Ariel: Mermaid Tales (2024) Season 1 Review – Bright and colourful adventures under the sea

Episode Guide

Episode 1 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 2.5/5

Currently streaming (swimming) on Disney+, Disney Jr, and YouTube is Ariel: Mermaid Tales, a new animated series of shorts featuring Ariel, the little mermaid who first splashed onto the screen in Disney’s classic 1989 movie.

Don’t expect the depth of storytelling found in that film, however. The series is strictly for younger kids with a short attention span as the episodes are only 2 minutes long. In terms of plot, the episodes are narrative-light – in the first episode Ariel sings about her colourful tail, and that’s just about it – so, it’s wise not to expect anything too meaningful. 

That being said, the first episode does contain a brief message about feelings and emotions so there is a point to the series opener. But I imagine most kids will care more about the toe-tapping song than the simple lesson that Ariel tries to deliver to her friends. 

Not every episode contains teachable moments (unless I missed something while watching), but there are a few points to be made about friendship and working together in a couple of the shorts. Of course, not every animated kids’ series has to be educational as the biggest thing youngsters want when watching a series is a fun viewing experience.

The ten animated shorts in Ariel: Mermaid Tales provide just that, with stories about Ariel and her friends playing dress-up, enjoying magic tricks, and creating new songs. The 3D animation is bright and colourful and the musical moments are sweetly enjoyable rather than grating on the ears, so the series should prove enjoyable to watch for most parents and their little ones. 

Fans of The Little Mermaid movies will be glad to know that a few familiar faces pop up during the season, including Flounder the Flatfish, Queen Ursula, King Triton, and Sebastian Crab.  One of the best episodes features the crabby crab who gets tired of Ariel and her friends making a noise while he is trying to write a song. He instructs them to play the “Quiet Game,” (which is something many parents will be familiar with), to give himself a chance at peace. Of course, the game doesn’t go as well as he wanted, though there is a neat twist at the end of the episode. 

Ariel: Mermaid Tales can be binge-watched in twenty minutes so some parents might be unhappy that this series of shorts is over almost as soon as it’s begun. Not to worry though, as Disney Junior’s Ariel is also on the way, another preschool animated series featuring more episodes with the little mermaid and her underwater friends. 

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