Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Set several years after the first film, Ariel and Prince Eric are happily married with a daughter, Melody. In order to protect Melody from the Sea Witch, Morgana, they have not told her about her mermaid heritage. Melody is curious and ventures into the sea, where she meets new friends. But will she become a pawn in Morgana's quest to take control of the ocean from King Triton?
The Little Mermaid II is a textbook direct-to-video sequel that reverses the original's premise almost beat-for-beat — a child longs to cross between two worlds, is manipulated by a sea witch, and is ultimately reunited with family. The plot is formulaic and derivative, offering little that wasn't done better in the 1989 original. The animation quality is a noticeable step down from the theatrical predecessor, with flat backgrounds and limited fluidity. Voice acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with returning cast members going through the motions. Novelty is extremely low as it essentially mirrors the original's structure with diminished creativity. The ending resolves predictably with no real stakes or surprise.