Disney Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Disney Wiki

"Red" is the eleventh episode of The Little Mermaid TV series, originally aired on November 14, 1992.

Synopsis[]

A magic spell turns King Triton into a merboy, and Ariel has to play mother to him.

Plot[]

Ariel is hosting a party with Sebastian as the main musical act. When Pearl, another teen mermaid who Ariel looks up too as "cool", arrives Ariel is delighted especially when Pearl compliments the party. Pearl says the only thing that is holding the party back is the apparent quietness of the music. Ariel asks Sebastian the pump the sound up despite Flounder reminding her that King Triton only allowed Ariel to have a party on the condition she keep the noise down, to which Ariel tells Flounder to stop being such "a worry whale".

Meanwhile in the palace nearby Triton has employed a new royal treasurer, Glow Fish. Triton has concerns as some of the royal jewels are missing, but he leaves Glow Fish to attend to the inventory of the treasure whilst he goes to chastise Ariel for the loudness of her party which he can overhear. Glow Fish mutters as Triton leave that he covets the royal jewels and would never leave them unattended if he were king.

Triton arrives at the party and Ariel agrees to turn the music back down, Triton is in a relatively good mood and Ariel asks him to dance. Unfortunately Triton throws out his back during the dance calling the party to a halt as Ariel decides to prioritise looking after her father. Triton apologies as Pearl and the other mer-teens swim off to other parties. Glow Fish suggests he knows someone who can provide a remedy to make Triton feel younger that he will go and collect.

This someone is actually an ominous sorceress trapped in a cave who appears to be a disembodied head and arms, she says she has been stuck there for centuries. She provides Glow Fish with youth crystal and a magical activation flute in return for Glow Fish using the opportunity the spell presents to steal Triton's trident which she needs to escape her cave. Glow Fish presents the stone to Ariel and tells her to give it to Triton to make him feel more youthful and then sneaks behind a coral column in the palace to play the magical flute.

The flute and youth stone cast a de-aging spell turning Triton into a merboy who calls himself "Red". Red refuses to answer to Ariel when she calls him Daddy and is even more mischievous than Ariel is, Ariel worries that Triton will hurt himself with the trident and tries to convince Red to give it to her. Red refuses this on the grounds that he's the king so he can do what he wants. He then gets into several scrapes including being nearly captured in a fishing net when wanting to take a look up on the surface. Red also accidentally fires a lightening bolt at Sebastian but still demonstrates the ability to summon the Trident with some skill. Red also goes out of his way to save a fish who is being chased by a shark as he wants to protect his subjects still.

Ariel realises what a handful Red can be and also that their usual roles have been reversed with Ariel becoming a disciplinarian as she worries constantly about Red getting hurt. Red thinks Ariel is nice but a "worry Whale" and a "fuddy-duddy", but eventually realises she only spoils his fun out of concern for him. Eventually Ariel and Sebastian return to the Palace with Red and they find Glow Fish on the throne wearing some of the jewels from the royal treasure as Glow Fish had ignored the sorceress' commands about getting the trident and instead decided to "count shiny things". Ariel, Sebastian, and Red trap Glow Fish and demand to be taken who the person who gave him the magical items he used.

Glow Fish insists he had no idea that the flute and stone would transform Triton, and that he thought it would just make him feel better but none of the others are convinced. When they get to the cave and see the sorceress Red gets a sense of familiarity about the situation but can't quiet recall exactly what. Ariel wonders why the sorceress is so worried about getting the trident quickly if she's been stuck in the cave for centuries and realises the spell on Triton is time limited and about to run out. The sorceress demands Glow Fish get the trident for her but he flees. She then creates an undertow and uses it to drag the trident to herself, around the same time the youth spell wears off and Red re-ages back into Triton.

