Little Mermaid theory: Daughters of the Sea (Part Two)

Glub glub, my underwater explorers! 

Last post, we chatted about the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson, a lovely underwater tale that Disney decided to adapt into their own divine drama. 

I threw the notion at you that maybe, just maybe, not all of Triton’s daughters had the same mother, Queen Athena. We dove into the murky waters of Greek mythology, unraveling the lineage of Triton, who, like his uncle Zeus, also seemed to embody the endless saga of Greek sexuality. 

But hold on to your coconut shells, because this sea-rious exploration is far from over! In this aquatic sea-quel, we plunge into the tangled histories of Triton's daughters, exploring the cinematic adaptations from Disney's original cartoon to the new live-action movie and what it means for this theory.

The core of this theory lies in challenging Disney's insistence that all seven daughters of King Triton share the same mother, Queen Athena. This assertion, when scrutinized through various lenses (biological, taxonomical, geographical, and more) reveals a fundamental implausibility. The biological diversity and distinctiveness among Triton's daughters, each ruling over different seas and embodying a unique blend of traits, defies the notion of a singular maternal origin. 

So, buckle up those fins, and let the underwater baby mama drama continue! We may actually need Maury on this one… 

(Keep hating me for the puns, I enjoy it)

Seven Daughters, Seven Seas

Between the original cartoon and the new live-action movie, there has been a major change for the mermaid daughters of Triton. Before we dive into the nitty gritty of who was born to whom, let’s quickly review the giant twist that Disney threw at us with the new live action version of Little Mermaid.

Attina / Mala (Bering Sea / Chaine Sea)

• Attina, the flame-haired eldest of Triton's aquatic ensemble, once sported a vibrant orange tail that resonated with captivating "sunset vibes." However, in Disney's grand attempt at cultural makeover, enter Mala, the newest sensation from the Chaine Sea. Attina's iconic orange tail was unceremoniously replaced with Mala's audacious bright pink tail, accented with orange fins. The once-vibrant spectrum that defined Attina's presence seems to have been brushed aside in favor of a bolder, perhaps more modern, interpretation. As an enthusiast of the original animated charm, the alteration in Attina's appearance raises a tinge of reservation. The nostalgic connection to the "sunset vibes" and the character's initial allure took a backseat to this new, more audacious portrayal.

Alana / Indira (Black Sea / Brinedive Sea)

• Alana, gracing the underwater realm with royal elegance, once flaunted a purple tail that epitomized her mysterious vibes. However, in the live-action rendition's attempt at a "cultural upgrade," Alana emerged as Indira. Indira's vibrant presence in the Brinedive Sea was a departure from Alana's regal elegance. The purple tail gave way to a striking yellow counterpart, accompanied by brown hair, transforming Alana's visual identity entirely. For those who grew up captivated by the enchanting charm of the animated Alana, the departure from the familiar purple tail and regal elegance introduces a sense of nostalgia tinged with reservation.

Adella / Caspia (Mediterranean Sea / Apneic Sea)

• Adella, adorned in sun-kissed tropical hues, once radiated vibrant vibes with a yellow-green tail and brown hair, epitomizing the essence of the Mediterranean Sea. However, in the name of "Caucasian chic," Disney's live-action team introduced Caspia in the Apneic Sea, who emerged as the epitome of another supposed cultural upgrade. The departure from the Mediterranean vibe introduces a palpable sense of change and, for me, a growing distaste for the alterations made. The evolving aesthetic choices seem to be steering away from the familiar allure of the animated mermaid daughters.

Aquata / Tamika (Coral Sea / Fracus Sea)

• Aquata, the middle sister, once graced the animated depths with a cool blue tail and brown hair, harmonizing with the ocean's tones in grounded elegance. However, Tamika, in an attempt to splash onto the scene with a bold look, featured a dark blue tail and a distinctive black afro; a total departure from Aquata's original depiction. The most conspicuous shift lies in the blatant alteration of skin tone. Tamika's introduction deviates from Aquata's previous lightly tanned complexion, expressing a degree of blatant weirdness. The choice to deviate from the original complexion raises questions about the underlying motivations behind such changes, as it contrasts with the established visual continuity of Triton's daughters.

