Release OrderRecommended
0 / 7 watchedFilms and series in release order.
- 1 The Little Mermaid (1989) The classic. Start here.
- 2 The Little Mermaid (TV series) 31 episodes. Pre-film adventures.
- 3 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea Melody sequel.
- 4 The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning Athena prequel.
- 5 The Little Mermaid Live! TV musical retelling.
- 6 The Little Mermaid (2023) Live-action remake.
- 7 Ariel Preschool reboot. Ongoing.
About The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid from 1989 ends with Ariel human and married, and the 1992 series rewinds to pre-film adventures that contradict the later prequel. Return to the Sea from 2000 jumps a generation to daughter Melody.
Ariel's Beginning from 2008 rewinds again to Athena's death and the music ban. The 2019 live TV special and the 2023 live-action remake retell the 1989 story separately, while the 2024 Ariel preschool series reboots for toddlers. Release order per D23 is the guide, with the series and prequel as alternates.
Good to know
Story order differs because the series and the prequel both claim pre-film Ariel with conflicting first meetings. D23 recommends release order: the 1989 film first, then series and sequels. The 2023 remake and 2024 preschool Ariel are separate reimaginings. The Ariel series earned a second season into 2026. Start with 1989 for the songs everything riffs on.
