"The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue), sometimes translated in English as "The Little Sea Maid", is a fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

What ethnicity is The Little Mermaid?

In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish. As Ariel is half fish, she cannot be categorized by our ethnicities and races.

What country is The Little Mermaid set in?

Turning to the location, the story is set in the sea and possibly oceans surrounding a fictional kingdom on land. Andersen published his story in 1837 in the country of Denmark.

Is Ariel Greek or Danish?

Ariel's story really begins in Ancient Greece. According to lore, she is a nereid, one of the dozens of daughters of the sea-god Triton. This isn't the first time that the internet has been set alight over the suggestion that famous figures of antiquity could be anything but white.

Is The Little Mermaid part of Danish culture?

The origins of Disney's the Little Mermaid, is the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid”, written by famous fairy tale author, Hans Christian Andersen, who was in fact from Odense in Denmark. That's probably why the popular thought is that his fairy tales would take place in Denmark.

Halle Bailey's "Little Mermaid" is BETTER than the original version? | The Little Mermaid REVIEW

Is Ariel supposed to be Caribbean?

The film is set in the Caribbean in the 18th century. It does not specify exactly when, but judging from the ships, clothes and other references it is during a time of African chattel slavery.

Is Little Mermaid a Norwegian?

First published in 1837, The Little Mermaid was written in Danish and titled Den lille havfrue. The Little Mermaid is a literary fairy tale. The plot is drawn from Hans Christian Andersen's imagination rather than a specific folktale.

What race is Ariel original?

In the original 1989 Disney animated classic, Ariel's character is White, with straight red hair.

Why did Disney cast a Black Ariel?

On the significance of casting a Black actress as Ariel

Sherri Hope Culver: To have a Disney character who is not just a princess but a live-action, real flesh and blood person that children can be inspired by is important. This is because people of color are less likely to see themselves reflected in the media.

What culture is Ariel based on?

Ariel is loosely based on the nameless protagonist of the Danish fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen, but unlike the Andersen fairy tale in which the mermaid loses her prince, dies, and gains an immortal soul, the Disney adaptation has a happy ending.

What color was the original Little mermaid?

1. The little mermaid in the book was white. Here is how Hans Christian Andersen described the little mermaid: “They were six lovely girls, but the youngest was the most beautiful of them all.

Is The Little Mermaid Italian or Danish?

Everybody knows the fairy tale of the Little Mermaid. Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen wrote the story in 1836.

Why are all of Ariel's sisters different ethnicities?

So, why the change? One theory is that each of Ariel's sisters represents different oceans that are home to various cultures and ethnicities. It's pretty problematic to have mermaids who all look the same representing such an expansive underwater world.

Where is Ariel's mom from?

Queen Athena was the wife of King Triton, and the mother of Ariel and her six older sisters. She was the Queen of Atlantica, and beloved by her family and subjects. She was noted for her singing talent and her love of music.

Is The Little Mermaid based on the Caribbean?

The Little Mermaid is set in the Caribbean.

This decision was taken by director Rob Marshall because of Sebastian's Creole accent, and also to allow the cast to be more diverse. The narrative occurs during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when the Caribbean Islands were colonised by Europeans.

Was Ariel Black originally?

Why did Disney make Ariel black if she is white in the original film? In the original danish fairytale the little mermaid was explicitly specified as white several times.

Why is Prince Eric's mom black?

There are several instances when Eric's mother Queen Salina (Noma Dumezweni), who is Black and adopted him as a child when he washed up from the ocean, chastises him for his obvious love for beings that are considered other.

Is Eric's mom a mermaid?

She is a human queen and the adoptive mother of Prince Eric. She has dark skin and curly hair, and she wears elegant gowns and jewelry.

What is Prince Eric's nationality?

It is never stated in the movie what exactly is the country of origin for Prince Eric. The creators of the movie stated that they got ideas for his castle from Italian, France, and Algerian architecture, so there is a combination of Mediterranean cultures. I always assumed that he was the Prince of Denmark.

What country was Ariel born in?

Originating from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, Ariel's aquatic escapades unfold in the waters surrounding Denmark.

Is Ariel a natural redhead?

“But I really did admire the fact that because I'm a Black woman and I have locs, [the producers] wanted to incorporate that into Ariel's look,” she added. To get the look, Halle Bailey worked with hairstylist Camille Friend to dye her roots red and wrap her locks in the same hued hair.

Who killed Ursula in the original Little mermaid?

At the end of the 1989 animated film, Eric saves the day and kills Ursula. But in the new movie, Ariel is no longer the damsel in distress.

What accent do they have in The Little Mermaid?

In The Little Mermaid, for example, dialects range from Ariel's Standard American accent, to the French accent spoken by the evil Chef, and Sebastian's Jamaican accent. However, the association of these accents correlate to the characters, thus invoking false stereotyping in young children who watch these films.

How was Halle Bailey chosen for Little Mermaid?

Halle Bailey was the first to audition for the beloved and coveted role of Ariel in Disney's live-action “The Little Mermaid.” After Bailey belted out the classic showstopper “Part of Your World” from the original 1989 film, director Rob Marshall and the other filmmakers knew that she was the one for the role.