The 1989 animated feature adapted by Disney for television in a prequel that leads up to the events of the movie.

The adventures of Ariel (Jodi Benson) and her friends at the age of fourteen. From her first known trouble with Ursula (Pat Carroll) to her collection of human objects, the show illustrates the Princess's journey as she finishes growing up. It also introduced new characters such as Ariel's merboy friend (an orphan named Urchin (Danny Cooksey), who her family all saw as a little brother), the snobbish merteen called Pearl (Cree Summer), the Lobster Mobster (Joe Alaskey), Evil Manta (Tim Curry), Sebastian's (Samuel E. Wright's) family, and an orca that Ariel named "Spot".—Max Vaughn