Obviously, modifications are required anytime you adapt animation to live-action, but Bailey and the beauty department had to reimagine Ariel as a woman of color too. Bailey and the team opted to keep her hair red—that was essential—but opted for copper locs to make it her own.

What color is Ariel's hair in the live-action movie?

Hairstylist Camille Friend, the head of the film's hair department, revealed the process of making sure Halle's hair as Ariel looked just right, saying that it was a mix of different shades of red rather than the bright red of Ariel in the animated version.

Why did they make live-action Ariel Black?

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.

Did Ariel have red hair in the original story?

Did you know that Ariel was originally supposed to be blonde? TikToker @arthurhia covers all things dolls and recently let us in on some interesting info about the original Ariel. According to a video by this creator, the original concept art for Ariel shows her as a blonde. After a simple Google search, she is right.

Is Halle Bailey's hair red in The Little Mermaid?

Achieving the red color in Bailey's natural hair was a long process. At one point, Friend said Bailey sat for 12 to 14 hours during the wrapping process. The hair that was added was Keratin-infused, three different shades of red, and 30 inches long — which meant the price tag was high.

Ariel flipping her hair

How much did Halle Bailey's hair cost for Little mermaid?

Halle Bailey's hair transformation for The Little Mermaid cost production at least $150,000, according to her hairstylist Camille Friend: “It was a process.” Disney spared no expense making The Little Mermaid part of our world.

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.

Was the first Ariel black?

“It makes me think I can do this, I can do it without anyone stopping me.” In the original 1989 Disney animated classic, Ariel's character is White, with straight red hair.

Does the live-action Ariel have red hair?

While Halle keeps Ariel's signature red hair for the film, she decided to keep her natural locs for the role but dyed them a copper colour instead. And she looks so good. “It was super important for me to have my natural hair in this film,” Halley told Ebony magazine.

What ethnicity is Ariel?

Disney's Ariel is not the same as Anderson's little mermaid. The movie is loosely based on the fairy tale, so Disney has the freedom to give Ariel any skin color they want. In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish.

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.

Why is Ariel mute?

In The Little Mermaid, she is depicted as being willing to do anything to be with Prince Eric, even giving up her voice to become human.

What is Ariel's real skin color?

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.

Was Ariel supposed to be blonde?

“I remember the first thumbnail sketches,” Benson tells EW of the first iterations of Ariel. “She had blonde hair. She looked like one of the exaggerated faces from [the] Peter Pan era. She looked a little bit glamorous and a little bit mature to me.”

What did Ariel's mom look like?

Queen Athena is shown to be a stunningly beautiful and attractive mermaid with long, red hair tied in a partial ponytail, green eyes, and an aqua tail. Of all her daughters, her youngest, Ariel, resembles her the most.

What ethnicity is Cinderella?

Cinderella – France

Although the Disney classic doesn't explicitly state her nationality, her story is derived from Charles Perrault's French fairy tale “Cendrillon.” The grandeur of her royal ball and the charming château reflect the opulence of France's royal history.

Was Halle Bailey the first black Ariel?

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.

Who was originally cast as Ariel?

Jodi Benson was the voice of Ariel in Disney's animated 1989 “Little Mermaid” classic. Starting in 2019, when Halle Bailey was cast in the live-action version, Benson has been nothing but supportive of the 23-year-old being “part of her world.”

Why are Ariel's sisters different races?

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.

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.

Why does Ariel have dreadlocks?

The actress has now opened up about how it felt to include that feature as part of Ariel's identity. Speaking to Glamour, Halle says the film's producers – including director Rob Marshall – were keen to stay true to her Black heritage through the character.

What is Ariel's eyes?

You guessed it; Ariel's eyes are blue. Her red hair and blue eye combo are absolutely iconic so make sure to get an Ariel eye colour for your next cosplay.

How did Ariel's hair float?

Because the locks are more dense, they instead gave them the same property. as the loose, flowing, wavy hair. That way, all of her hair would cascade around her face. instead of floating into it.