Ariel's Name Origin: The name "Ariel" comes from Hebrew and means "lioness of God".
Inspiration from Real-Life Mermaids: Disney animators were inspired by the real-life mermaids seen in European folklore, as well as actual underwater creatures.
Ariel's Original Personality: Ariel was originally supposed to be more assertive and less romantic than she ended up being; however, this version of the character didn't resonate with audiences.
King Triton's Role: King Triton was intended to play a larger role in the movie, but his scenes were ultimately cut for pacing reasons.
The Voice Cast: Pat Carroll voiced Ursula, while Jodi Benson provided Ariel's voice; Jennifer Hale also contributed additional dialogue as Ariel.
Musical Influences: The soundtrack featured influences from musicals like "Oklahoma!" and "The Sound of Music".
Scuttle's Origin: Scuttle was inspired by the 1930s film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", with his design borrowed from a character named Grumpy.
Sebastian's Musical Style: Sebastian's music style was influenced by calypso, steel drum music from Trinidad and Tobago, and jazz.
Eric's Original Character Design: Eric was initially designed to be more muscular and less charming; however, this design didn't fit the character's intended personality.
Underwater Setting Inspiration: The underwater setting of the movie was influenced by the 1920s film "The Thief of Bagdad".
Ariel's Hair Style: Ariel's hair style was inspired by a Disney animatrix who drew inspiration from her own hair.
Triton's Palace Design: King Triton's palace was designed to resemble an Italian Renaissance-style castle, with influences from medieval European architecture.
The Fathoms Below Song: The "Part of Your World" (Fathoms Below) song was inspired by a scene where Ariel daydreams about being human and walking on land; however, this scene didn't make the final cut.
Ursula's Backstory: Ursula had a backstory that involved her once being in love with King Triton; however, this information wasn't included in the final version of the movie.
The Movie's Production Timeline: The production timeline for "The Little Mermaid" spanned over 4 years (from development to release).
Mermaid Culture Inspiration: The movie drew inspiration from various cultures' mermaid myths and folklore, including European and African traditions.
Ariel's Love for Eric: Ariel's love for Eric was inspired by the classic fairy tale "The Frog Prince".
Triton's Magic Sceptre: King Triton's magic scepter could control the ocean and its creatures; however, this detail wasn't fully explored in the movie.
Prince Eric's Characterization: Prince Eric was initially intended to be more of a supporting character but ultimately became the main human protagonist.
Cinderella Connection: Cinderella is mentioned as one of Ariel's favorite stories; this reference adds to the historical context and narrative themes of the film.