When you think about the movie that saved Disney animation, your brain probably goes straight to that soaring high note at the end of "Part of Your World." It’s iconic. But the magic of the little mermaid characters voices isn't just about hitting the right keys; it’s about a specific kind of Broadway-infused soul that changed how movies were made. Whether we are talking about the 1989 hand-drawn masterpiece or the 2023 reimagining, the vocal performances define these characters more than the ink or pixels ever could.
Choosing the right person to breathe life into a mermaid or a crustacean is a high-stakes game. In the late eighties, directors Ron Clements and John Musker weren't looking for "movie stars." They wanted theater actors who could act through a song. That decision gave us a cast that feels permanent, like they were born to inhabit these roles. Fast forward to the live-action era, and the challenge shifted to finding voices that honored the original spirit while bringing something fresh to a modern audience.
Jodi Benson: The Blueprint for Ariel
You can't talk about this franchise without starting with Jodi Benson. She is Ariel. It’s kind of wild to think that Howard Ashman, the lyrical genius behind the film, had to sneak her into the audition process. She was a Broadway actress he knew from a show called Smile, and he just knew her voice had that "purity" he was looking for.
Benson’s voice has this incredible, sweet vulnerability. It’s not just the singing. When she speaks, she has this slight breathiness that makes Ariel feel like a curious teenager rather than a polished princess. During the recording of "Part of Your World," Ashman actually turned down the lights in the studio to help her feel like she was underwater, alone with her treasures. That intimacy is why it still resonates decades later. Honestly, without her specific tone, the "Disney Renaissance" might have looked a lot different.
Then there is Halle Bailey. People had a lot of opinions before the 2023 movie came out, but once she opened her mouth to sing, the conversation changed. Her voice is technically superior in many ways—her riffs are effortless—but she kept that same yearning that Benson pioneered. It’s a different color, a bit richer and more modern, but the DNA of the character stayed intact.
The Menacing Power of Ursula’s Vocals
Ursula might be the most fun character to voice in the entire Disney vault. Pat Carroll, who voiced the sea witch in 1989, wasn't even the first choice. They originally wanted Joan Collins or even Bea Arthur! But Carroll stepped in and gave us that deep, gravelly, theatrical menace that basically set the standard for every villain voice that followed.
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She modeled her performance on drag queens and old-school stage divas. It’s big. It’s loud. It’s hilarious but genuinely threatening. When she says "Poor Unfortunate Souls," you can hear the smirk in her voice.
Melissa McCarthy’s Modern Spin
In the 2023 version, Melissa McCarthy had some massive shoes to fill. She didn't try to mimic Pat Carroll’s specific rasp. Instead, she leaned into a more "vaudeville" style. McCarthy’s Ursula sounds a bit more desperate and erratic, which fits the live-action's slightly darker tone. It’s a bold choice to take on a role so defined by its original performer, but she managed to make it her own by emphasizing the humor in the cruelty.
Sebastian and the Challenge of the Accents
Samuel E. Wright. That’s the name you need to remember. He voiced Sebastian the crab, and he basically turned a character that was supposed to be an uptight English butler into the Caribbean heart of the movie.
The directors originally envisioned Sebastian as very "stiff upper lip." It was Howard Ashman who suggested making him Jamaican. Wright came in with this infectious energy and a voice that felt like sunshine. "Under the Sea" won an Oscar because of that performance. He brought a rhythmic quality to the dialogue that made even the smallest lines memorable.
Daveed Diggs took over for the live-action. Now, Diggs is a Tony winner for Hamilton, so he knows his way around a beat. His Sebastian is faster, more anxious, and definitely more talkative. While Wright’s Sebastian felt like a protective uncle, Diggs’ version feels more like a stressed-out middle manager. Both work, but Wright’s "charming authority" remains the definitive version for many fans.
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King Triton and the Weight of Authority
Finding a voice for Triton is about finding "gravitas." You need someone who sounds like they could command the ocean but also like a father who is terrified of losing his daughter.
- Kenneth Mars (1989): He had this booming, Shakespearean quality. His voice was heavy. When he yelled "Ariel!" the speakers in the theater would practically rattle. But he could drop that volume down to a whisper of regret at the end.