Triton recalls that she is an evil sorceress he banished to the caves as a young adult so he wouldn't be able to remember who she was exactly as as a child. The evil sorceress laughs saying she has the trident which she can use to escape her cave but then realises she cannot figure out how to use it and King Triton resummons it to her dismay. King Triton then dismisses Glow Fish, Glow Fish sheepishly leaves but tries to swim out wearing some of the royal treasure including the jewels that were missing until Triton points out he is still wearing them. Glow Fish attempts to feign this was an innocent mistake but Triton sees through this and zaps Glow Fish with the trident as he leaves.

The episode closes with Ariel admitting that being a parent is hard, and Triton admitting that being a kid can be even harder than being a parent sometimes.

Cast[]

Songs[]

Trivia[]

  • The dynamic between Ariel and young Triton is a reversal of that of her and her father; Triton-overprotective parent-becomes an adventurous child, and Ariel-adventurous child-becomes an overprotective mother figure.

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Red (episode).


v - e - d
The Little Mermaid - 2013 Logo
Media
Films: The Little Mermaid (video/soundtrack) • The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (video) • The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (video) • The Little Mermaid (2023) (video/soundtrack)

Shows: The Little Mermaid (videography) • A Poem Is...The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! (soundtrack) • Sebastian's Caribbean JamboreeAriel
Video Games: NES gameSega Genesis GameAriel's Story StudioKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIThe Little Mermaid 2: Pinball FrenzyDisney's The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two KingdomsDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle Mode
Books: The Art of The Little MermaidDisney Princess Enchanted Stables: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Baby BeauPoor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea WitchOfficial Comic AdaptationDisney ComicsThe Little Mermaid's Treasure ChestDisney Princess BeginningsMarvel ComicsThe Little Mermaid: The Full Film ScriptPrince of Song & SeaThe Little Mermaid: Against the Tide
Music: The Legacy CollectionSebastian from The Little MermaidSebastian: Party Gras!The Little Mermaid: Songs from the SeaThe Little Mermaid: Splash HitsAriel's Favorites
Cancelled projects: Little Mermaid's Island

Disney Parks
Mermaid LagoonDisney's Art of Animation ResortAriel's GrottoTriton's GardenBlowfish Balloon RaceDisney Animation BuildingFairy Tale ForestFlounder's Flying Fish CoasterIt's a Small WorldJumpin' JellyfishKing Triton's Carousel of the SeaMermaid Lagoon TheaterAriel's PlaygroundMickey's PhilharMagicPrincess PavilionScuttle's ScootersSorcerers of the Magic KingdomSorcerer's WorkshopStorybook Land Canal BoatsThe Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea AdventureThe WhirlpoolVoyage to the Crystal Grotto

Entertainment: AnimagiqueBelieve! Sea of DreamsCastle of Magical DreamsDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDisney KiteTailsDisney's WishesFantasmic!Feel the MagicGolden Fairytale FanfareKing Triton's ConcertMickey's Magical CelebrationMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey and the Magical MapMickey and the Wondrous BookThe Golden MickeysThe Little Mermaid - A Musical AdventureThe Starlit Princess WaltzVillains Tonight!Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Restaurants: Ariel's Grotto
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeFestival of Fantasy ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey & Friends Street CelebrationMickey's Soundsational ParadeMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartyPaint The Night ParadeSpectroMagicThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeWalt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsCelebrate the MagicDisney Dreams!Disney EnchantmentDisney in the StarsDisneyland ForeverFantasy in the SkyHappily Ever AfterIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightMagic, Music and MayhemThe Magic, the Memories and YouMomentousOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Color-Fest: A Street Party!Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Stitch's Summer Dance BashSummer Blast
Halloween: Are You Brave Enough?Disney's Not So Spooky SpectacularFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesLet's Get WickedRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeThe Villains WorldVillains Night Out! Chapter 2
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeDisney Winter Magic CavalcadeRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Original: ArielFlounderSebastianScuttlePrince EricKing TritonUrsulaFlotsam and JetsamKing Triton's DaughtersMaxGrimsbyCarlottaChef LouisUrsula's GardenGlutThe Seahorse HeraldHaroldMerpeopleSea CreaturesLagoon Residents

