Triton, Mambo ane simba weGungwa, ane vanasikana vakawanda. Vanoda nyika pasi pemvura, kwavanogara. Asi Ariel, mwana wake muduku, kurota kwenyika pamusoro pemvura, nyika yevanhu. Kunyange zvazvo baba vake vakanga vamuyambira kuti arege kuenda ikoko, Ariel haana kumubata. Anowanzoshambira pamusoro pegungwa.
Ariel neshamwari yake yepamusoro, Flounder, rudo rwekushanyira Skatel yeSeagull. Skatel anovataurira pamusoro pezvinhu zvose zvevanhu izvo Ariel akazviwana pasi pegungwa. Rimwe zuva Triton aiziva kuti Ariel aiwanzoenda kugungwa. Triton akanga akatsamwa. Anonetseka nezvekuchengeteka kwaAriel. Saka anobvunza shamwari yake yaanovimba nayo, Sebastian tsvina, kuti arambe akatarira Ariel.
Mazuva mashomanana gare gare Arieri akaona chikepe chinopfuura nomugungwa. "Munhu!" Akarumbidza Ariel sezvaaifamba achikurumidzira kuenda kuchikepe. "O kwete!" Sebastian akadanidzira. Kurumidza iye uye Flounder vanotevera Ariel.