Mandela Effect: Was Sebastian a Lobster?
When you think back to Disney’s The Little Mermaid, chances are you can still hear Sebastian’s voice singing Under the Sea or warning Ariel not to go to the surface. But here’s where things get strange — many people distinctly remember Sebastian as a lobster. The reality? Sebastian is actually a crab.
The Memory: Sebastian was a Lobster
Ask around, and you’ll be surprised how many people confidently recall Sebastian being referred to — or even described — as a red lobster. It seems to fit: he has large claws, a longish body, and that iconic bright red color. Pair that with his thick Caribbean accent and laid-back personality, and it just feels like he was a lobster all along.
The Reality: Sebastian is a Crab
According to official Disney materials, Sebastian is a crab — not a lobster. Specifically, his full name is Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian, and he serves as King Triton’s royal court composer. The shape of his body and claws actually match more with a fiddler crab, despite the visual similarities some people associate with lobsters.
Why This Might Be Happening
It could be the combination of:
- His exaggerated claws (larger than most crabs)
- The red coloring, similar to cooked lobster
- How stylized animation distorted his features
- Or simply that “lobster” feels more exotic or memorable to a child
Still, for many, the crab reality feels off — and that’s why this moment is logged in our archive as yet another Mandela Effect.
Have You Been Affected?
- Do you remember Sebastian being a lobster?
- Did you have a toy or book that said otherwise?
- Has this changed your memory of The Little Mermaid?
Let us know in the comments.
