The Little Mermaid's Attina & Ariel's Six Sisters Explained (2024)

The Little Mermaid stands as a testament to the allure of folklore, but Attina and the other Little Mermaid sisters often go overlooked. Originating from the quill of Hans Christian Andersen in the 19th century, its most famous rendition is the 1989 Disney animated classic. The movie follows the journey of Ariel, a young mermaid princess bursting with curiosity and a fervent desire to explore the world above the waves. The story is more than just a tale of adventure and romance; it's a narrative rich in themes of longing, sacrifice, and the quest for understanding across different worlds.

Disney's adaptation brought a vibrant color palette and memorable musical numbers to the story, making it an iconic piece of cinema. At the heart of this tale lies the underwater kingdom, a realm teeming with life, where Ariel lives with her father, King Triton, and her six sisters. They represent different facets of the mermaid society and contribute to the depth of the underwater world. Their distinct personalities, relationships with Ariel, and individual aspirations subtly underscore the themes of family dynamics and personal identity in The Little Mermaid franchise, including the sisters' slightly different roles in 2023's The Little Mermaid.

1 Attina

The Eldest & Most Motherly Sister

Attina, often recognized as the eldest of King Triton's daughters, holds a special place in the hierarchy of Ariel's siblings. Her distinguishing feature is her orange tail and a matching seashell bikini, complemented by a tiara-like accessory in her hair. Attina's personality is defined by her responsible and somewhat motherly demeanor, often seen guiding and caring for her younger sisters. Attina's influence on the plot, while subtle, is significant in providing stability and guidance within the royal family. Attina appears in the original movie, the animated Little Mermaid 2, and Ariel's Beginning, where all of the sisters have bigger roles.

Though not central to the primary narrative involving Ariel, Attina adds a layer of familial responsibility and care, often acting as a counterbalance to Ariel's adventurous spirit. Interestingly, Attina didn't actually have any dialogue in the original movie, but she was voiced by Kath Soucie in the animated series and by Kari Wahlgren in Ariel's Beginning. The character also appeared in the video game Kingdom Hearts 2, voiced by Christie Houser. In the live-action remake, King Triton's daughters all have different names and ethnicities. Karolina Conchet plays Princess Mala in the 2023 The Little Mermaid cast, who represents Princess Attina.

2 Alana

The Sister Obsessed With Beauty & Self-Care Routines

Alana, the second eldest sister of Ariel, stands out with her purple tail and matching seashell bikini. Her strikingly elegant style reflects her personality traits of being graceful and beauty-conscious. In the birth order, Alana acts as a bridge between the eldest, Attina, and the younger siblings, holding a position that often sees her balancing maturity with a sense of fun. Throughout the Little Mermaid franchise, Alana's role becomes more supportive, emphasizing the familial aspects of Ariel's life.

Alana's love for beauty and self-care routines often provide lighter, more humorous moments in the narrative. She appears in the original Disney movie, sequels, and TV series of the same name, adding a touch of elegance and concern for appearance in her appearances. Kimmy Robertson voiced the princess in the movie and even returned to voice her in the series, while Jennifer Hale voiced Alana in Ariel's Beginning. In 2023's The Little Mermaid, Princess Indira (Simone Ashley) is inspired by the original's Princess Alana.

3 Adella

The Attention-Seeking Middle Child

Adella, the third of Ariel's sisters, is easily identifiable by her yellow tail and seashell bikini. A distinctive feature is her curly hair, which mirrors her playful personality. Positioned in the middle of the birth order, Adella often embodies the characteristics of a stereotypical middle child, seeking attention and trying to carve out her own identity amidst her sisters. Her role in the Little Mermaid series, including the original movie, the prequel, and TV show, is to add a layer of playful flirtation and humor.

Adella's interactions, particularly her interest in boys, often serve as comic relief and a contrast to Ariel's more romantic, serious pursuit of love. Kimmy Robertson voiced the character in the original movie, Sherry Lynn voiced her in the series, and Tara Strong voiced her in Ariel's Beginning. While Adella isn't a character in the live-action remake, Princess Caspia (Nathalie Sorrell) is based on her, and just like the animated version of the character, Caspia brings out her bubbly personality in the movie.

