The positive responses of young black girls to the newest The Little Mermaid trailer highlight the significance of diversity and representation in films.

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Yes, representation is definitely needed. Halle Bailey's selection as Ariel in the reimagined version of The Little Mermaid by Disney is proof positive. Also lovely is the girls' response to seeing a black hero.

Many parents have captured their daughters' responses to the teaser, and they are overjoyed that the well-known mermaid "looks like them." These young ladies' happy faces and touching expressions went viral, bringing joy to all of our hearts. (See the video below below)

Halle Bailey, who starred in The Little Mermaid, expresses her admiration for a little fan's moving response to the teaser trailer. Aladdin, Mulan, Cinderella, The Lion King, and many other well-known animated movies have had live-action remakes by Disney during the past few of years. Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid, one of their planned releases, has been in the works since the project was put into development in 2016. Halle Bailey, a Grown-ish actor and singer, plays Ariel in the Disney adaption of the tale of a mermaid's love for the land of the living.

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Sharing a compilation of the videos, Halle wrote:

“People have been sending these reactions to me all weekend and i’m in truly in awe, seeing these little babies reactions makes me so emotional, this means the world to me, thank you all for your unwavering support”.

The clips show the girls’ faces lighting up as they watch the trailer, with one excitedly telling her mum: “she’s brown like me!”

Replying to Halle’s post, Halle’s sister Chlöe wrote: “you make us so proud to be in the skin that we’re in!!!!”

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Another follower added: “She’s brown like me mommy”! this made my heart melt we are beautiful too”.

A third person wrote : “YESSSSSSS representation matters”.

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Speaking to Media about why she took on the role of Ariel, Halle said:

“I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special, and that they should be a princess in every single way. There’s no reason that they shouldn’t be. That reassurance was something that I needed.”

Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original Disney film, has also spoken out in support of Halle in the role. Speaking to ComicBook.com, she said: “I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters.

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"And the outside package – cause let’s face it, I’m really, really old – and so when I’m singing 'Part of Your World', if you were to judge me on the way that I look on the outside, it might change the way that you interpret the song. But if you close your eyes, you can still hear the spirit of Ariel. We need to be storytellers.

"And no matter what we look like on the outside, no matter our race, our nation, the colour of our skin, our dialect, whether I’m tall or thin, whether I’m overweight or underweight, or my hair is whatever colour, we really need to tell the story."

The actress was subjected to racist attacks

Halle has said in recent interviews that she almost gave up playing the Little Mermaid. The reason was the many racist attacks her was subjected to when she was announced for the role.

“I want the little girl in me and the little girls like me who follow know that they are special and that they should be princesses in every way. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be,” Halley said.

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The actress also said that her grandparents made her look at the situation as an opportunity to encourage other people who are victims of racism.

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“It was inspiring and beautiful to hear the encouraging words. “Don’t you understand what this does for us, for our community, for all the black and brown girls who will see themselves in you? ?” .

The live-action The Little Mermaid is directed by Rob Marshall (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”). Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda are signing the film’s soundtrack, which will feature new songs.

In addition to Halle Bailey, who is perfect as the mermaid Ariel, the cast includes Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Simone Ashley, Jacob Tremblay and Aquafina.

Disney has announced that the film will hit theaters in May 2023.