Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Follow Ariel's adventures before she gave up her fins for true love. When Ariel wasn't singing with her sisters, she spent time with her mother, Queen Athena. Ariel is devastated when Athena is killed by pirates, and after King Triton outlaws all singing. Along with pals Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel sets off in hopes of changing her father's decision to ban music from the kingdom.
This direct-to-video prequel to The Little Mermaid is a competent but unremarkable entry in the Disney franchise. The plot is functional but thin, relying on a familiar 'rediscover the joy of music' arc that feels recycled from better films. Voice acting is decent but lacks the spark of the original cast. The animation is notably below the theatrical standard, with flat backgrounds and limited expressiveness typical of DTV Disney sequels. Novelty is low — it follows the well-worn prequel formula without adding meaningful depth to Ariel's character or mythology. The ending wraps things up predictably and cheerfully, offering little surprise but satisfying its target audience adequately.