The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (also known by the working title, The Little Mermaid III: Ariel's Beginning or The Little Mermaid 3: Ariel's Beginning) is a 2008 animated direct-to-video musical fantasy film produced by Disneytoon Studios, with the animation production being done by Toon City Animation, Inc. and DisneyToon Studios Australia. This film is the prequel to Disney's 1989 animated feature film The Little Mermaid, the third installment in The Little Mermaid trilogy, and the last direct-to-video sequel after John Lasseter took over as chairman for the Disney Animation Division. It is also the first in the chronology of the story running through the series, and it is based on the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid animated television series which ran for three seasons.

Directed by Peggy Holmes, the film's story is set not long before the events of the original film, when all music has been banned from the underwater kingdom of Atlantica by King Triton following the tragic death of his beloved wife. Years later, his spirited youngest daughter, Ariel, sets out to challenge her father’s decision and rediscovers the joy of music and love.

Jodi Benson and Samuel E. Wright (in his final film role) reprise their roles as Ariel and Sebastian respectively, while Sally Field voices the film's new villainess, Marina Del Rey. Jim Cummings takes over the role as King Triton, replacing Kenneth Mars, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The film was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on August 26, 2008. Unlike most of Disney's Classics direct-to-video follow up films and its predecessor, the film received mostly positive reviews, with mild criticism aimed at the score, while the animation quality, the script and voice performances were praised.