Rare Representation of Left-Handed Characters
Ariel, the protagonist of The Little Mermaid (1989), is one of the few Disney princesses portrayed as left-handed. This unusual characteristic was incorporated into the animation due to the character's original voice actress, Jodi Benson, who is also left-handed.
Disney animators often draw inspiration from the voice actors' traits to give more authenticity to the characters. In the case of Ariel, her facial expressions and even gestures were based on Jodi Benson during filming. As a result, Ariel was drawn writing and holding objects with her left hand, something rare among animated protagonists.
This attention to detail made the mermaid even more unique among Disney princesses, helping to reinforce her spontaneous and authentic personality. The choice also created identification among left-handed viewers, who rarely see main characters sharing this characteristic.
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