The story of The Little Mermaid begins with an introduction to the merworld. Prince Eric is on an outing at sea, when sailors begin telling him about King Triton, the ruler of the merpeople. Eric is mildly intrigued and questions who King Triton is.

King Triton’s supposed to have a marvelous celebration, which begins by a concert conducted by his court composer, Sebastian. Triton’s especially excited about his youngest daughter’s musical debut. The concert begins with the eldest six daughters singing, as they proceed to introduce their ‘seventh little sister’ Ariel. The grand introduction of Ariel is supposed to be Ariel coming out of a clam, but when then clam opens she isn’t there. Triton becomes very angry.

Ariel forgot about the concert. After all she was too busy trying to find human stuff for her collection. Accompanied by her faithful friend Flounder, she explores a sunken ship that is wrecked at the bottom of the ocean. Flounder is reluctant to come explore with her and constantly warns her that they should be leaving. Ariel’s too awestruck and marvels at a fork that she has found, yet has no idea what it is. She finds a pipe as well, and just as she’s telling Flounder not to worry a shark breaks through the ship chasing them.

Scuttle tells them that the fork is called a dinglehopper and it’s used to comb and style your hair. He also tells them that the pipe is a ‘banded bulbous snarfblat’. He claims that humans use it to make music. As soon as Ariel hears that, she suddenly remembers her prior engagement: the concert! She frantically gathers her stuff and leaves, knowing that her father’s going to be pretty angry with her.

We are introduced to Ursula - the sea witch, in the following scene. Her sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam are following Ariel, and through each of their eyes, she can see everything on a magic projection. She’s bitter because she has been ‘banished and exiled’ from the palace. She plans revenge against King Triton and keeps in mind that “Ariel may be the key to Triton’s undoing.”

Triton tells Ariel he doesn’t know what he’s going to do with her. Sebastian is very angry since she basically ruined the entire concert. Flounder, hearing this from afar, can’t take it any longer and swims up to them in her defense and tells them that “it wasn’t her fault!”. He struggles as he tells them the story about how the shark chased them, but then accidentally slipped about the seagull. Triton is even angrier, because he knows that Ariel swam up to the surface again; something she is forbidden, as she might be seen by humans. He calls humans' barbarians which makes Ariel upset, since he doesn’t even know them. Triton begins to argue that he doesn’t need to know them, and Ariel uses that famous line: “I’m sixteen-years-old! I’m not a child!”.Triton loses his temper again and tells her he is never to hear of her going to the surface again. Ariel swims off crying and upset, and Flounder follows her.

King Triton feels a little bit bad about yelling at Ariel. Sebastian, however tells him that “if Ariel was his daughter, why, he’d show her who was boss.” That gives Triton an idea: Sebastian has to follow Ariel around and make sure she stays out of trouble.

Sebastian hasn’t got a choice, but reluctantly follows her. He notices that she and Flounder are acting a bit secretive as they enter a hidden cave. Sebastian follows. Flounder asks Ariel if she’s OK and she replies that her father doesn’t understand nor does he see things the way she does. She loves the human world, and wishes she could be part of it. Sebastian slips and falls and breaks a lot of things in the process and asks Ariel what all this stuff was. Ariel’s a little nervous and tells him it’s just her collection. Sebastian is surprised and knows that if King Triton knew that Ariel collected all of this human stuff he’d be outraged.. Flounder and Ariel beg him not to tell, and just as Sebastian is about to take Ariel away, she notices a ship passing over top and quickly swims to the surface to see what it is.

The sky is lit by the explosion of fireworks. Ariel swims up to the ship ignoring Sebastian’s pleas telling her not to. There she sees Prince Eric, and can’t help but notice how very handsome he is (neither can I!).

Ironically enough a violent storm begins. Lightning hits the ship, which eventually causes the explosives to explode and sends Eric under the water. Ariel frantically swims to find him and when she does she brings him up to shore. She fears that he may not be alive but then she sees him breathing and can’t help but see how ‘beautiful’ he is (neither can I!). She begins singing and Sebastian is dumbfounded and can’t believe what he’s seeing. Grimsby and Max come running to the shore, just as Ariel jumps back into the water, before any of them can see her. Grimsby is delighted to see that Eric is alive and he helps him up thinking that Eric’s talk about a singing girl having rescued him was just a mere dream.

Ursula laughs to herself at how easy it’s going to be to trick Ariel, since she’s in love with a human. She already has a plan and all she has to do now is wait for the right time to execute it.