- Javier Bardem (2023): Bardem is an Oscar-winning powerhouse. He brought a more grounded, weary tone to Triton. It’s less "booming god" and more "tired king." You can hear the gravel in his voice, which makes his eventual sacrifice feel more earned and human.
The Sidekicks: Flounder and Scuttle
The voices for the sidekicks have actually seen the most drastic changes over the years. Jason Marin voiced Flounder in 1989. He was a kid, and he sounded like one—nervous, high-pitched, and sweet. In the 2023 version, Jacob Tremblay took over, and while he kept the sweetness, the realistic CGI of the fish made some people feel like the voice and the image didn't quite "click" the same way the hand-drawn version did.
Then we have Scuttle. Buddy Hackett’s voice was pure chaos. He was a legendary stand-up comedian with a thick Brooklyn-style accent and a wheeze that was perfectly suited for a confused seagull. It was frantic.
Awkwafina’s Scuttle in the remake is a whole different beast. First off, they changed the character to a Northern Gannet so she could go underwater. Her voice is raspy, fast-paced, and very "modern New York." The addition of the "Scuttlebutt" rap divided people, but you can’t deny that she brought a unique vocal energy that shifted the character’s dynamic with Sebastian.
Why the Vocals Matter More Than the Visuals
It’s easy to get distracted by the hair or the CGI tails. But the little mermaid characters voices are the true anchors of the story. Animation is a collaborative art form where the actor often records their lines alone in a booth, sometimes years before the final image is finished.
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The animators actually watch the voice actors record. They look at the way Jodi Benson’s mouth moves when she hits a vowel or how Pat Carroll’s eyes narrowed when she delivered a joke. They "draw" the voice. This is why the 1989 film feels so cohesive—the voice and the line on the paper are doing the exact same thing.
In the live-action, the actors have to compete with massive visual effects budgets. Sometimes, the voice gets a little lost in the spectacle. But when you strip away the water effects and the $200 million price tag, it’s still about a girl singing about her dreams. If the voice doesn't sell that dream, the whole movie sinks.
Historical Voice Casting Nuances
One thing most people forget is that the 1989 film used a lot of "voice doubles" for smaller roles and background songs. Disney has a long history of using a "loop group"—a team of voice actors who provide the chatter and extra sounds that make a world feel full. But for the leads, they've always stuck to a "one person, one voice" rule to maintain that emotional connection with the audience.
What to Look for in Great Voice Acting
If you're an aspiring voice actor or just a fan of the craft, there are a few things that make these performances stand out.
- Breath Control: Listen to how much "air" is in Ariel’s voice when she’s curious vs. how "tight" it gets when she’s arguing with Triton.
- Diction: Pat Carroll over-enunciated every "S" and "T" to make Ursula sound more predatory.
- Rhythm: Notice how Sebastian speaks in a musical cadence even when he isn't singing. It’s almost like he’s always on the verge of a dance.
Actionable Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge
If you want to truly appreciate the work that goes into these performances, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the "Treasures Untold" Documentary: This is usually included in the Diamond Edition or Platinum Edition Blu-rays (and on Disney+). It shows rare footage of the actors in the recording booth. Watching Jodi Benson record "Part of Your World" is a masterclass in acting.
- Compare the Soundtracks Side-by-Side: Listen to the 1989 and 2023 versions of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" with headphones. Pay attention to the orchestration. The original is very brass-heavy and theatrical; the new version is more cinematic and orchestral. Notice how the singers adjust their timing to fit the new arrangements.
- Explore the Voice Actor’s Other Work: Samuel E. Wright was a powerhouse in the original Broadway cast of The Lion King (he played Mufasa). Hearing his deep, regal Mufasa voice compared to his high-energy Sebastian shows just how much range is required for top-tier voice work.
- Look into the "Scratch Vocals": Sometimes, before the final actors are cast, the studio uses "scratch" voices—often members of the production team—to stand in. There are early versions of these songs sung by the songwriters themselves. Hearing Howard Ashman sing Ursula’s parts gives you a direct window into how he wanted the character to sound.
The legacy of these voices continues to grow as new generations discover them. While technology changes, the human voice remains the most powerful tool for telling a story about a girl who just wanted to be part of our world.