She is a young mermaid with long, vibrant bright red hair, wide sea-blue eyes, and a green mermaid tail paired with a purple seashell top. Ariel is fiercely independent, adventurous, and driven by deep curiosity about the human world above the sea. Unlike others in her underwater kingdom who fear humans, she views the surface world with wonder, collecting human trinkets (or "thingamabobs") in her secret grotto.

He is a handsome young human prince with thick black hair, deep blue eyes, a broad smile, and an athletic build. He is most recognizable wearing a crisp white rolled-sleeve collared shirt, dark blue trousers tucked into black riding boots, and a red sash tied at his waist. Eric is adventurous, down-to-earth, and spirited. Unlike many traditional fairytale royalty, he prefers life at sea to sitting in a palace, often steering his own ship alongside his crew. He is deeply romantic, noble, and brave, willing to risk his own life in dangerous situations—whether that means running into a burning ship to save his dog or battling a giant sea monster.

He is an imposing, powerful mermaid king with a long white beard and mustache, broad muscular shoulders, and a green mermaid tail. He wears a gold crown, golden wrist cuffs, and wields a magical golden trident that glows with immense power. Triton is commanding, proud, and deeply protective of his family and kingdom. Because of past experiences with humans, he harbors a strong prejudice and fear toward the surface world, which makes him stern and quick-tempered when Ariel disobeys his laws. Beneath his strict demeanor, however, he is a loving and devoted father who acts out of a desire to keep his daughter safe.