Heartwarming Reactions to New The Little Mermaid Teaser Shows Why Representation Is So Important

Disney fans the world over are finally getting a glimpse of the brand new live-action The Little Mermaid adaptation set to be released in May 2023.

The animated Disney classic movie is so beloved that it was only a matter of time before they cast the roles for the much anticipated new version. And what has come as a shock to some, the film will star Halle Bailey — aka one half of R&B duo Chloe x Halle — as the beloved red-headed mermaid.

Now, a series of videos showing young Black children reacting to Halle as Ariel has gone viral. One compilation posted by TikTok user @armlina features loads of powerful moments of joy prompted by seeing a Black mermaid – and a representative Disney princess – on screen, and honestly? It’s wonderful and heartwarming and utterly adorable.

@armlina Representation matters!!!! #fyp #foryou #thelittlemermaid #Ariel #littlemermaidmovie #representation #disney ♬ original sound – N

Representation certainly does matter!

After she was cast as Ariel in 2019, Bailey responded to criticism from people who complained she did not look like Disney’s original version, who was drawn as white.

We all want to see ourselves represented on the screen, and Disney is severely lacking in Black female leads. While 2009’s The Princess and the Frog finally delivered fans a Black animated princess, 2023 is shaking things up a bit more with a Black Ariel.

It’s so easy to take representation for granted when you’ve always had heroic lead characters look like you.

My family and I watch a lot of sport, and we love cricket. A statement often repeated by women’s cricket commentators is “you can’t be what you can’t see” referring to the live coverage of the games and getting involved in the sport. And they are absolutely correct. Look at how popular cricket and football (all codes) are among young women now that they can see others playing the games on television alongside the men’s games on the weekends.

Representation is important.

This new adaptation of The Little Mermaid is going to impact and inspire so many young children’s lives. And it’s about bloody time.

Source: Disney and TikTok/@armlina