Ariel

Ariel is the main character in the 1989 movie, "The Little Mermaid", produced by Disney. Being the youngest daughter of the family, Ariel has always enjoyed the love that Queen Athena and King Triton hold for her. She goes through most of her childhood with a forbidden - yet burning - passion and admiration for humans, longing to experience human life above the sea surface.

The character Ariel is more or less inspired by the nameless mermaid in Andersen's story, "The Little Mermaid". However, contrary to the original tale, where the character couldn't get together with her prince and died in the end, Disney decided to give Ariel a much happier ending.

Aside from being the main character in the movie The Little Mermaid, Ariel is also regarded as the fourth Disney official princess. Unlike some of her predecessors, she's the very first Princess to be established and developed after Disney passed away - two decades after his death in 1966.

Speculations said that Walt Disney attempted to make "The Little Mermaid" in the early 40s but failed to do so. Thankfully, his successors have made his dream come true, turning Ariel into one of the most iconic female characters in animation history.

First appearance: 1989

Movies: The Little Mermaid