Disney's last animated direct-to-video film to date. One of the inquiries John Lasseter made after becoming Chief Creative Officer of both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar was for the studio to only work on spin-offs like the Tinker Bell franchise and occasionally original films, which also cancelled sequels from DisneyToon Studios (theatrical and direct-to-video ones) that officially had been underway or planned at the time, such as Pinocchio 2, Dumbo II, The Jungle Book 3, The Aristocats II, Aladdin 4, Hercules 2 and Mulan III, in addition more Disney Princess Enchanted Tales Films.
Due to being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Kenneth Mars was unable to reprise King Triton for this film. Mars passed away three years later.
When Marina is on the surface, she makes two references to The Little Mermaid (1989). First, she does the same move that Ariel does while singing "Part of Your World Reprise." The second is that a seagull (most likely Scuttle) flies by. She says "don't touch me" as Scuttle had attacked Ursula and Morgana in the previous films.
When King Triton speaks to Marina and Sebastian about Ariel. Marina suggests that all of the princesses are trouble and that they should shave their heads. In the original story by Hans Christian Anderson, the sisters of the little mermaid all trade their long hair for a dagger to save the little mermaid.
Samuel E. Wright's final film role, and his final performance as Sebastian the Crab before retiring from acting 13 years prior to his death in 2021.