History Characters / TheLittleMermaidTitularProtagonists

* CharacterDevelopment: In the original film, Ariel learns she should stick to her convictions about humanity in spite of the backlash she might get for them, go for her dreams and trust her instincts. But she also learns she should be cautious and avoid being overly reckless because her actions can have greater consequences than she could predict. By the time of the sequel, with her becoming a mother, Ariel has become more mature and level-headed than she was as a teen; if anything she's a bit overprotective of Melody.

* SignificantWardrobeShift: When King Triton decides to let Ariel go, he changes her into a human and gives her a sparkly silver dress.

* HealTheCutie: After she finds out that Eric wants to marry Vanessa, she's devastated and she can't do anything. Only when [[spoiler:Scuttle reveals that Vanessa is actually Ursula in disguise]], does she still silently take action, confront her, steal back her voice and eventually [[spoiler:marries Eric, living happily as a human]].

* HealTheCutie: After she finds out that Eric wants to marry Vanessa, she's devastated and she can't do anything. Only when [[spoiler:Scuttle reveals that Vanessa is actually Ursula in disguise]], does she take action, confront her and eventually [[spoiler:marries Eric, living happily as a human]].
* HeroicBSOD: She briefly undergoes one when "Vanessa" (Ursula in disguise) enchants Eric and the two are set to be married, leaving Ariel unable to fulfill her end of the bargain, meaning she will become Ursula's prisoner and be forever separated from Eric, her father, and her sisters. She can only weep in utter devastation at her loss. However, she snaps out of it upon learning of Ursula's deception and hurries to stop her from marrying Eric.

* RescueRomance: Although Eric gets the biggest moment with saving Ariel at the climax, the true RescueRomance is actually Ariel saving Eric, which leads them both to fall in love. His obsession with the beautiful singer who saved him leads him to overlook Ariel as a love interest for the first day of knowing her.

'''Appearances:''' ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIIArielsBeginning III: Ariel's Beginning]]'' | ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1992 The Series]]'' | ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'' | ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIReturnToTheSea II: Return to the Sea]]'' | ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst''[[note]]magical summon only[[/note]]\\

* TheBabyOfTheBunch: Ariel is the youngest of Triton's seven daughters, and the most naïve and mischievous out of all of them.

* AdaptationalCurves: In the early illustrations for Hans Christian Andersen ''Literature/TheLittleMermaid'' the titular mermaid is [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Page_128_illustration_b_in_fairy_tales_of_Andersen_%28Stratton%29.png flat chested]], Ariel ''[[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpscXlCU0AEScGb.jpg is not]]'' being the TropeCodifier for SeashellBra.

** AdaptationalCurves: In the early illustrations for Hans Christian Andersen ''Literature/TheLittleMermaid'' the titular mermaid is [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Page_128_illustration_b_in_fairy_tales_of_Andersen_%28Stratton%29.png flat chested]], Ariel ''[[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpscXlCU0AEScGb.jpg is not]]'' being the TropeCodifier for SeashellBra.

[[caption-width-right:349:[[labelnote:Click here to view her in human form. ]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ariel_nightgown2.png]][[/labelnote]]

[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ariel56.png]]

[[caption-width-right:349:[[labelnote:Click here to view her in human form. ]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ariel_pink3.png]][[/labelnote]]

** Her beautiful singing voice plays a key role in ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'', as she sings a verse of "[[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} When You Wish Upon a Star]]" solo. In [[Fanfic/OnceUponAStudioVersionTwoPointOh a recent fan remake]], however, she gets to start up the final verse alongside Eric, Aladdin, Jasmine, Rapunzel and Eugene, as they all join hands, singing the line "Like a bolt out of the blue...".

** Her beautiful singing voice plays a key role in ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAStudio'', as she sings a verse of "[[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} When You Wish Upon a Star]]". In [[Fanfic/OnceUponAStudioVersionTwoPointOh a recent fan remake]], however, she gets to start up the final verse alongside Eric, Aladdin, Jasmine, Rapunzel and Eugene, as they all join hands, singing the line "Like a bolt out of the blue...".

* ArtShift: During the scene where King Triton [[spoiler:finds out about her secret grotto]], her characteristics are drawn differently.

* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Ariel does not seem to detect at all when her first human transformation leaves her completely naked aside from her SeashellBra. Possibly either due to not knowing/forgetting that humans need to wear clothes, or simply being too excited about her new legs.

* RedheadsAreRravishings: Ariel's most distinctive feature as a mermaid and human is her long, flowing red hair.

** Subverted in this case. After Ariel hears the deal about if she does or doesn't kiss Eric, she starts reasoning that if she becomes human, she'll never see her father or sisters again. Considering what Triton just did, it's very wise of her to factor this in to her decision. Ursula then points out, "But you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it?" Then when Ursula demands Ariel's voice as payment, Ariel immediately protests, "But without my voice, how can I-?" with the obvious concern that she won't get Eric to fall in love with her. Ursula interrupts with, "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face!" and sings about how men prefer women to not talk. While Ariel impulsively signs the contract and runs into problems communicating with Eric, she did put some thought into what she was doing.

* CostumeEvolution: She goes from her green tail and her purple [[SeashellBra seashell bikini top]], to a [[ImprovisedClothes destroyed sail converted into a short dress]], to a beautiful pink dress with GiantPoofySleeves, to a casual pink nightgown, then goes to a basic and normal blue dress with a large bow, later getting a sparkly gown, then immediately followed by a splendid wedding dress! The sequel gives her an aristocratic purple dress, before [[spoiler:she changes it for a mermaid tail]].

* TheBabyOfTheBunch: Ariel is the youngest of Triton's seven daughters.

* EasilyForgiven: Even after Ariel's DealWithTheDevil unintentionally put her whole civilization in grave danger from Ursula, Triton forgives her (partly because he still feels [[TheAtoner incredibly remorseful]] about his own actions lately), realizes how much she loves Eric and the human world, and [[Heartwarming/TheLittleMermaid1989 allows her to be with Eric by turning her into a human permanently]].

* BecomeARealBoy: Ariel wishes she could be a human instead of a mermaid, and it makes up the main plot of the first movie. "[[IWantSong Part of your World]]" is a passionate declaration of her desire to become human that becomes uncontrollable after Ariel's encounter with Eric, who could be said to [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory represent the human world]] she's always longed for. Even after she becomes human, she is just as, if not more, focused on exploring as she is on kissing Eric and ''saving her own life''.

* ActionGirl: As a TomboyWithAGirlyStreak, Ariel has a very hands-on personality. She loves the excitement of a good adventure, and she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty or putting herself at risk if she feels it's for a good cause. In the original film, this trait is best shown when she outswims and outwits a shark to save Flounder, when she saves Eric's life by preventing him from drowning in a storm, and when she dives headfirst into the ocean to swim after Eric's wedding ship at the end. In the TV series, it's revealed that Ariel has had lots of other dangerous undersea adventures, and she has helped her dad to protect Atlantica from outside threats several times over.