The Little Mermaid AU

Tb4 merfolk by thenekoexorcist-d656uyy — TB4 Merfolk by thenekoexorcist on DeviantArt

The Little Mermaid AU is an AU introduced through fanart, depicting the Big Four (or at least one of the characters) as mermen and mermaids. This can be considered a spinoff of Fairy Tale AU and Hybrid AU.

About the AU[]

This AU was formed through fanart of the Big Four (most commonly Jack and Hiccup) depicting them as merfolk or humans interacting with merfolk. Like its namesake, most writers and artists use Disney's The Little Mermaid as a template, but this is not required.

For whatever reason, this AU is most often used as a scenario for the pairing Hijack.

Spinoff AUs of The Little Mermaid[]

Other Merfolk related AUs[]

Featured Characters[]

The Big Four[]

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III[]

As a merman, Hiccup is often portrayed as having a prosthetic tail fin, as a counter part for his leg. His tail is often green in color, as well as of a black color for when fans have it look like a merman's tail version of Toothless's tail. While Toothless is most often portrayed as a shark, dolphin or orca. Hiccup would most likely have the same basic idea as he did on Berk just underwater. The dragons are often portrayed as existing sea animals, extinct sea animals or mythological sea animals. He is also portrayed as Eric from The Little Mermaid, because of the Mericcup, Hiccunzel, Hiccanna and Hiccelsa pairings. There have also been a few rare occasions when fans have Hiccup as a male version of Ariel.

An episode of the Disney The Little Mermaid TV series, "Heroes", features Ariel coming across mermen dressed as Vikings and living in a land called Valhalla, which is under threat from a sea dragon, making the possibility of Hiccup and Ariel meeting each other very likely.

Jack Frost[]

Being the mysterious, magical being, Jack is the one most often portrayed as a Merman. Jack as also been cast Eric from The Little Mermaid, because of the Jackunzel, Jarida, Jelsa, Janna and Hijack pairings. There have also been occasions when Jack is cast as a male Ariel.

Since Jack was officially added to the Guardians of Childhood book series, as well as having him as a "reborn" Nightlight, there is a chance that the book series might have the young Winter Spirit meeting the mermaids from Sandy's home realm.

Merida DunBroch[]

Merida is often portrayed as a mermaid, but when it comes to The Little Mermaid, she is portrayed as Ariel, because of her hair, and whenever Hiccup or Jack is portrayed as Eric for the Mericcup and Jarida pairings. She could also be cast as Aquata, for being an older sister.

Rapunzel Corona[]

Rapunzel is often portrayed as a pink tailed mermaid, but when it comes to The Little Mermaid, she is portrayed as Ariel with Jack, Eugene, Cassandra or Hiccup serving as Eric beside her, because of the Jackunzel, Hiccunzel, Rapssandra and Eugunzel pairings. While her blond hair and her love of music could also have her as Arista.

In the Tangled TV series episode "There's Something About Hookfoot", a mermaid named Seraphina wins the affection of Hook Foot and befriends Rapunzel and the others. They also encounter fish-men sea creatures known as the Vodniks, who serve as the ruthless law enforcement of the sea.

Extra Characters[]

Princess Anna[]

She is portrayed as an average mermaid or as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, because of her red hair, being the younger sibling, and her desire to see the outside world after being restricted. Her longing for true love could even have her as Adella.

Queen Elsa[]

Elsa is often portrayed as an average mermaid, but is still allowed to have her ice powers because of the movie Frozen. She is also portrayed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, because of the Jelsa, Elsamaren, Helsa and Hiccelsa pairings. There have also been rare occasions when Elsa has been cast as a female version of Eric. Elsa being an older sibling could have her as Attina, since Anna is sometimes seen as Ariel. Her status as a queen (and one who keeps her family locked away out of fear) may also land her in a role similar to King Triton.

A small group have even created fanworks of Elsa being portrayed as Ursula, or simply edited/drew Elsa as the sea witch for pure fun. There have been occasions when Elsa has either been cast or depicted as a villain character in a few other AUs, like Maleficent AU, due to her Dark!Elsa persona from the one of the original layouts of Frozen. Some fans like to use or explore that darker version of her in dark related AUs and crossovers.

Moana Waialiki[]

Moana's love for the ocean easily portrays her as an average mermaid, often with a red colored tail. Pua is sometimes featured as a "merpig" (a pig with a fish tail) beside her. She is also portrayed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, as they both have dreams to explore the world beyond their home and have a father that wants to keep his daughter safe, at home. Along with Moana's voice actress, Auli'i Cravalho, portraying Ariel in the 2019 television special, The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live!. Moana can also be portrayed as Melody from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, as they both have dreams that involve the sea. Her necklace can serve as Melody's magical locket, for its shell-like design and was given to her by a grandparent.

