King Triton

**King Triton** is the king of Atlantica and Ariel's father.

## Background

### Appearance

King Triton is a large, handsome, elderly merman with fair skin and a massive, well-muscled physique. He has long white hair, a thick, matching beard and mustache, a widow's peak hairline, and bushy, gray eyebrows. As a child, he had freckles and his hair was originally red but turned auburn (the same color as his daughter Attina's hair) when he was a young merman. Like his daughter, Ariel, Triton has blue eyes (which are olive green in *Ariel's Beginning*), though they are more of a grayish hue compared to hers. Because he is a merman, Triton's lower body is a navy-blue fish-like tail with cyan, translucent fins and a matching, fish-lip waist-line. Triton also has three signs of his royal status; he wears gold gauntlets with borders on the edges and five studs around the middle on his forearms, stopping just below the elbow, a golden, five-pointed crown resembling a sea star, and, most important of all, wields the legendary trident, a golden, three-pronged weapon with vast magical powers and abilities.

### Personality

The prequel film *The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning* initially depicts Triton as a devoted and loving father and husband. After his wife's death, he becomes extremely strict due to the grief he suffered over his queen's death but eventually comes to terms with the incident, showing this by allowing music back into Atlantica after previously banning it in the wake of the tragedy.

The television series, set before the events of the original film, shows Triton to be a wise ruler. He is prejudiced towards humans (possibly due to the death of his wife, even though Athena's death was an accident and despite evidence that merpeople are half-human). Though he's constantly at odds with Ariel regarding humans and dangerous adventures, he has shown to have a large feeling of guilt and remorse for upsetting his beloved daughter.

In the original film, Triton is shown to be a flawed but caring father. He is a strict disciplinarian whose overprotective nature towards his daughters has been the source of conflicts between him and Ariel, especially due to her obsession with humans. He is shown to have an explosive temper when provoked. It was also briefly implied that he may have had genocidal thoughts on humans in general, or at the very least didn't particularly care if a human ended up drowning, as when arguing with Ariel shortly after discovering that she saved Eric. When Ariel tried to explain that Eric could have died if it weren't for her, Triton unmovingly stated that it was "one less human to worry about" in response, despite confirming shortly afterward that he doesn't even know what Eric looks like. His eruptive nature, when pushed far enough, was also shown to lead to violent acts, as he destroyed most of Ariel's human artifacts as a way to "get through to her" after the possibility of losing his daughter to the human world was brought into play. Despite this, he immediately showed remorse afterward, as his angered expression softened to one of despair. After Ariel goes missing (after becoming human), he blames himself for the situation and tirelessly spends his time searching for her, unable to rest until she's safe at home, showing he is able to admit when his aggressive actions have gone too far. Earlier in the film, he also confides in Sebastian out of the fear that he may have been too strict, hateful and abusive with Ariel, showing a struggle in both keeping her safe and being a loving father.

By the time of the sequel, Triton has become more rational and accepting of humans. He's presented as still very wise, though incredibly toned down temper wise. However, his aggressive nature remains in times of crisis. He has a soft spot for his first granddaughter, Melody, and greatly values her well-being. When Ariel declares that Melody is to be raised as a normal human for her own safety, Triton is noticeably upset as he had hoped to get to know his granddaughter but lets Ariel decide, showing that Triton has learned to trust Ariel's choices.

## Role in the Ed-Chronicles

### Avengers Saga

#### *The Eds and the Little Mermaid: Age of Extinction*

King Triton will make his debut in The Eds and the Little Mermaid: Age of Extinction.

#### *Thor and the Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning*

Triton will appear as a minor character in Thor and the Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning.

#### *Ed, Edd n Eddy: Heroes Assemble*

Triton will return as a minor character in Ed, Edd n Eddy: Heroes Assemble.