Princess Ariel (inspired by Hans Christian Andersen) assumed the central role in Disney’s 1989 animated masterpiece, The Little Mermaid. As the seventh and youngest daughter of King Triton and Queen Athena, rulers of the undersea realm of Atlantica, the Hans Christian Andersen inspired Ariel embodied a spirited curiosity about the human world, a fascination that’s both passionate and forbidden. Classically the Hans Christian Andersen inspired Ariel possessed the striking appearance of a youthful mermaid, characterised by her slender hourglass figure, porcelain complexion, vibrant red lips, fiery red hair, and captivating large aqua-blue eyes. However, the new Disney Junior series Ariel race swapped the classic fairy tale character, replacing her with a chubby little brown girl with dreadlocks.
RELATED: James Gunn Race Swaps Perry White With Wendell Pierce Casting In Superman
Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s eponymous fairy tale character, Ariel diverged from the original fairy tale’s tragic fate. Unlike her literary counterpart, she finds a joyful resolution. Ariel holds the distinction of being the fourth official member of the esteemed Disney Princess lineup. Notably, her creation unfolded after the passing of Walt Disney, underscoring the studio’s commitment to enchanting storytelling. Endowed with independence, determination, and a bold spirit, Ariel, the youngest and most beautiful of sea princesses, eschews palace confines to explore, sing, and dream alongside her companions: Flounder the guppy fish, and Sebastian the crab, also serving as royal advisor to her father.
At the tender age of 16, Ariel’s heart becomes captivated by the dashing human prince, Eric. In a display of profound devotion, she forsakes all she holds dear for the chance of love. Originally conceived by Walt Disney and artist Kay Nielsen in the 1930s and 40s, The Little Mermaid‘s narrative underwent evolution, shelved temporarily to accommodate other creative endeavors. Ultimately, the studio revisited the project in the mid-1980s, opting for a more light-hearted adaptation, aligning with Disney’s storytelling tradition. Throughout its development, the character took on the aquatic-inspired name of Ariel, signifying her enduring place in Disney lore.
RELATED: Marvel’s Race Swapped Wonder Man Set To Resume Production For Disney+ January 2024
Disney’s recent endeavors with Hans Christian Andersen inspired The Little Mermaid, both in its live-action adaptation and the upcoming Disney Junior animated series, have devolved into straight-up cultural appropriation. The live-action remake, featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel, drew attention for its casting choices, particularly the decision to cast a black actress with dreadlocks as the iconic character. The company’s reliance on existing, predominantly European-originating intellectual properties (IPs) like Hans Christian Andersen inspired Ariel, and the practice of race-swapping characters to diversify their casts has become standard fare in the industry.
Now, with the imminent release of Disney Junior’s Ariel, aimed at younger viewers, the focus shifts to an animated series that seeks to broaden the franchise’s reach in subverting European culture. The show introduces a multi-ethnic and multicultural cast, with characters voiced by actors like Mykal-Michelle Harris, Taye Diggs, and Amber Riley.
RELATED: CBS To Race Swap Sherlock Holmes Companion Dr. John Watson With Morris Chestnut Casting
While the series producers’ stated claim is to “celebrate Caribbean culture” and promote themes of inclusivity and exploration, it is obviously an overt attempt at the cultural appropriation of the Hans Christian Andersen-inspired Ariel. Southerland, the series’ Executive Producer, emphasized the importance of race swapping and ticking off DEI check boxes, both on-screen and behind the scenes. By choosing to adapt well-known stories, such as The Little Mermaid, Disney is not only taking the path of least resistance, opting for familiar narratives in the hopes of attracting viewers, but directly undermining European culture. This approach not only sidelines white representation in favor of diversity, it is overt cultural appropriation and an erasure of European culture.
Let us know in the comments what you think about Disney Junior and its cultural appropriation of the Hans Christian Andersen-inspired Ariel.
NEXT: ‘Constellation’ – Noomi Rapace vs The Terror from Planet Earth
Leave a Reply