Maui[]

Maui is seen as an average merman with a shark tailfin, due to his Fish Hook acting up and turning the top part of his body into a shark's head while keeping the bottom part human, and vice versa.

Mother Gothel[]

Gothel's false act of kindness, so she could gain the trust of others for her own selfish reasons, could possibly cast her as the sea witch Ursula from The Little Mermaid, as well as Ursula's younger sister, Morgana from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.

The Guardians[]

Being mysterious, magical beings, the Guardians are easily portrayed as Merfolk. While Toothiana's Fairies and North's Yetis and Elves are existing sea animals or mythological sea animals.

In the Guardians of Childhood book series, that inspired the 2012 DreamWorks film, Sandy shares his home realm with merfolk.

Mavis Dracula[]

Falling in love a human and having a protective single father heavily portrays Mavis as Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Her black hair could even have her as Alana, one of Ariel's older sisters. Mavis being a vampire could also make her a black tailed mermaid, since there are a few known stories about mermaids taking the lives of sailors by drowning them and with both being "creatures" that exist in stories; as well as having a human-like appearance (even when it is only the top part for mermaids while vampires have paler skin).

In Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, Mavis had surfed on the back of a whale and mimicked a seashore, while scopa diving with her family and the other guest monsters on the cruise ship and had surfed on the back of a dolphin with Johnny during their date night on the island. This could have fans featuring mermaid Mavis spending time or befriending one or all three of those kind of sea animals.

Vanellope von Schweetz[]

Since Vanellope meets the Netizen version of Ariel (in her human form) of Disney's The Little Mermaid in Ralph Breaks the Internet, while traveling through the physical world within the real-life internet, fans can cast Vanellope as her for fun. While Vanellope's dark hair, her young age and being a princess, could have her as Ariel's sea loving daughter, Melody from The Little Mermaid II. As both girls feel draw to what people have tried to keep them away from.

Olaf[]

Some fans have either cast or simply dressed Olaf up as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, for fun. In Olaf Presents Olaf does play Ariel, as well as other characters from the classic Disney film, as he re-enacts the story in his own unique way.

Zephyr Haddock[]

With Hiccup commonly cast between Eric and Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, and the fact that Zephyr is his daughter who has been shown to have taken after Hiccup, fans could use those facts as a means to portray her as Melody from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.

Varian[]

Varian's young age and being friends with a princess, can cast him as Urchin from The Little Mermaid TV series. While the relationship Varian had with his father has inspired a few to place him the male role of Ariel from Disney's animated film of the trilogy. With a fish version of Ruddiger serving as Flounder and Hamuel the raven filling in as Scuttle.

Di Amara[]

Having two pet eels, that were stolen from the San Fransokyo aquatic center and had their DNA to turn High Voltage into humanoid eel mutants, along with Di as Liv telling Momakase that she can "make dreams come true", fans could have her as the sea witch Ursula from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Prince Hans (Red Shoes)[]

In the end credits of Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs, Hans tries to woo the film's version of the Little Mermaid with his cooking, but because he tried to serve her a cooked fish he ends up getting slapped in the face by her fish tail. Earlier on in the film the mermaid's name (Ariel) was mentioned by one of the Twin Guards, as he explains the reason she gave for "not being able to attend" Prince Average's birthday party.

Zhan Tiri[]

Because Zhan Tiri's demon form as tentacle instead of legs and feet, fans can easily use this fact to portray her as either Ursula or Ursula's younger sister Morgana from Disney's The Little Mermaid films.

Princess Elena[]

In "Song of the Sirenas", Elena meets and befriends mermaid-like creatures with siren powers known as the Sirenas. Even though there is a magic kelp that can turn humans into a Sirena, the affects can be ever lasting and that is why Marisa only wrapped the kelp on the part part of Elena's body. So she'll be able to breath underwater while maintaining her human legs.

Horses[]

The horse characters in the fandom, like Maximus, Angus and Kjekk, can be featured as some of the Giant Seahorses that were seen in the television series of Disney's The Little Mermaid. They could even be featured as Hippocampus, as some people see them as "horse merpeople" and the Elena of Avalor series has them living beside the Sirenas.

Dagur the Deranged[]

The times when Hiccup is cast as a male Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, it has inspired a few Dagcup fans to portray Dagur as Eric.

Luca Paguro[]

Luca being a sea monster who can turn into a human could have him as a Merman, since a few known mer-people have the ability to turn their fish tail into a pair of legs when they want to visit the surface world. While Luca being fascinated in the human world and the items that fell into his underwater world, along with having a parent who wants their child far away from the surface, can easily portray him as a male version of Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Luca's male gender and the times when the role of Ariel is given to someone else, however, has got him to be cast as Eric instead.

