Where to start withThe Little Mermaid
5 versions · originally a film, 1989
Themes: Forbidden Love, Sacrifice for Love, Fish Out of Water, Desire for Belonging, Father-Daughter Conflict.
Start with The Little Mermaid (John Musker, 1989) — the film. The Little Mermaid exists in 5 versions across media, beginning as a film in 1989; each is ranked below by what it does best.
The Little Mermaid explores the profound, often perilous sacrifice required to pursue a forbidden love beyond one's native world.
✦ Most fans start here
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The original movie
✦ Start hereThe Little Mermaid
John Musker · Film · 1989
The 1989 original film defines the modern iteration, offering a vibrant, musical odyssey that centers on Ariel’s iconic quest for independence and her transformative romance with a human prince.
2000 film
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
Film · 2000
The 2000 sequel, Return to the Sea, shifts the focus to the next generation, exploring the parental anxieties of Ariel and Eric as they protect their daughter from maritime danger.
2003 book
The Little Mermaid
H. C. Andersen · Book · 2003
The 2003 book edition of H.C. Andersen’s classic provides the original, somber literary foundation, emphasizing the mermaid’s existential longing for an immortal soul through her painful transition to human form.
2008 film
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
Peggy Holmes · Film · 2008
Ariel's Beginning, the 2008 prequel, strips away the romance to focus on Ariel’s formative years, detailing the tragic loss of her mother and the kingdom’s subsequent ban on music.
2026 series
Goodbye, Lara
Series · 2026
The 2026 TV series Goodbye, Lara reinterprets the core mythos, emphasizing the high-stakes, supernatural consequences of the witch's bargain and the ticking clock of the mermaid’s potential disappearance into sea foam.
Common questions
What order should I watch The Little Mermaid movies in?
To follow the chronological timeline of Ariel, you should start with The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, followed by the original 1989 The Little Mermaid, and conclude with The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.
Is The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning a prequel to the 1989 movie?
Yes, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning serves as a prequel to The Little Mermaid released in 1989. It explores the backstory of Ariel and her life under the sea before the events of the original film.
Does The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea continue the story of the 1989 film?
Yes, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea is the direct sequel to the 1989 movie The Little Mermaid. It follows the characters after the events of the first film and explores the life of Ariel's family.
Is the 2003 book The Little Mermaid based on the 1989 movie?
The 2003 book titled The Little Mermaid is an adaptation of the source material. While it shares the title with the 1989 movie The Little Mermaid, it provides a literary version of the classic story for readers.