Ariel's age in the TV series?

[Jerry533482]

Watching some of the episodes the other day and given that I just turned 16 (same age as Ariel ), I was just wondering about this.

In Ariel's Beginning (ignoring continuity), she's 15. While the movie is clearly separate from the series, I'd say it's a fair bet to assume they both take place about the same time. However, the tv series ran for 3 seasons, coming to 3 years of time passed between The Great Sebastian and the first film.

Then again, I highly doubt Ariel was 13 at any point in the series. Plus, as you've probably seen from a lot of other tv shows, the character's age usually remains constant for the show's entire run, especially if the show runs for over a decade (like in king of the hill, Bobby stays 14 for the show's 13 seasons). I wouldn't entirely rule out Ariel being 14, then again it's a faint possibility she was 16 in the series.

What do you guys think?

[Arielgal]

Anywhere between 14-15

[solarlunarxiii]

I decided to vote for 14, because I think a lot happens after the series before the movie. Like Urchin just...dissapearing D:

[Ariel]

I think Ariel is 14

[Jerry533482]

What if she was 14 throughout season 1, 15 for season 2, and 16 for the short third season and the movie?

probably the most realistic and believable theory if the seasons are accounted for as years. It'd also give a legit backing to season 3 being so short (So ariel doesn't turn 17 lol).

[veu]

I think she is between 14 and 15.

[buckmana]

I always thought of her as 15.

I don't remember where I read it, but the series is set in the year before the movie, which would make her 1 year younger then her age in the movie.

Of course, with waterborn individuals, it's hard to tell age by looking at them.

Basically, because they don't have to use their muscles to support their weight, anything that lives in the water will naturally grow larger then their landborn counterparts.
Also, because living in the water requires more or less constant motion, they'll develop stronger muscles as a result.

Both of these things could combine to make Ariel appear older then she actually is.

[mariahcarey2]

From the first episode from season 1: “Whale of a Tale” to season 2 third episode: “Save the Whale” happens one year. Ariel says so when she sees Spot.

[dpfangirl83]

I've always thought of Ariel as a 15 year old, not quite sweet sixteen just yet

[ariel08]

I guess she would be around 14-15 years old.

[merprincess]

Bringing this back because I've been giving it some thought lately. I think she was 15 in the series, which would take place sometime after the events of The Little Mermaid 3: Ariel's Beginning (as Urchin and other characters aren't a part of that film). In the first part of TLM3 Ariel's Beginning when Athena is still living, Ariel is somewhere between 3-6, and then in the main part of the film she's somewhere in between 12-14 (although idk if she really looks/sounds 12-14 in it, but it would check out with the timeline). TLM3 retconned Ariel and Flounder first meeting each other (the series have them meet at a different time and in a different way, as shown through a flashback). But also Ariel's Beginning had Triton's music ban instated, which wouldn't make sense with all the music that is so openly a part of the TV series, plus it introduced (and kinda got rid of by the end) Marina del Rey and Benjamin, who don't appear or mention in the series (since irl they weren't invented yet).