In the 2023 remake of Disney's classic underwater film, Luca's voice actor, Jacob Tremblay serves as the voice of Flounder. Giving Luca and Flounder a common link that fans can easily use as a means to portray the young Pixar sea monster as the beloved Disney fish.

Alberto Scorfano[]

Alberto being a sea monster who can turn into a human could have him as a Merman, since a few known mer-people have the ability to turn their fish tail into a pair of legs when they want to visit the surface world. While Alberto collecting items from the human world could possibly portray him as a male version of Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. There have also been times when the Luberto pairing has Alberto as Prince Eric, while Luca serves as a male Ariel.

Daniela Paguro[]

Wanting to keep her child away from the surface world and its humans, before she later learns to accept the humans that Luca has become close with, can easily have her as a female Triton from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Stoick the Vast[]

Stoick being a type of king and the former over protective relationship he had with Hiccup, who is sometimes cast as a male Ariel, fans can easily have him as King Triton from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Astrid Hofferson[]

Since Hiccup has been commonly featured in the Disney The Little Mermaid plot side of the AU, Hiccstrid fans like to have Astrid as either Ariel or a female Prince Eric. While her blond hair could have her as Andrina.

Toothless[]

When Hiccup is cast as a male Ariel, Toothless can serve as Flounder from Disney's The Little Mermaid. While the times that fans have Hiccup as a simple merman has mostly portrayed Toothless as his shark, dolphin or orca friend.

Queen Elinor[]

When Merida is cast as Ariel, Elinor could serve as a female King Triton from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Since the relationship Elinor had with Merida before they reconnected wasn't too different to the one that Triton had with Ariel, both rulers didn't approve of the choices that their daughter had made without their provable until they later decided to put their children's happiness first.

Viggo Grimborn[]

When Hiccup and Dagur are cast as a male Ariel and Eric, Viggo has been cast as a male version of Ursula from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

King Frederic of Corona[]

When Rapunzel is cast as Ariel, Frederic could serve as King Triton from Disney's The Little Mermaid. From how both kings did want they could to keep their adventure seeking daughters away from danger.

Giulia Marcovaldo[]

Giulia's friendship with a pair of young sea monsters, along with the times that fans have paired her up with Luca, who is sometimes cast as a male Ariel, Giulia could serve as a female Eric from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng[]

Marinette is often cast as Ariel for the Adrienette pairing, which also has her as a genderbend Eric from time to time.

Adrien Agreste[]

Adrien is often cast as Prince Eric for the Adrienette pairing, which also has him as a genderbend Ariel from time to time.

Gabriel Agreste[]

With Gabriel as an over-protective father and with Adrien having a few Ariel-like traits when it comes to their father and child bond, Gabriel could serve as King Triton. While him being a villain who is able to change people's appearances for his own gain, and one of his past Akumatized victims had them being turned into a mermaid-themed villain, can also have him as a male version of Ursula.

Pascal[]

When Rapunzel is cast as Ariel, Pascal could serve as Flounder. Since the AU sometimes as Pascal as a small green fish to serve as mermaid Rapunzel's Flounder, or simply her small fishy friend.

Pitch Black[]

When Jack or Tooth are cast as Ariel, as well as Pitch's dark color scheme, he could be cast as a male version of Ursula.

Baby Tooth[]

When Jack or Tooth are cast as Ariel, Baby Tooth could serve as a female version of Flounder.

Honeymaren[]

Due to the time that Elsa has commonly been portrayed as Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, a few Elsamaren fans came up with the idea to have Honeymaren as a female version of Eric.

Prince Hans[]

Hans has been cast as Eric for the Helsa pairing, while being a villain could have him as a male Ursula. From how both villains pretended to be someone that a female royal would trust in order to take their kingdoms from them.

Flynn Rider[]

Flynn has been cast as an average merman, while the Eugunzel and Euganna pairings have got fans to portray him as Prince Eric from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Should Flynn be cast as one of the many other characters from the Disney film, like genderbend versions of Ariel's older sisters, Alana, since they are both royals who lost a mother and don't like getting dirty.

Kristoff Bjorgman[]

Sometimes when Anna is featured as an average mermaid, Kristoff is placed as an average merman beside her. Just as the times when Anna has been portrayed as Ariel could have him as Prince Eric from Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Gobber the Belch[]

The times when Stoick has asked Gobber to keep an eye on Hiccup, who is sometimes seen as Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, Gobber could be cast as Sebastian.

