Scuttle in the new Little Mermaid is not a seagull like in the animated movie ; she’s a female gannet in the live-action version, voiced by Awkwafina. The change was made so Ariel could meet Scuttle underwater , which fits the remake’s storytelling better.

Quick Scoop

In the 2023 film, Scuttle still plays the same basic role: she’s the comic, overly confident “expert” on human objects who gives Ariel funny, often wrong advice.

So if you’re asking “what is Scuttle?” the short answer is: Ariel’s quirky bird friend and guide to the human world.

What Changed

  • Original film: male seagull.
  • Live-action remake: female gannet.
  • Voice actor: Awkwafina.

Why the Change Happened

The remake adjusted Scuttle’s species so Ariel wouldn’t need to go above the surface early in the story; instead, Scuttle can meet her in the water and pass along surface-world info there.

TL;DR

Scuttle is Ariel’s funny bird sidekick, but in the new movie she’s a female gannet instead of a seagull.