Ariel’s character in The Little Mermaid.
Ariel was initially shown as a young, white, physically fit, and stereotypically “princess-like” figure. Disney recast Ariel as a Black woman in 2023, with Halle Bailey playing the role. This shift in race and physical attributes demonstrates how a character who was previously marginalized in terms of racial representation is now elevated to the fore, redefining the character as well as the media’s larger cultural landscape.
Culture & Race: In the 1989 original Ariel, Ariel is portrayed as a white, red-haired figure with European influences. As is common with Disney princesses from that era, her story and design represent a traditional Western, European-focused ideal of culture and beauty.
The portrayal of race and culture in the media has changed with the casting of Halley Bailey, a Black actress, as Ariel in New Ariel (2023). By featuring a Black princess and defying the Eurocentric norm, the 2023 adaptation of The Little Mermaid celebrates cultural variety and represents greater inclusivity in the media. By enabling young Black viewers to identify as fairy tale heroines and mermaids, this also highlights the significance of cultural representation.
Similarities: Ariel’s curiosity, spirit of adventure, and longing for change are all present in both renditions. These characteristics enable the heroine to retain her worldwide appeal despite differences in race and culture.
Differences: A shift in cultural representation is shown by the racial disparity. The updated version rejects the European-focused stereotype and adopts a more inclusive, wide-ranging representation of what a princess and heroine can look like.
Gender: The original Ariel (1989) focuses on Ariel’s love with Prince Eric and is the traditional Disney princess: compassionate, kind, and gorgeous. The 1989 adaptation upholds conventional gender norms, which associate femininity with beauty, passivity, and an emphasis on romantic relationships.
2023’s New Ariel: The focus has somewhat changed, even if the new Ariel is still a female figure. The 2023 Ariel also highlights Ariel’s power, independence, and curiosity, even though her romance with Prince Eric is still a major theme. She is presented as someone who yearns for freedom and self-expression in addition to romantic love.
Similarities: Ariel in both the 1989 and 2023 films yearns for freedom and exploration, and both are female. They also share the crucial element of yearning for something bigger than their present reality.
Differences: Ariel in 2023 is perceived as having greater authority, going against the princess’s customary submissive role. Her acts are now motivated by more than simply love; they are also an attempt to explore her own identity and overcome social constraints. This illustrates a change toward contemporary gender roles, in which romantic interactions are no longer the exclusive way to define women.
Age: Original Ariel (1989): Ariel is a curious, rebellious, and naïve young adolescent in the original film, representing the youthful innocence and yearning for independence sometimes found in fairy tales.
New Ariel (2023): Ariel is still a young adult in the 2023 edition, maintaining the age aspect. But Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel, gives the role a distinct depth by utilizing her own emotional range and maturity to provide a more complex depiction of a young lady on the verge of adulthood who is dealing with both internal and external issues.
Similarities: Both Ariels are young, enthralled, and keen to discover the world outside their comfort zones.
Differences: The 2023 version’s depiction of youth, which was impacted by Halley Bailey’s performance, may seem more realistic since the character’s internal conflict and agency are more strongly felt. This represents a change in the way young people—especially women of colour, are portrayed.
Ability: In the original Ariel (1989), Ariel is able-bodied and energetic, expressing her feelings through her voice and body language (singing, swimming). A significant aspect of her character’s identity is her body, particularly during her transformation from mermaid to human.
New Ariel (2023): Although the Cultural Revolution brings new types of physicality and manifestations of power, the 2023 version of Ariel still shows her as able-bodied. The role is given a new degree of elegance, strength, and vulnerability by Halle Bailey’s interpretation, which reflects more varied modern notions of beauty and strength.
Similarities: Whether swimming, singing, or conquering obstacles, both Ariels are physically strong, capable, and energetic.
Differences: The 2023 version subtly changes the way beauty and power are portrayed. Ariel by Halle Bailey emphasizes beauty in authenticity and offers a distinct kind of physicality that is less romanticized and more realistic.
5. Moving from the Periphery to the Centre: Ariel’s transformation from a white, European persona to a Black one symbolizes a broader cultural shift in the entertainment sector. People of colour have historically been confined to supporting roles or stereotypical representations in animated films, with many characters, particularly in fairy tales, being white. Halle Bailey’s portrayal of the beloved character Ariel represents a significant change in media representation, providing a new generation of viewers with the opportunity to see themselves represented in a typically white role.
This shift has significant cultural ramifications. It gives a more inclusive portrayal of beauty, strength, and bravery while also challenging long-standing racial barriers. The notion that the fairy-tale princess archetype can only be embodied by specific races, cultures, or bodies is undermined by this shift from the periphery to the centre. To increase the representation of varied identities in the media and create room for previously marginalized or invisible tales and characters, this change is crucial.
Zornosa, Laura. 2023. “10 Ways the New Little Mermaid Is Different From the Original Animated Movie.” Time. Com, May, 1–11. https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.tru.ca/linkprocessor/plink?id=5788005d-de35-3b02-bd30-ca145d15ed80.
Murray, Conor. 2023. “‘The Little Mermaid’ Draws Criticism For Flounder’s Uncomfortably Lifelike Design—The Latest Controversy For The Film.” Forbes. Com, April, N.PAG. https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.tru.ca/linkprocessor/plink?id=c2dda97c-dc35-36f1-892a-01568d4f1268.
Jones, Z.C. (2022), Star Wars Pushes Back against Racist Backlash to New Black Character, CBS News, available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/star-wars-obi-wan-kenobi-reva-moses-ingram-disney/ (accessed 2nd March 2025).
Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs. “The Scuttlebutt.” The Little Mermaid: 2023 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Walt Disney, 2023.
Bendix, Regina. “Seashell Bra and Happy End Disney’s Transformations of The Little Mermaid.” Fabula, vol. 33, no. 3–4, 1993, pp. 280–29. https://doi.org/10.1515/fabl.1993.34.3-4.280.
Maria Jose
The comparison analysis of Ariel’s two representations of Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989 and 2023) was made. Within the analysis, similarities and differences in culture, race, gender, age and ability are described and critiqued with great efficiency, highlighting the change of the more recent adaptation in different aspects. The analysis recognizes how the 2023 version challenged traditional gender and racial norms, reflecting social changes by having a brown-skinned protagonist.
A major point of the analysis is the structured breakdown of the similarities and differences of Ariel’s character in different dimensions. The analysis shows how both versions of the character share traits such as curiosity and the desire to explore. Similarly, it explains how the 2023 adaptation amplifies the traits of empowerment and independence, making her a departure from the conventional princess archetype. It explains the debate over the transition from a representation with traditional values to a more diverse one effectively contextualizes the cultural significance of Halle Bailey’s casting, addressing how representation influences public perception.
The analysis utilizes a variety of scholarly sources, which help to reinforce arguments about Ariel’s evolution and cultural impact within society and the media. However, the analysis lacks some critique and explanation of the academic debates in media, gender theory or cultural representation. Additionally, it is not clear to me why it has a source from the Star Wars saga talking about racism, when within the analysis there is no indirect or direct connection to the saga.
In conclusion, the analysis solidly shows the similarities and differences which are well grounded, where it shows and explains various aspects of the character and how the adaptation had an impact on the media, society and an exploration of the visual representation would further enhance the critique.