# TLDR Review: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

*Published: 2025-03-27 | Updated: 2025-03-27 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/the-little-mermaid:-ariels-beginning*

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## Product: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
**Brand:** Buena Vista Home Video

## Pros
- Highly recommended for all ages and provides a very entertaining experience.
- Considered a great movie experience with engaging and interesting storyline.
- The film is enjoyable for the whole family and appeals to kids.
- Features Ariel's sisters more prominently, adding to character depth.
- Adds a new element with the antagonist Marina, refreshing the story.
- Explores themes of family and the relationship between Ariel and her father.
- The music box acts as a touching symbol of family happiness.

## Cons
- Disappointing music with minimal singing from key characters like Triton and Ariel.
- The song by Ariel's mother, Athena, is very short and lacks impact.
- Feels like a straight to video release and lacks the production quality of major releases.
- Fails to live up to expectations set by the first movie, especially in music quality.
- The film doesn’t deliver enough memorable songs compared to its predecessor.

## Bottom Line

*The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning* offers a pleasant viewing experience for the entire family with a strong storyline and engaging characters, particularly Ariel's sisters and the new antagonist Marina. However, if your expectations hinge on outstanding musical numbers like the iconic "Part of Your World," you might find the soundtrack underwhelming. Despite its straight-to-video feel, it's a recommended watch for fans of the original looking for a nostalgic prequel.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Highly recommended for all ages and provides a very entertaining experience. | Disappointing music with minimal singing from key characters like Triton and Ariel. |
| Considered a great movie experience with engaging and interesting storyline. | The song by Ariel's mother, Athena, is very short and lacks impact. |
| The film is enjoyable for the whole family and appeals to kids. | Feels like a straight to video release and lacks the production quality of major releases. |
| Features Ariel's sisters more prominently, adding to character depth. | Fails to live up to expectations set by the first movie, especially in music quality. |
| Adds a new element with the antagonist Marina, refreshing the story. | The film doesn’t deliver enough memorable songs compared to its predecessor. |
| Explores themes of family and the relationship between Ariel and her father. |  |
| The music box acts as a touching symbol of family happiness. |  |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Mercari | $2.00  | Check |
| eCrater | $4.00  | Check |
| Bonanza | $5.91  | Check |
| Yellow Dog Discs | $5.99  | Check |
| Mikes Game Shop | $15.99  | Check |
| fandango.com | $19.99  | Check |
| Walmart | $20.85  | Check |
| fruugo.com | $41.95  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*