Arista / Karina (White Sea / Saithe Sea)

• Arista, once adorned with a sizzling red tail and white-blonde hair, dominated the underwater scene with a vibrant and dynamic allure. However, the Disney live-action whirlwind redefined her entirely as Karina, embodying Swedish elegance in the frosty realms of the Saithe Sea. Karina, in her live-action manifestation, cast aside the sizzling red tail in favor of a multi-colored blue counterpart, introducing a fresh and chilly aesthetic to the character. The only continuity in this grand metamorphosis seems to be the retention of white-blonde hair.

Andrina / Perla (Caribbean Sea / Piton Sea)

• Andrina, once adorned in a maroon tail and golden-blonde hair, resonating with the Caribbean Sea's vibrant hues, was reimagined by the Disney live-action crew, giving rise to Perla in the Piton Sea. Perla emerged featuring a reddish-pink tail and long black hair, a stark contrast to Andrina's previous golden vibes. In this live-action translation, there exists a marginally close semblance to the original character. Perla's fiery aesthetic, while diverging from Andrina's golden vibes, luckily still retained an essence of Latin elegance that pays homage to the character's Caribbean roots.

Ariel (Red Sea / Carinae Sea)

• Ariel, the symbol of a fiery free spirit, also underwent a significant physical transformation. Originally characterized by pale skin, a vibrant green tail, and flaming red hair in the animated version, she beautifully reflected Hans Christian Andersen's description of the Little Mermaid with her bold and captivating appearance. However, in the live-action adaptation, Ariel's essence took on a new dimension, embracing an African descent. My frustration arises from the missed opportunity to align Ariel's physical attributes with the source material, creating a more faithful interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's vision.

Diving deep into Triton's underwater drama, it's crystal clear that his daughters are essentially a mixed bag of jelly beans. I mean, really, let's not kid ourselves here. It's like Triton decided to throw a giant underwater party and things just kind of... Happened. 

If you know what I mean...

There's no way these mer-ladies rolled off the same maternal assembly line. 

• First things first, let's analyze those tail colors. Vibrant orange, regal purple, and sizzling red: it's a tail color rainbow. Now, you tell me, what kind of maternal gene pool can churn out such a diverse spectrum? 
• As for eye colors, it's a fracking kaleidoscope! Blue, brown, and who knows what else. Are we seriously supposed to believe they all inherited those peepers from one mer-mom? 
• And let's not even get started on the hair game. White-blonde, brown, golden-blonde. Triton's daughters must've raided every hair salon in the ocean to get such a variety. (Do they have hair salons?)

It's like Triton's family tree is more of a divine DNA menu than a genealogical chart.

Yes, Triton's daughters are a testament to aquatic diversity; each one is a beautifully unique masterpiece, but it's time we stop pretending they shared the same watery womb. The idea that they all came from Queen Athena is like saying every fish in the sea is a clone. 

Sorry, Disney, we're not buying it. Triton's daughters are the ocean's own collection of individual masterpieces, each with their own distinct tale.

Possible Mothers

As we discussed before, approximately fifty sea-nymph daughters of Nereus graced the seas of Greek mythology, each governing different facets of the vast expanse of the seas. Your devoted Researcher (me), with meticulous precision, narrowed down this extensive list to eighteen, representing the very essence of major waterways, islands, and oceanic phenomena. 

In our next underwater expedition, I will unveil those Nereids, whom I have carefully chosen for their role in the grand mama drama of Triton's daughters. 

Brace yourselves, my underwater explorers, for the unveiling promises to be a sea-quel of epic proportions, unraveling the mysterious connections that bind these enchanting mermaids to their chosen Nereid Mothers. 

Stay tuned, for the aquatic saga is far from over, and the depths of this underwater baby mama drama are yet to be fully explored! 

- The Researcher -