Momocon 2024 in Atlanta: Jodi Benson from The Little Mermaid arrives

ATLANTA — Fandoms will come together this Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta to enjoy exclusive meet-ups, panels and activities – all as part of Momocon, a convention celebrating “geek culture.”

One of the esteemed guests gracing the Georgia World Congress Center is famed voice actress Jodi Benson. Benson, a North Georgia resident and actress, is best known for bringing Ariel to life in Disney’s 1989 animated film “The Little Mermaid.”

She discussed what excites her most about one of Atlanta’s premier conventions and what’s next for her.

“When it comes to ‘The Little Mermaid’ and the future, it’s all hush-hush,” Benson teased in a remote interview.

With the franchise’s inspiring adaptations and spinoffs, Benson said she’s still dipping her fins into different projects based on the beloved film that will all be on the Disney+ streaming app.

Benson, who recently passed the “fork,” aka “dinglehopper,” to Atlanta artist Halle Bailey for the live-action remake, said she is not currently working with her. A strong supporter of the remake and Bailey, Benson said she hopes they can collaborate in the future.

“I know Ariel is alive and doing great, and I’m in the studio all the time working on so many wonderful projects that I unfortunately can’t talk about – but we’re excited,” she shared.

At her core, Benson is an artist. However, she has a few causes that are close to her heart.

“I’m really passionate about Smiley for Kylie and CURE, which is based here in Atlanta for childhood cancer research,” she explained.

Both metro Atlanta organizations support initiatives and raise funds for targeted research aimed at better understanding and hopefully curing pediatric cancer.

Benson’s niece, Kylie Meyers, died of cancer days before her 13th birthday. Benson tries to raise awareness every chance she gets.

“That was his last wish, was that we could help kill childhood cancer, so that’s what the family is very strong and passionate about,” she stressed.

The actress also expressed her love for Give Kids The World Village, a whimsical 89-acre nonprofit resort near Orlando that partners with Make-A-Wish-Foundation and Make-A-Wish Families. The goal is to provide children with serious illnesses and their families with a magical dream vacation free of charge.

“For one week, a whole family can come and spend a magical week in Orlando doing all kinds of fun things,” she explained.

Benson will actually be moving to Orlando for a month over Memorial Day weekend to produce a production of “Hello Dolly!” in June. Part of the profits will return to the village.

Known for her breakout role as a Disney princess, Benson said her stand now looks different.

In part, she said “you can now record anywhere in the world.”

This was especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when working in person was nearly impossible.

“I was in London working on the live-action ‘The Little Mermaid,’ and I was in the hotel room, literally cooped up for almost a month because we’re in the middle of COVID,” she recalled.

She joked that doing auditions from her hotel closet was still professional, even with clothes hanging around her.

While there are benefits to being able to work anywhere, she said she misses the way voice acting would be in the ’80s.

“I really miss the camaraderie of being together as an actor, building on each other’s chemistry, developing those relationships behind the mic,” she said.

Ariel’s voice itself says she doesn’t need to swim far to get to this convention.

Having a home on Lake Lanier in north Georgia, Benson said she looks forward to coming down to see the fans, as well as friends and family, who come to spend the weekend.

“Also, I’m excited because my dear, dear friend Linda Larkin, who is the voice of Jasmine, is going to join me in Atlanta,” she said. “So every time I see one of my girls, one of my ‘Princess Posse’ girls and one of the Disney Legends, I’m so excited that we get to have a little visit after each show and get to see as friends.”

Well, it looks like it will probably be filmed.

“I’m very excited that it’s going to be a really good year,” she said of 2024.

Benson said she was filming four episodes of a Netflix show – giving fans familiar with her voice a chance to see her on screen.

“Again, (it’s) something I can’t talk about, but I’m having so much fun on camera because it’s been so long – decades – since I’ve done something like this in front of the camera, and I have an explosion,” she said.

Describing the project as having a cast that was “so king and gracious” to let her join “their established hit show”, she said she felt like part of the family.

Since it’s convention season, she also travels the world to meet her fans. From Ariel enthusiasts to Barbie and Thumbelina appreciators, Benson said she appreciates the time spent meeting people face-to-face.

“I think I have 15 more this year, so it’s going to be a lot of traveling, but a lot of fun,” she said. “I meet the most amazing people and love hearing their stories about what Ariel or my characters mean to them.”

To find out how to meet Benson while in Atlanta, visit the Momocon website.