At the Princess’ quarters, Andrina tells Ariel it’s time to come out since “she’s been in there all morning”. Ariel comes out humming a merry tune and when she bumps into her father she pleasantly says ‘Good morning’ and continues swimming and singing to herself. Her sisters know exactly what’s wrong with her, unlike their clueless father: Ariel’s in love!

Sebastian is extremely nervous about keeping the fact that Ariel came into direct contact with a human from King Triton. In the mean time Ariel’s daydreaming and thinking of ways she can see Eric again and be with him. Sebastian tells her to stop all this crazy talk and proceeds to sing to her why it’s better “under the sea”. Yet, as he’s singing Flounder whispers something to Ariel and they swim off.

Sebastian is a nervous wreck when he sees King Triton. King Triton merely wants to ask Sebastian about Ariel being in love. As he questions Sebastian, Sebastian breaks down and slips out the fact that Ariel came in contact with humans. Surprised and alarmed Triton asks: “what about humans?” Sebastian realizes that he’s just slipped and badly attempts to cover it up by saying: “Humans? Who said anything about humans?” But this doesn’t work and Triton grabs him.

Flounder though, takes Ariel down to their secret cave. Ariel doesn’t realize the surprise he has in store for her. She is ecstatic to find Eric’s statue (which had sunk during the storm) lying there. She plays around and begins to talk to it, but then sees her father and knows something is terribly wrong. Triton is extremely angry, and interrupts Ariel when she tries to explain. Ariel bursts out that she loves the human she rescued and Triton is dumbfounded. In a furious temper he destroys her ‘collection’ and lastly destroys the statue of Eric. Ariel throws herself down and begins sobbing. When Triton leaves, Sebastian tries to apologize but she tells him to go away.

Now is Ursula’s opportunity. Flotsam and Jetsam approach her, and begin to tell her that Ursula has great powers and could help. Ariel considers it only for a brief moment, then tells them to leave her alone. As they leave, they kick the face from the broken statue of Eric beside her. She picks it up, and reconsiders. She leaves with them, and Sebastian tries to stop her. She rudely tells him: “Why don’t you go tell my father? You’re good at that.” Sebastian is at a loss of words, but only for a moment. Along with Flounder he follows them.

Upon entering Ursula’s domain she’s greeted by the witch herself. Ursula tells her that the only way to get what she wants is to become a human. Ariel is amazed at the idea, and can’t believe that she can do that. Ursula sings and tells her that she loves to help poor innocent merfolk, with no one else to turn to. The deal is as follows: she will make a potion for Ariel that will turn her into a human for three days. Before the sun sets on the third day, she’s got to get the Prince to fall in love with her and kiss her, with not just any kiss but the kiss of true love. If he does indeed kiss her, she’ll get to remain human permanently. Yet if he doesn’t, Ariel will belong to Ursula.

Eric is playing on the flute the same tune that Ariel had sung to him. He can’t get her voice out of her head and is desperately trying to find her. He doesn’t know where she is. Ariel actually isn’t too far from where he is. She wakes up and realizes with happiness that she now has legs.

Sebastian gets stuck in the kitchen and faints when he sees the seafood dishes... especially the stuffed crab. Eric and Grimsby are talking in the dinning area when Carlottta encourages Ariel to go on. Ariel timidly approaches and Eric sees how beautiful she is. They sit down, and Ariel notices the ‘dinglehopper’/fork. She begins combing her hair with it but is embarrassed when she sees that Eric and Grimsby are looking at her dumbfounded. She brightens when she sees the pipe and blows the ashes into Grimsby’s face which causes Eric to burst out in laughter. Carlotta points out that it’s the first time she’s seen Eric smile in weeks.

In the kitchen Louis is cooking. Sebastian is disgusted and tries to get away. Louis notices him and tries to cook him, but Sebastian jumps out of the pot. Louis is mystified thinking the crab is dead, and when when he picks it up, Sebastian clamps his nose with his claws which begins a whole frenzied fight. Carlotta enters only to find Louis yelling like a madman by himself. In a huff, she grabs the food and leaves him.

As Grimsby suggests to Eric that he should take Ariel on a tour of his kingdom, Sebastian runs off Grimsby’s plate unto Ariel’s. Eric asks Ariel whether she would like that and she enthusiastically nods her head.

Under the sea, things aren’t going too well. King Triton has got the entire kingdom searching for Ariel and Sebastian. His messenger Seahorse announces to him, that there is still no sign of Ariel. Triton tells him that everyone must continue looking. He feels guilty and realizes that her whereabouts may have something to do with his flash of anger.

