We have all been waiting with baited breath for an official release date for the upcoming Disney Jr. series, Disney Junior’s Ariel. Well, listen up all of you under-the-sea fans because we now know when Disney Junior’s Ariel will make a splash!
Mark your calendar’s for Thursday, June 27th, as the date for the new animated musical series to officially swim ashore!
“For more than 30 years, the story of ‘The Little Mermaid’ has been beloved by audiences all over the world. It brings me so much joy to be able to introduce our new Disney Junior version of Ariel to preschoolers everywhere,” Disney Branded Television’s president, Ayo Davis said while making the announcement about the series during the Annecy International Film Festival in Annecy, France.
Alyssa Sapire, senior vice president of development, series and strategy for Disney Junior added, “As we were developing ‘Disney Junior’s Ariel,’ we knew that we wanted to create an atmosphere that was vibrant and magical and showcased our young Ariel’s imagination, which, like our preschool audience watching at home, is as big as the sea.”
Just what can fans expect from this upcoming nautical adventure?
Well, according to a recent press release, the series will be set in the Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows young mermaid princess Ariel (Mykal-Michelle Harris) as she embarks on underwater adventures with her family and friends, including King Triton (Taye Diggs), Ursula (Amber Riley), Flounder (Gracen Newton) and mer-friends Fernie (Cruz Flateau) and Lucia (Elizabeth Phoenix Caro).
Each episode will highlight themes of self-expression, curiosity and resourcefulness and celebrates the multicultural elements of the Caribbean through music, food, fashion, language and folklore. Dr. Patricia Saunders, professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami, serves as cultural consultant on the series.
What does the first Black Ariel herself said about this new project? In a post on her official Twitter/X account, Halle Bailey said that, “This makes me so happy!!”
Make sure to mark your calendar for the official premiere date of June 27 on Disney Junior (9 am EDT/PDT) and air on Disney Channel later that day, with eight episodes airing on Disney+ on Friday, June 28.
But, as you would expect, Disney has a few surprises up their sleeves!To help build excitement for this Caribbean aquatic adventure, a new series of two-minute shorts, entitled, Disney Jr.’s Ariel: Mermaid Tales, will be featured across Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Jr., beginning Wednesday, June 5. These shorts will highlight different aspects of Ariel’s life in Atlantica.
Who’s ready? We know that we are!
Photo: Disney.com; Halle Bailey Instagram
