Disney Juniors Ariel Celebrates the Caribbean with Doubles, Red Locks and Cinder Blocks [Video]

Despite rumors that Disney Junior’s Ariel was inspired by R&B singer Halle Baily’s live-action reimagining, the truth is, according to series executive producer Lynne Southerland, neither project had anything to do with the other. It was a simple case of two groups of great minds thinking alike.

“We were already in development and production when the live-action film came out,” shares Southerland, known not only for producing kids’ series like Enchantimals: Tales from Everwilde and Monsters High: Adventures of the Ghoul Squad but also co-directing Mulan 2 and becoming the first African-American female director of an animated feature. “Both projects were on their own paths. But Disney was looking to do something new with Ariel and it’s been wonderfully inspiring and fun to make Ariel part of our world, no pun intended.”

The animated musical series, inspired by Disney’s 1989 Academy Award-winning The Little Mermaid, follows young mermaid princess Ariel as she embarks on adventures with her friends throughout …