The Little Mermaid

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is an American animated TV series created by Walt Disney Television Animation, inspired by the 1989 Disney movie of the same title. The show explores Ariel’s adventures as a mermaid before the storyline of the film. It holds the distinction of being the first Disney TV series derived from a major animated movie. Several voice actors from the original film return to their roles in the series, including Jodi Benson as Ariel, Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, Kenneth Mars as King Triton, and Pat Carroll as Ursula.

The Little Mermaid made its debut in the fall of 1992 with an animated prime-time special titled “A Whale of a Tale,” before transitioning to Saturday morning slots. Initially broadcast on CBS, the series ran from 1992 to 1994 and was later rebroadcast on the Disney Channel until 2008. Some episodes feature musical segments with original songs composed specifically for the series. The show’s opening theme is an instrumental medley of “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Kiss the Girl,” which resembles the overture of The Little Mermaid stage musical.