Triton, Mfumu yamphamvu ya Nyanja, ali ndi ana ambiri aakazi. Amakonda dziko lapansi pansi pa madzi, kumene amakhala. Koma Ariel, mwana wake wamng'ono kwambiri, maloto a dziko lonse lapansi, pamwamba pa madzi, dziko lapansi. Ngakhale kuti bambo ake adamuchenjeza kuti asapite kumeneko, Ariel anam'nyalanyaza. Nthawi zambiri amasambira pamwamba pa nyanja.
Ariel ndi bwenzi lake lapamtima, Flounder, chikondi chakuchezera Skatel ya seagull. Skatel amawauza za zinthu zonse zomwe Ariel anapeza panyanja. Tsiku lina Triton ankadziwa kuti Ariel nthawi zambiri ankapita kunyanja. Triton anakwiya kwambiri. Iye akuda nkhaŵa za chitetezo cha Ariel. Ndiye akufunsa mnzanu wapamtima, Sebastian nkhanu, kuti ayang'ane Ariel.
Patatha masiku angapo Ariel anaona sitimayo ikudutsa panyanja. Ariel anati: "Munthu!" Iye anadumpha msangamsanga ku ngalawayo. "O ayi!" Sebastian anafuula. Mwamsanga iye ndi Flounder akuthamangitsa Ariel.