The animated TV series based on The Little Mermaid premiered in 1992.
Disney’s series debuted on CBS on September 11, 1992, with a prime-time animated special titled “A Whale of a Tale.” It then moved into a Saturday-morning schedule, where it followed Ariel’s adventures as a mermaid living in Atlantica. The series was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and ran for three seasons.
The show was conceived as a prequel to the 1989 film, even though its continuity does not align perfectly with every later story. It expanded Ariel’s relationships with Sebastian, Flounder, King Triton, her sisters, and new characters such as Urchin and Gabriella. Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Kenneth Mars, and Pat Carroll reprised their film voice roles.
A common mix-up is confusing the premiere year with the series’ full broadcast span. The show ran from 1992 through 1994 and contained 31 episodes; 1993 was its second season, not its debut year.