King Triton is a major character in the 2023 film The Little Mermaid. He is the overprotective father of Ariel who has a dislike for humans following the death of his wife.
Years before the events of the film, Triton gained a younger sister named Ursula, who eventually got banished from the kingdom. Sometime after this, Triton became king of Atlantica and became the father of Mala, Indira, Caspia, Tamika, Karina and Perla before also having another daughter, named Ariel. When Ariel was young, Triton lost his wife, which caused him to become very protective and grow a hatred towards humans.
As confirmed by Alan Menken in an interview, this version of Triton would have performed a song called "Impossible Child" unlike the original film but it did not make the final cut for the film.[1]
Role in the film[]
King Triton is first seen blowing on his shell announcing his daughters Perla, Indira, Mala, Tamika, Caspia, and Ariel who is missing, just as Triton is disappointed of Ariel's absence during a Coral Moon event. When Ariel arrives, Triton is very furious of Ariel who missed the Coral Moon due to Ariel being distracted with human objects she found at a sunken ship, much to Ariel's sadness thinking she would be happier if she made her father understand.
Meanwhile, Ariel's sisters tell their father about Ariel's absent-minded behavior yesterday about her obsession with humans, which Triton becomes furious of what humans deserve for their harmful actions against merpeople, telling them about the wreckage as well as the punishment humans receive for being an enemy to all the merpeople. Triton and Ariel's sisters watches her leave after she comments on how humans aren't the only ones who don't have any respect for balance. However, all of a sudden, Triton approaches Sebastian whom one of the guards bring to him, which he learns from Sebastian that Ariel saved a human from drowning, making Triton very angry about this. Later when Triton approaches Ariel in her grotto, he becomes very furious of her for having contact with a human, which he scolds her and demands her to never look for Eric again, which Triton destroys her treasures in the grotto when she genuinely refuses to make that promise. Before he goes, he coldly tells Ariel to never leave again. After Ariel cries for what her father did, she follows Flotsam and Jetsam into Ursula's lair so she could change her fate. Later, when Triton finds no sign of Ariel, he tells his daughters to search the ocean to find a sign of her, but they could not find her, just as Triton remorsefully regrets his harshness of what he had done to Ariel.
Furthermore, Triton confronts his sister Ursula, furious of what she did to his daughter where he attempts to kill her, but Ursula blocks his attack, telling him that the deal she made with Ariel is unbreakable, as he learns that Ursula has used her to get rid of him. He then plans to sacrifice himself to save Ariel which Triton turns into dust, destroying him, just as Ursula wears his crown and arms herself with his trident. After Ursula is killed by Ariel who steered a broken ship in front of Ursula which the broken mast impales her, Triton suddenly becomes revived in his normal self. After Triton is brought back to life, Ariel reconciles with her father, followed by Eric reconciling with Queen Selina. Ariel then approaches Triton, telling him that she is unhappy without Eric, to which Triton transforms Ariel into a human so that she can reunite with Eric. As Ariel emotionally bids a farewell to her father, he tells her that she didn't have to give her voice to be heard, but now, he is listening and will always be there for her. Ariel hugs her father and quietly tells him that she loves him, which surprises him as he returns the hug.
Trivia[]
Unlike the original film, Triton and Ursula are siblings with him being the oldest.
King Triton was going to have a song in the remake, but it was cut from the final film.
Given the race of Triton's daughters, it appears that Triton had several lovers and had the daughters with them, unlike the original character who had all of Ariel's siblings and the princess herself, with the same woman.
Unlike the animated counterpart who has a bare chest but in live-action version he was wearing an armored body.
This version of Triton is killed by Ursula unlike the original, but he is eventually revived when she is killed.
Unlike the original character, Ariel and her sisters call Triton "father" instead of "daddy".
Gallery[]
Javier Bardem as King Triton in the live-action remake
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