Mirabel Madrigal[]

In an AU based on The Little Mermaid, Mirabel is sometimes cast in the role of Ariel. Being the youngest daughter from a restricted family, and having the determination to break free and change her family's viewpoint would land her in a similar role. Her artistic and curious side would also lead her to be fascinated by the gadgets and gizmos from the human world, like Ariel. In artwork, her tail is usually portrayed as teal or blue to mimic her skirt in Encanto. It may also be decorated with various sea clutter.

Isabela Madrigal[]

Isabela is commonly cast as an average mermaid while being the oldest daughter of her family and wanting to please the head member of the Madrigal family could cast Isa as Attina from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Her tail is usualy lavender and covered in sea flowers to mimic her dress in Encanto, but after her change it would be splattered with various dyes to reflect the "true" Isabela.

Dolores Madrigal[]

Dolores is sometimes cast as Ariel opposite Mariano being cast as Eric. Since Dolores was pining for Mariano for a long time before they got together, the love stories parallel each other. In artwork, her mermaid tail is usually drawn bright red to mimic her skirt in Encanto.

Snotlout Jorgenson[]

Snotlout has been portrayed as a male version of Ariel for the Eretlout pairing. He could also be cast as Attina for wanting to make his father proud.

Eret[]

Eret has been portrayed as Eric for the Eretlout pairing.

Cassandra[]

Cassandra has been portrayed as a female version of Prince Eric for the Rapssandra pairing.

Hiro Hamada[]

Hiro could be cast as a genderbend version of Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, for being a younger sibling who had lost his mother at a young age. Even though Hiro's dark hair colour and young age would probably get people to think that he would be better set to be cast as Melody from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea instead. Just as the dark shade of Hiro's hair and his male gender, may get another group to think that he should be placed in the role of Eric.

Fishlegs Ingerman[]

The times when Fishlegs's young teen self was shown to be cowardly could possibly have him as Flounder. Fishlegs being a knowledgeable person who enjoys sharing fact can also have him as Scuttle, even though Fishlegs actually knows what he is talking about while Scuttle knows very little about the human world facts he shared with Ariel.

E. Aster Bunnymund[]

Bunny's cynical personality could have him as Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. Just as Jack's common role as Eric can have Bunny as Grimsby, with how the Eater bunny had wanted the young winter spirit to take things more seriously and to not mess around; like Grims did with Eric when he wanted the prince in his care to settle down.

Mei Lee[]

Mei's presence in the AU is mostly due to Mei picturing two of the guys she fancies as mermen and the popularity surrounding the Meiluca pairing, that has cast Mei between Ariel and Eric from Disney's The Little Mermaid, from time to time. Her role as Ariel is mostly due to her female gender, as well as the reddish color of her hair and the fact that she has an over protective parent, who has a scary side when Ming's anger is pushed. Because Mei originally started with dark colored (before it changed to red) and the fact that Luca also has some Ariel-like traits, that has him be cast as said mermaid, it has left Mei to be placed as his Eric for the crossover pairing between the two Pixar characters. There have also been times when Meiluca has got Mei to be portrayed as an average mermaid, when fans have placed MerMei with Luca in his sea monster form. HiroMei has also appeared in this AU from time to time as well, as it too has got Mei to simply be placed as a mermaid or cast her as a character from Disney's The Little Mermaid franchise.

Ruby Gillman[]

Although the tentacles of Ruby's kraken form has some view her as Ursula from Disney's The Little Mermaid, while the part of Ariel is given to Chelsea for simply resembling the mermaid, others think that Ruby would be better suited for the role of Ariel. Allowing her love interest Connor to serve as her Eric. Ruby's young teen age and her being the daughter and granddaughter of krakens who were the targets of the main antagonist, however, might get another group to place her as Melody from The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea instead. Half the reason for these casting choices comes from Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken being a mockery of Disney's The Little Mermaid than just Pixar's Luca and Turning Red alone.

Chelsea Van Der Zee[]

The moment fans first saw Chelsea in the trailers they began to call her "Ariel's evil DreamWorks counterpart," from how her being a redheaded mermaid strongly resembles Disney's beloved mermaid princess; in appearance alone. This fact has got a few to joke cast Chelsea as Ariel or have her make Ariel related references. Parts of her personality and the way she faked a friendship with Ruby in order to get her hands on a powerful trident, however, makes her more like Ursula or the sea witch's sister Morgana from Disney's second The Little Mermaid film.

Sisu[]

With Sisu's voice actress Awkwafina playing a genderbend version of Scuttle in the 2023 live-action remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid, it had got a few fans to depict the last dragon as Scuttle, for fun. Just as Jacob Tremblay voicing both Luca Paguro and a teenager version of Flounder in the remake had got that group to see the Pixar sea monster as the Disney classic fish.