4 Arista

The Sister Who Frequently Clashes With Ariel

Arista, with her red tail and matching seashell top, stands fourth in the birth order of Ariel's sisters. Her long, flowing white-blonde hair and a somewhat rebellious streak make her a standout of King Triton's daughters. Arista's position in the family, following Adella, positions her as a bridge between the older, more responsible sisters and the younger, more carefree ones. In the Little Mermaid universe, Arista's role occasionally clashes with Ariel, showcasing a typical sibling rivalry.

Arista appears in the original film, Ariel's Beginning, and the TV series, where her love for music and independent spirit often mirror Ariel's traits. Kimmy Robertson voiced the character in the original movie, Mary Kay Bergman in the series, and Grey DeLisle in Ariel's Beginning. The character of Arista has been brought to life by Kajsa Mohammar, who plays Princess Karina in the live-action adaptation. Karina is based on Arista, and the depiction of the character in the 2023 film highlights her independent and carefree personality, especially in the way that she "borrows" her sisters' belongings.

5 Andrina

The Most Sarcastic Of King Triton's Daughters

Andrina, the fifth sister, is marked by her lavender tail and a matching top. Her short, voluminous hair and playful smirk signify her spirited and humorous character. Positioned after Arista in the birth order, Andrina brings a mix of lightheartedness and wit to the family dynamics. In the various Little Mermaid media, Andrina's role is often to inject humor and a little sarcasm into the narrative. Andrina adds a dimension of cheerfulness and playful banter in the Little Mermaid franchise, lightening the mood during tense moments.

Kimmy Robertson voiced the character in the original movie, and Catherine Cavadini voiced her in the TV series, and the character also appeared in the video game Kingdom Hearts II, voiced by Susan Stevens Logan. Andrina was brought to life by Lorena Andrea, who played Princess Perla in the live-action remake. Perla is based on Andrina, but many of her character traits have changed. Andrina, now Perla, is the warmest, kindest, and most charismatic of King Trtion's daughters, and she's even ended a war between penguins and whales with her charm.

6 Aquata

The Sister With The Most Youthful Enthusiasm

Aquata, the youngest before Ariel, is recognized by her blue tail and seashell top. Her distinguishing features are her big, expressive eyes and long, brown hair, often styled in a high ponytail. As the second youngest, Aquata's character embodies a mix of youthful enthusiasm and a desire to fit in with her older siblings. Her role in the Little Mermaid series, while not central, is important in showcasing the dynamics of a large family.

Aquata has dialogue in the animated series and the prequel, where her youthful energy and eagerness often contrast with the more mature perspectives of her older sisters. Different voice actors have portrayed Aquata, highlighting her youthful spirit and the challenges of being one of the youngest in a large family. Mona Marshall voiced the character in the TV series and Grey DeLisle voiced her in Ariel's Beginning. 2023's The Little Mermaid's Princess Tamika (Sienna King) is based on Princess Aquata.

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The Little Mermaid

G

Animation

Adventure

Family

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Walt Disney animated film written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It stars the voices of Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Christopher Daniel Barnes, with music from Alan Menken. The plot follows a young mermaid named Ariel that wishes to abandon her life underwater and join the humans on land.

Release Date

November 17, 1989

Director

Ron Clements , John Musker

Cast

Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Rene Auberjonois , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll , Jason Marin

Runtime

63 Minutes

The Little Mermaid (2023)

PG

Musical

Family

Fantasy

Adventure

The Little Mermaid is a live-action remake in the same vein as many of Disney's others, like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel, a young mermaid who desperately wants to see the world above the ocean. However, her father, King Triton (Javier Bardem), refuses to let her. A pact with the sea witch, Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), will give her all that she desires, but at a price.

Release Date

May 26, 2023

Director

Rob Marshall

Cast

Halle Bailey , Jonah Hauer-King , Melissa McCarthy , Javier Bardem , Daveed Diggs , Jacob Tremblay , Awkwafina

Runtime

135 Minutes