Disney has handed The Little Mermaid to Swedish pop star Zara Larsson, and fans cannot agree on whether the move is a hit or a miss. The range is now available as a Complex exclusive, putting a 1989 animated film in the hands of a modern pop artist.
Bobby Kim, better known as Bobby Hundreds, leads the project as Global Creative Director at Disney. He says the collection continues Disney's goal of linking its stories with leading musicians, and early online reactions show how differently people see that idea.
Inside the Disney x Zara Larsson Collection
Special-edition tees lead the range. Fans can also buy Zara-fied Mermaid designs on ribbed tanks, long-sleeve tops, zip hoodies and off-the-shoulder tees, along with tote bags and pin sets.
Kim shared a statement with Complex explaining the project's thinking. He said the collaboration continues a goal to 'bridge storytelling with leading musical talent in authentic ways.' He described Larsson as 'a premium example' of that approach, and said she lets Disney celebrate The Little Mermaid at the intersection of music, fashion and fandom.
Larsson is also busy with her own music. On 15 October, she released the official video for 'Blue Moon,' a track from her 2025 album Midnight Sun, in which she transforms into a fairy and a mermaid.
Why Fans Are Split on the Little Mermaid Merch
Reaction to the announcement has been mixed. Many of Larsson's followers are delighted, with one commenter writing: 'Our Swedish queen gets to collab with DISNEY?!' Another predicted, 'This collection is gonna make a splash.'
Others are not convinced. One commenter called it 'a very random approach to these two concepts' and asked, 'Is it a Little Mermaid or Zara Larsson item?' They finished with a blunt verdict: 'Very weird.' Another critic targeted the execution directly, noting, 'The colors aren't vibrant enough, and the design just falls flat.'
Mashing a 1989 animated classic with an artist whose latest album dropped in 2025 naturally pulls the conversation in two distinct directions. On one side is the excitement of pop fans watching a favorite artist step into the Disney universe; on the other is immediate hesitation about whether a modern singer's brand will lose Ariel's original identity.
Is Music-Led Pop Merch the Future of Disney Style?
Larsson is not the only musical act partnering with Disney on Complex this month. Early in October, Complex also released an exclusive Disney collection with rising girl group KATSEYE, featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Figaro across hoodies, tees, tanks, totes, and pin sets. As Kim noted, that drop was designed to give fans 'another way to connect with the group's creativity and authenticity.'
For Larsson, stepping into an aquatic Disney property fits right into her recent pop rebrand. After her 2017 track 'Symphony' exploded into a viral, sea-inspired dolphin meme on social media, the singer leaned into oceanic visuals, siren glam, and aquatic motifs across her music, making a Little Mermaid collaboration a natural extension of her current public image.
So does the Zara Larsson Little Mermaid collection give Ariel a fresh look, or does it lose what made her work in the first place? The full Zara Larsson collection is available now exclusively on Complex.
