lessons along the way, and sing along to the melodies of the Caribbean.
Grown-ups who find the 1989 Little Mermaid problematic or worry about Ursula giving their preschoolers nightmares can rest assured: Disney has taken inspiration from the original and live-action movies, but made Ariel appropriate for preschoolers. DISNEY JR.'S ARIEL is a delight: With its gorgeous visuals, preschooler-relatable stories, and fun Caribbean-inspired pop songs, wannabe merkids will love this show. Grown-ups will appreciate its strong positive messages and representation of diverse Caribbean cultures. There's no Ariel changing her identity to satisfy a romantic partner; instead she's a confident and self-assured strong girl lead. Grown-ups can feel great about letting kids get swept up in the Disney magic and positive vibes of this adorable show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ariel's excellent communication skills. Can you think of a time when she tells her friends how she feels, or apologizes for a mistake?
Young kids might have a difficult time learning social-emotional skills from stories, so talk about the "lesson" or "moral" from today's episode with your child.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