Sequel: MelodyTip and DashAlexMorganaCloak and DaggerUndertowHammerhead SharkFlounder's GuppiesBaby PenguinUrsula and Morgana's Mother
Prequel: Queen AthenaMarina Del ReyBenjaminThe Catfish Club BandStevieElectric Eels
Little Mermaid's Island: SandyScales
TV Series: UrchinGabriellaOllieDudleyPearlPearl's MotherMantaLittle EvilDanielMoraySimonLobster Mobster and Da ShrimpThe SorceressGlowfishEbb and FloEmpreror ShargaSharkaniansOctopidBrain SpongeZeusSpot the Killer WhaleClaud and Claudia CrabCrab ScoutsHans Christian AndersenLuckyThorAugustusStormy the Giant SeahorseThe Magical Wishing StarfishHowling HairfishApolloArchimedesSeaclopsNeptuneDr. Vile
Comic Book: IndigoMarlin the MagicianJenny
Remake: Queen Selina

Episodes
Season One: "Whale of a Tale" • "The Great Sebastian" • "Stormy" • "Urchin" • "Double Bubble" • "Message in a Bottle" • "Charmed" • "Marriage of Inconvenience" • "The Evil Manta" • "Thingamajigger" • "Red" • "Beached" • "Trident True" • "Eel-Ectric City"

Season Two: "Resigned to It" • "Calliope Dreams" • "Save the Whale" • "Against the Tide" • "Giggles" • "Wish Upon a Starfish" • "Tail of Two Crabs" • "Metal Fish" • "T'ank You For Dat, Ariel"
Season Three: "Scuttle" • "King Crab" • "Island of Fear" • "Land of the Dinosaurs" • "Heroes" • "The Beast Within" • "Ariel's Treasures" • "A Little Evil"

Objects
Prince Eric's StatueTridentUrsula's CauldronUrsula's NecklaceMelody's locketQueen Athena's music boxDinglehopperRoyal ShipThe Wedding ShipSnarfblatt
Locations
AtlanticaAriel's Secret GrottoUrsula's LairPrince Eric's CastleSharkaniaMorgana's Ice Cave
Songs
Films: Fathoms BelowDaughters of King TritonPart of Your WorldUnder the SeaPoor Unfortunate SoulsLes PoissonsKiss the GirlDown to the SeaFor a MomentTip and DashHere on the Land and SeaEndless SkyJust One MistakeJump in the Line (Shake, Senora)I RememberMan Smart (Woman Smarter)I Will Sing

TV Series: Just a Little LoveYou Got to be YouThe Edge of the Edge of the SeaThe Lobster Mobster's MobThe Beddy Bye BluesSing a New SongIn HarmonyThis is the LifeNever Give UpYou Wouldn't Want to Mess with MeThe Sound of LaughterDaring to DanceJust Give Me a ChanceEvil Lullaby
Musical: She's in LoveHuman StuffPositoovityI Want the Good Times BackStorm at SeaDaddy's Little AngelHer VoiceThe World AboveThe ContestIf OnlyBeyond My Wildest DreamsSweet ChildOne Step CloserAll Good Things Must End
Songs from the Sea: The Sea KingdomWhat's It Like to Be a Mermaid?The Scuttle StrutThere's Only One ArielHe's a FriendAt the Mermaids' BallParty With MeMy Room in the SeaDreamingH2O, What a Feeling!We Share the EarthWhere Mermaids Dwell
Splash Hits: In My Blue BackyardHome is
Remake: Wild Uncharted WatersFor the First TimeThe Scuttlebutt
Deleted: Silence is GoldenGonna Get My WishImpossible Child
Other: Music is in the AirOne DanceA Mermaid Song

See Also
MusicalThe Disney AfternoonDisney Sing Along Songs: Under the Sea
Advertisement