"It Blew My Tiny 9-Year-Old Mind" Celebrity Reveals the Disney Character Who Inspired Him to Work in Theater

When we think about the magic of Disney, it’s easy to picture enchanting castles, earworm songs, and iconic characters who shaped our childhoods, right?

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But for Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind Hamilton and Encanto, it wasn’t just magic – it was life-changing inspiration.

In a recent interview, Miranda revealed the spark that set him on a path toward creating some of the most memorable musical theater of our time. That source was none other than Sebastian, the feisty, calypso-singing crab from The Little Mermaid.

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“I was nine years old when I first saw The Little Mermaid,” Miranda shared. “When Sebastian started singing ‘Under the Sea,’ it blew my tiny 9-year-old mind.” It wasn’t just the vibrant animation or the catchy melody; it was the way the song blended storytelling with an unforgettable rhythm. Miranda credits that moment as the reason he’s in theater today.

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For Miranda, Sebastian wasn’t just another character. He was a bridge between storytelling and music, and that’s something Miranda has built his career on. The song “Under the Sea,” crafted by Disney legends Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, introduced Miranda to the power of combining compelling lyrics with captivating melodies.

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And honestly, can we blame him? “Under the Sea” is still a total bop. It’s the kind of tune that sticks with you, weaving its way into your subconscious until you find yourself humming it days later. For young Lin-Manuel, it was more than catchy; it was transformative.

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Fast forward to today, and Miranda has taken that inspiration to new heights. With musicals like Hamilton, In the Heights, and Disney’s Encanto, he’s carried the legacy of Ashman and Menken’s storytelling magic into his own work. His ability to craft songs that move audiences emotionally (and get stuck in their heads for weeks) mirrors the very magic he fell in love with as a kid.

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Sebastian’s influence even helped Miranda secure his first Disney gig on Moana. In his pitch to directors Ron Clements and John Musker – who also directed The Little Mermaid – he referenced Sebastian as his muse. “You guys are the reason I’m even sitting here talking to you,” he told them. And clearly, it worked. Miranda went on to create Moana’s iconic “How Far I’ll Go,” channeling the same universal appeal that made Sebastian’s calypso hit a classic.

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Now, Miranda’s connection to Disney continues with his recent work on Mufasa: The Lion King, where he wrote seven songs for the prequel. Each piece reflects his ability to weave story, emotion, and music together – an ability he first glimpsed watching a crab with a thick Caribbean accent convince a mermaid to stay underwater.

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Who would’ve thought a little crab could inspire one of the most influential figures in modern theater? I guess that’s Disney magic for you.

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