NewJeans Danielle provided Korean dubbing for “The Little Mermaid” and showcased good Korean pronunciation and singing skills.
When NewJeans Danielle was revealed to dub the main character Ariel in the Korean version of Disney’s musical film “The Little Mermaid”, the public raised doubts and gave mixed reactions. However, after the OST was released a week before the movie premiere, Danielle surprised everyone not only with her singing abilities but also with her unexpected acting skills in the film.
Concerns that Danielle might lack Korean proficiency arose partly because she’s a mixed-blood idol. In particular, she speaks English more often and Korean in usual broadcast activities and interview videos. Except for her fans, the public might find it difficult to judge her Korean speaking skills.
Danielle, whose mother is Korean and father is Australian, lived in Korea for three years from the age of 4 to 7 then returned to Australia in the middle of her first grade of elementary school. Since Danielle spent her elementary and middle school years in Australia, it is undeniable that she is more comfortable and fluent in English. She returned to Korea around 2020, in her third year of middle school, to become an idol trainee and learned Korean.
Read more: NewJeans’ Danielle faces criticism from some international fans for dubbing “The Little Mermaid”
Due to Danielle’s special background, many people raised concerns when seeing her silhouette in the poster of “The Little Mermaid” because dubbing acting focuses more on the voice rather than facial expressions.
However, Danielle showcased her Korean pronunciation and singing abilities beyond expectations through her dubbing performance in “The Little Mermaid”. When evaluating her vocal skills, it is impossible to ignore her ability to convey emotions through lyrics. Danielle added her unique tone and perfect high notes to complete her lyric delivery. Even when watched alongside Halle Bailey’s acting in the cinema, Danielle’s voice blended with the mood well without leaving any awkwardness.
Since she made her debut in the music industry last year, Danielle had no prior experience in any other works except for music videos. It seems like she had put considerable effort into preparing for “The Little Mermaid”. Not all actors who have lived in Korea since birth could captivate the audience’s ears 100%, but Danielle handled it impressively although this was her first attempt at dubbing. Therefore, netizens are looking forward to seeing more of her solo performances and projects in the future.
In the end, Danielle’s dubbing for “The Little Mermaid” is satisfying. It might have been difficult to hear her long solo part in NewJeans’s songs, but through this opportunity, she completely immersed herself in Ariel and attracted fans once again with her flawless visual as well as singing ability.
“The Little Mermaid” (directed by Rob Marshall/ distributed by Walt Disney Company Korea) is a Disney live-action musical that tells about the adventurous little mermaid Ariel (Halle Bailey), who has always dreamed of the world beyond the sea, as she saves Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) in a shipwreck and goes on an adventure to follow the sound of her own heart into the forbidden human world.
It premiered in Korean theaters on May 24th and attracted 344,094 viewers according to the figure recorded on May 28th.
Source: Daum
