When you think about the 1989 Disney renaissance, you probably think about the music. You think about that soaring, crystalline voice reaching for the surface of the ocean. Most people know the name Jodi Benson, but they don't always realize just how much she risked to take a job that—at the time—wasn't exactly a career-maker. Who was the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid? It was a Broadway actress who thought she was just doing a side gig while waiting for her next big stage role.
The story of how Jodi Benson became the definitive voice of a Disney Princess isn't just about a casting call. It’s about a massive shift in how animated movies were made. Before 1989, Disney didn't really hire "musical theater" people in this way. They hired voice actors. But Howard Ashman, the lyrical genius behind the film, had a different vision. He wanted a storyteller. He wanted someone who could act through the song, not just hit the notes perfectly.
The Audition That Almost Didn't Happen
Jodi Benson was actually working on a flop.
She was starring in a Broadway musical called Smile, which was written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman. The show didn't last long, but Ashman felt bad for the cast. To make it up to them, he invited all the girls from the show to audition for this "little fish movie" he was working on at Disney. Honestly, Jodi didn't think much of it. She recorded her audition on a reel-to-reel tape in a basement. She didn't hear back for a year.
A whole year.
When she finally got the call, she was just a working actress in New York. She wasn't a "star." She was just Jodi. But that tape had something the others didn't. Ashman heard a specific vulnerability in her voice. He didn't want a "pop" sound. He wanted a girl who sounded like she was genuinely yearning for something she couldn't have. If you listen to the original "Part of Your World" demo, it’s remarkably close to what ended up in the film. That's because Benson understood the character was a teenager, not a polished lounge singer.
Why "Part of Your World" Was Almost Cut
It’s one of the most famous stories in Disney history, but it bears repeating because it highlights why Benson’s performance was so vital. Jeffrey Katzenberg, then the head of Disney’s film division, actually wanted to cut the song after a rough test screening. He thought it was boring. He saw a kid dropping popcorn during the scene and panicked.
Can you imagine?
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Glen Keane, the legendary animator who drew Ariel, fought for it. Howard Ashman fought for it. They knew that without that song, the audience wouldn't care if Ariel lived or died. They needed to hear her soul. Benson’s performance is what eventually won everyone over. The way she whispers the lines—literally "acting" the lyrics rather than just belting them—is what makes it feel intimate. She’s talking to herself. She’s dreaming. It's a monologue set to music.
Life After the Fin: Keeping the Voice Alive for Decades
Most people don't realize that being the voice of a Disney character isn't a one-and-done deal. Not if you're Jodi Benson. Unlike some actors who move on the second the credits roll, Benson stayed. She has voiced Ariel for over 35 years.
Think about that.
Every toy, every sequel (The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea), every episode of the 1990s TV show, and every "Disney on Ice" recording. It's all her. She has managed to keep her voice sounding exactly the same—a feat of vocal gymnastics that requires incredible discipline. She doesn't drink caffeine. She doesn't smoke. She treats her vocal cords like a professional athlete treats their knees.
There's a level of protection she feels over the character. She has often mentioned in interviews that Ariel is like a part of her DNA. When you've been playing the same person since the late 80s, the line between the actor and the character starts to blur. Fans don't just see her as a voice actress; they see her as the human embodiment of the mermaid.
The 2023 Live-Action Shift and Halle Bailey
Now, we have to talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the new mermaid in the water. When Disney announced the live-action remake, the question of who was the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid shifted from a historical fact to a modern debate.
Halle Bailey took over the mantle for the 2023 film.
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There was a lot of noise online, as there always is with remakes. But the most important voice in the room was Jodi Benson's. She didn't just support Halle; she acted as a mentor. Benson actually has a cameo in the 2023 film. If you look closely during the market scene on land, she’s the one who hands Ariel a fork (the dinglehopper). It was a literal passing of the torch.
