Watch The Little Mermaid

Ariel, the mermaid daughter of King Triton, is unhappy living under the sea and is curious about the humans that live on the land above. Although contact between merpeople and humans is forbidden, Ariel continues to dream of a new life above the sea. On a trip to the surface she witnesses a party on a ship for a young prince named Eric with whom she falls instantly in love.

When a terrible storm sinks the ship, Ariel rescues the prince and sings to him until he regains consciousness. Eric wakens and his savior is gone, though he vows to find the woman with the beautiful voice that saved his life. Back in Triton's kingdom, her father learns of her love for the land dweller. Furious, he destroys her secret grotto of human objects she's collected.

Distraught, Ariel goes to the sea witch Ursula for help in finding a way to be with Eric. Ursula grants Ariel legs in return for her voice. If she does not receive a kiss from her prince in three days time, Ariel will become a mermaid again and belong to Urusula. Ariel, mute, washes up on a beach and Eric finds her there, assuming she's a shipwreck survivor. Eventually Ursula arrives herself in the guise of a lovely young woman and using Ariel's voice.

Eric is hypnotized by Ursula and agrees to marry her. The wedding is interrupted by sea animals and Ariel regains her voice. Eric kisses her too late and she becomes a mermaid again, now under Ursula's control. Triton confronts Ursula and agrees to take his daughter's place. She takes over the kingdom and, in a rage, grows to a huge size and rises above the sea surface. Creating a storm that nearly kills Ariel, Ursula is then killed by Eric. Triton is restored and turns Ariel into a human so that she can marry Eric.