The next day, Ariel leaves with Eric on a tour of his kingdom and is absolutely delighted by everything she sees. They finally end up rowing together on a lagoon. Scuttle begins singing badly, with the good intention of having some ‘romantic stimulation’. Sebastian begins his own little ‘mood setting’ quest to try to get Eric to “kiss the girl”. Eric brings up the fact that he doesn’t know Ariel’s name so he decides that he should try to guess. After several failed attempts, Sebastian whispers into his ear that her name is Ariel. They float into a blue lagoon, and as everyone’s singing they slowly lean forward and just before their lips meet the boat tips over.

Flotsam and Jetsam congratulate themselves, for having tipped the boat. Ursula begins to realize that Ariel’s better then she thought, Eric will definitely kiss her before sundown the next day. So she transforms into a human with Ariel’s voice.

Eric is by himself on the shore, playing his flute and thinking, no doubt about the girl who rescued him, as well as Ariel. Grimsby approaches and advises that better then a dream girl, is one who is right before his eyes. Eric smiles as he looks up to Ariel’s room. He throws the flute away, but is suddenly distracted by singing - it sounds just like the girl who rescued him. It’s actually Vanessa (Ursula). As he leans forward to see who it is, a spell has been cast upon him.

The next day Scuttle flies into Ariel’s room, and is thrilled since he heard that the Prince is getting married. He naturally assumes that Ariel is the bride. Ariel brightens and jumps out of bed, only to find that Eric is with a girl named Vanessa. Eric tells Grimsby that he wishes to get married that very day at sunset. Ariel runs off crying.

As the wedding ship departs, Ariel sobs helplessly by herself. Flounder even sheds tears for her. As Scuttle is flying overhead the ship, he hears Vanessa singing something. As she looks into the mirror the reflection starring back is Ursula. Scuttle realizes what’s happening and flies off frantically looking for Ariel. When Ariel realizes what’s happening she jumps into the water and tries to swim, but can’t. She grabs unto a barrel and Flounder carries her to the ship as fast as he can. Sebastian goes to find the sea king, while Scuttle gathers the other animals and fish to stall the wedding.

The wedding procession begins. Just as the priest is about to read Vanessa the vows, the animals and fish attack Vanessa. Scuttle flies and screams in her face. She grabs his neck and begins to strangle him. Max gets loose and bites her in the butt. She screams and the shell containing Ariel’s voice is broken. Ariel’s voice is returned and the spell Eric was under is broken. He realizes that Ariel has been the one he was looking for all along. Just as they are about to kiss, it’s too late. The sun sets, and Ariel is turned back into a mermaid. Vanessa turns back into Ursula and she grabs Ariel and jumps back into the water.

Ariel tells Eric to stay away, but Eric insists that he won’t leave her. Ursula raises so many waves, until shipwrecks begin to rise to the surface. A wave throws Eric away, separating him from Ariel. He gets onto one ship and tries to maneuver it. Ursula has caused an enormous whirlpool where Ariel is at the bottom of. She tries to blast Ariel but doesn’t notice the ship next to her. Eric steers the ship into her side and she dies. King Triton returns to his form and everything is normal again.

King Triton stops her and demands that Ariel be set free. Ursula says that she belongs to her now, however she’s willing to make a trade on Ariel’s life. Triton agrees and signs the contract. He withers, and Ursula gains control and power of the entire ocean. Ariel jumps unto Ursula in anger. Ursula threatens her, but is hit by a harpoon thrown my Eric. She holds Ariel down, and orders Flotsam and Jetsam to go get him. They both pull Eric back into the water, but Sebastian and Flounder come to Eric’s rescue. Ursula’s about to annihilate Eric, but Ariel pulls her back, and instead she blasts Flotsam and Jetsam. She becomes very furious and begins to grow.

Ariel is watching Eric, who is lying on the shore. She stares off at him longingly. King Triton observes and realizes that Ariel truly does love him. So, even though he knows he’s going to miss her terribly, he touches his trident to the water, and turns her into a human. Ariel and Eric reunite, and the scene is instantly faded into a wedding scene. Ariel finally got what she wanted. She says her good-byes to her entire family and friends. Triton rises out of the water, and hugs her good-bye. Eric bows to him. Triton causes a grand rainbow to flow through the sky. They sail off and kiss, and live supposedly happily ever after.