Ariel (The Little Mermaid) some publications such as "Time" criticize her for being too devoted to Eric whereas others, such as "Empire", praise the character for her rebellious personality, a departure from previous Disney Princesses. Ariel was based on the title character of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid", but co-director and writer Ron Clements felt that the mermaid in the original story was too tragic and rewrote the character, resulting in Ariel. Jodi Benson, who was predominantly a stage actress, was chosen to voice Ariel because the directors felt "it was really important to have the same person doing the singing and speaking
The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy film "The Little Mermaid" (1989) and its direct-to-video sequel "" (2000). The game supports up to four players through alternating tables. Disney Interactive Studios agreed to develop "The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy" alongside Left Field Productions as part of its focus on children's entertainment software. The game received mixed reviews; commentators praised its visuals and appeal to girls, while others questioned the decision to base a title on "The Little Mermaid" property. "The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy" received comparisons to "Pokémon Pinball" (1999) from critics, who disagreed over which game was better. "The Little Mermaid II: Pinball Frenzy"