The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The film strongly aligns with progressive and liberal values by centering themes of diversity, female empowerment, and challenging traditional patriarchal structures, which are explicitly recognized as politically charged and have generated polarized reactions.
The Little Mermaid (2023) is recognized for its explicit recasting of a traditionally white lead character with a Black actress, marking a significant moment for representation. While the film aims for a multicultural world, its narrative does not explicitly critique traditional identities, though some observations note it glosses over historical contexts.
The 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid features a minimal and implicit LGBTQ+ presence, with no prominent characters or storylines. While the political discourse around the film touches on themes of bodily autonomy and queering, these elements are not central to the movie's plot or character arcs, resulting in a neutral overall portrayal.
The character Scuttle, who was canonically male in the 1989 animated film, is portrayed as female in the 2023 live-action adaptation, fulfilling the criteria for a gender swap.
Ariel, the protagonist of the original animated film, was depicted as a white character. In the 2023 live-action adaptation, the character is portrayed by a Black actress, which constitutes a race swap.
The film does not depict any female character engaging in or winning direct physical combat against one or more male opponents using skill, strength, or martial arts. The primary conflict involves magical powers and environmental challenges, rather than close-quarters physical altercations.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources