<Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Td> United States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Language </Th> <Td> English </Td> </Tr> <P> The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (also known as The Little Mermaid III) is a 2008 animated fantasy feature film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and DisneyToon Studios, and the direct - to - video prequel to Disney's 1989 film The Little Mermaid . Directed by Peggy Holmes, the film's story is set before the events of the 1989 film and the 2000 sequel, where all music has been banned from the underwater kingdom of Atlantica by King Triton, and his youngest daughter Ariel attempts to challenge this law . The film features the voices of Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Sally Field, and Jim Cummings . Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the film on August 26, 2008 . The animated by Toon City Animation, Inc., Manila, Philippines to Walt Disney Animation Australia by 2008, unit director Pieter Lommerse, workbook supervisor Stephen Lumley, clean - up director David Hardy, inbetween director Miles Jenkinson, effects director Marvin Petilla, supervising color stylist Jenny North and Aaron Stannard . The film contradicts certain events of the television series, implying that it is an independent installment of Disney's The Little Mermaid franchise . </P> <P> King Triton and his wife, Queen Athena, rule over the underwater kingdom of Atlantica, filled with music and laughter . They have seven young daughters: Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana, and the youngest of whom is Ariel . One day, the merpeople relax in a lagoon above water, and Triton gives Athena a music box . However, a pirate ship approaches . Everyone escapes except Athena, who is crushed to death by the ship when she tries to rescue the music box . Devastated by the death of his wife, Triton throws the music box away, and music is banned from Atlantica . </P>

When did the little mermaid 3 come out