Benson has been very vocal about the fact that the spirit of the character isn't tied to a specific look or a specific era. It's about the heart. She praised Halle’s "Part of Your World" for having the same emotional honesty that Ashman looked for back in 1986. While Halle provided the live-action portrayal and the new vocal tracks, for a generation of fans, Jodi Benson remains the "original" voice that defined their childhoods.
The Technical Magic Behind the Original Voice
Recording an animated movie in the 80s was a lot different than it is now. Today, actors often record their lines alone in a booth, sometimes in different cities. For The Little Mermaid, Ashman wanted a theatrical environment.
- He stood in the booth with the actors.
- He would "conduct" their performances with his hands.
- The lights were often dimmed to help Benson get into the headspace of a dark, underwater grotto.
Benson has often recalled how Ashman would whisper directions to her during the takes. He wanted her to breathe in specific places. He wanted the sound of a girl who was out of breath from curiosity. That level of detail is why the performance holds up. It doesn't sound "cartoonish." It sounds human.
Beyond the Sea: Jodi Benson’s Other Roles
While she will always be Ariel first, Benson’s career is surprisingly deep. If you grew up in the 90s, you heard her everywhere.
She was Barbie in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. That's a huge range—going from the soulful, yearning Ariel to the bubbly, somewhat plastic perfection of Barbie. She also voiced Thumbelina in the Don Bluth film of the same name. She even appeared in Enchanted as Sam, Robert’s secretary.
But Ariel is the one that stuck. It's the one that gets her the most "I cried when I heard you sing" comments at conventions. She has basically become an ambassador for Disney. It’s a job she takes seriously, often spending hours at fan events listening to stories about how "Part of Your World" helped people through difficult times.
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How to Tell if You're Hearing the "Real" Ariel
Because Disney has so many different projects, they sometimes use "soundalikes" for minor things, like cheap toys or quick cameos in obscure games. But for anything significant, it's almost always Benson.
If you want to hear her best work outside of the 1989 original, check out:
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning: A prequel that actually has some decent songs.
- Ralph Breaks the Internet: A hilarious meta-commentary where she voices Ariel alongside all the other Disney princesses.
- Kingdom Hearts: The video game series where she reprised the role, proving that her voice can even bridge the gap into gaming.
The nuance in her voice is hard to mimic. There's a slight "break" in her tone when she gets emotional that is very specific to her Broadway training.
The Legacy of a Voice
What made the 1989 film work wasn't just the animation; it was the fact that the voice felt real. Before this, many animated heroines were voiced by women who sounded like they were "doing a voice." Benson just sounded like a girl. She brought a contemporary, relatable energy to a fairy tale that could have felt stiff or dated.
The impact of her performance can't be overstated. It saved Disney Animation. It paved the way for Belle, Jasmine, and every princess that followed. It turned a voice acting job into a lifelong legacy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Voice Actors
If you're fascinated by the history of voice acting or just want to dive deeper into the world of Ariel, here are a few things you can do:
- Watch the "Treasures Untold" Documentary: Usually found in the "Extras" section of Disney+, this gives a behind-the-scenes look at the recording sessions with Howard Ashman and Jodi Benson.
- Listen to the Original Cast Recording of "Smile": To hear what Benson sounded like just before she became Ariel, find the tracks for the musical Smile. You can hear the "Ariel" in her voice before the character even existed.
- Study the "Acting the Song" Technique: If you're a singer, pay attention to how Benson drops the volume and almost speaks the lyrics during the verses of "Part of Your World." It's a masterclass in musical theater storytelling.
- Follow the Official Disney Archives: They often release rare footage of the reference models who worked alongside Benson (like Sherri Stoner, who provided the physical movements for Ariel).
The voice of Ariel is more than just a recording; it's a performance that bridged the gap between the old world of Disney and the modern era of storytelling. Whether it's the 1989 original or the 2023 reimagining, the character remains a symbol of curiosity and the courage to find your own voice—literally.