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In the original 1989 Disney animated classic, Ariel's character is White, with straight red hair. But as Murphy and other young Black and brown girls head to theaters this weekend to see “The Little Mermaid,” they'll find an Ariel that is very much a reflection of themselves.

Is the new Little Mermaid black?

The new version stars Halle Bailey, most known for her role in the Grammy-nominated Chloe x Halle R&B duo, as Ariel in the actress's first starring feature film role. This casting of a Black woman as the iconic mermaid has made waves.

What ethnicity is The Little Mermaid?

Since the animated feature film had a white mermaid as Ariel, some people are angry that Disney has gone with a black actress in the live-action. Some people also believe that Hans Christian Andersen described the Little mermaid as a white mermaid in his book.

Why is a black girl playing The Little Mermaid?

Bailey would be playing Ariel “because she is a woman of color and I am raising two girls and a little boy of color, and it is so important to have representation so they can be proud of who they are, and be able to have the ability to imagine that anything is possible — even if it is a fairy tale.”

What race is Ariel supposed to be?

As Ariel is half fish, she cannot be categorized by our ethnicities and races. The animated “Little Mermaid” movie only portrayed her with light skin and red hair because that was the American interpretation at the time.

Disney making The Little Mermaid black

What Disney characters are now black?

Why is the new Tinkerbell black?

The reason studios make beloved characters black in the live action adaptations is so they don't have to go to the trouble of actually giving special, brand new unique characters made from scratch to black people.

When did The Little Mermaid come out black?

It was released theatrically on May 26, 2023, in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. A sing-along edition of the film was released in theaters on August 25, 2023.

Who was the first black Little mermaid?

Disney's live-action version of the 1989 animated classic 'The Little Mermaid' hits theaters on Friday. This highly-anticipated film is also marking a moment in Disney history with Halle Bailey as the first Black Ariel.

What color is Ariel?

In the live-action film, Ariel is different than her original animation counterpart; she has tan skin, glossy auburn hair, peach lips and brown eyes. Her lavender seashell bikini top has scale designs and being mixed up with the colors of teal.

Did the Little Mermaid 2023 flop?

The reported box office result of The Little Mermaid 2023 remake is about $560 million. On paper, these numbers look good. The film grossed over $298 million domestically and more than $263 million internationally.

What color skin did The Little Mermaid have?

Ariel, is a fictional character, with no defined skin color in her original material. She was originally written by a Danish author in the 1800s. She has been portrayed in ballet and movies by Asian, Russian, and mixed-race individuals, her cartoon depictions are typically pale.

What color was the Little mermaids skin?

Disney's 1989 “The Little Mermaid” is still available to watch, own and share. The animated character of Ariel is part of Disney's wildly profitable “Disney Princess” franchise and her name and image are valuable and heavily trademarked Disney properties. The red-haired, fair-skinned Ariel is here to stay.

Can a mermaid be black?

And some mermaids are Black. Part of Davis' research situates the origin of Black mermaids during the Middle Passage, a time period where Africans were enslaved and violently transported across the ocean to North America and the Caribbean.

Is Peter Pan black now?

Peter is played by Yashua Mack, the first black actor to portray the popular character in a major motion picture. Why the change?

Why was Tinker Bell removed from the Disney?

However, Tinker Bell was removed so she could lead her own franchise as a Disney fairy, and through that, she got to star in a couple of movies. Other characters were considered to be part of the Disney Princesses franchise but didn't make it, as were Enchanted's Giselle, Tarzan's Jane, and Frozen's Anna and Elsa.

Who is the blackest Disney Princess?

Tiana is notable for being Disney's first black princess.

Who is the black girl in Disney?

The Princess and the Frog

Tiana voiced by Anika Noni Rose was Disney's first Black princess: Tiana.

Will Tinker Bell be black?

Yara Shahidi has made history by becoming the first ever black actor to portray Tinker Bell is Disney's live-action remake. It's a great moment for film and another important step in the right direction.

What was Ariel originally supposed to look like?

In Andersen's fairy tale, the Little Mermaid is described as follows: "her skin was as clear and delicate as a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea." And if you're wondering if Andersen's Little Mermaid had that signature bright red hair that has become synonymous with mermaids, the answer is unclear.

Is Ariel Winter Hispanic?

Winter was born on January 28, 1998, the daughter of Chrisoula (née Batistas) and Glenn Workman. Through her mother, she is of Greek descent, and through her father, of German descent.

Why are Ariel's sisters different ethnicities?

All of king Triton's daughters represent their own seas all over the world and as such they are all different ethnicities in the movie. It is not specified where the movie takes place, i.e. where Ariel lives but it's obvious it's not in Denmark.