“The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning” is a direct-to-video animated film released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in 2008. The film serves as a prequel to the original “The Little Mermaid” movie and explores the backstory of the character Ariel.
The story takes place before the events of the original film when King Triton’s strict laws against music and fun have made life in Atlantica dull and boring for Ariel and her sisters. However, Ariel’s curiosity and love for music lead her to discover an underground music club run by Sebastian the crab. Along with her friends Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel rebels against her father’s rules and seeks to restore music and joy to Atlantica.