We’re officially at the midpoint of my Disney Animated Classics review series, and whilst at the time of writing this there are sixty films in the series, there will inevitably be more in time. So, this thirtieth film won’t be the mid-point forever, but for now it’s a great point to be able to look back at what came before, and what would come next, all because Beauty and the Beast is one of the greatest Animated Classics in the series, combining the greatness of princess fairy tales from the Golden & Silver ages whilst also bringing in many modern elements such as more complex characters, grander stories, and of course some incredible musical numbers.
When a cruel and selfish prince turns away a beggar woman, she reveals herself to be an enchantress who places the prince under a curse. He must find true love before the final petal falls from an enchanted rose, or else he will remain inside the body of a hideous beast for the rest of time.
Some years later Belle (Paige O'Hara), the daughter of the local madcap inventor (Rex Everhart), doesn’t fit in with the provincial life she is forced to endure. Seen as an oddball by all the locals, Belle is beautiful and gentle, but incredibly smart and outspoken.
When her father is taken prisoner by the Beast (Robby Benson) at his castle, Belle offers to trade places with him, which Beast accepts. As the two spend time together, Belle begins to break down Beast’s barriers and teach him how to treat people with kindness and respect. But will Belle learn to love the Beast before the curse becomes permanent?
When a cruel and selfish prince turns away a beggar woman, she reveals herself to be an enchantress who places the prince under a curse. He must find true love before the final petal falls from an enchanted rose, or else he will remain inside the body of a hideous beast for the rest of time.
Some years later Belle (Paige O'Hara), the daughter of the local madcap inventor (Rex Everhart), doesn’t fit in with the provincial life she is forced to endure. Seen as an oddball by all the locals, Belle is beautiful and gentle, but incredibly smart and outspoken.
When her father is taken prisoner by the Beast (Robby Benson) at his castle, Belle offers to trade places with him, which Beast accepts. As the two spend time together, Belle begins to break down Beast’s barriers and teach him how to treat people with kindness and respect. But will Belle learn to love the Beast before the curse becomes permanent?
There’s a number of reasons why Beauty and the Beast has remained as hugely popular today as it was when it first released thirty years ago. Firstly, there’s the story. It combines the best elements of films like Snow White & Cinderella but adds to it great sociological and philosophical complexities. Things that won’t get in the way of children thoroughly enjoying the film, but give adults considerably more to digest, unpack, and contemplate as the film goes on. Belle is a fine example of a powerful female character, she may not be physically strong, but she is mentally and morally unmatched. She is nicer and more intelligent than any other character in the film, and everything that happens to her is by her choice. She doesn’t fall in love with the prince because that’s how it’s supposed to be like in the other Disney Princess films, she instead falls in love with the man he becomes whilst he is in her company. Is it a tad manic pixie dream girl? You could read it that way, but I feel that’s a cynical view of things because of how it all play out. It’s a hell of a film for feminists, one that champions equality and autonomy for women because Belle is no man’s property, she isn’t something to be won, she demands respect and in the end is finally given it.
Secondly there’s the incredible soundtrack. The Little Mermaid set the standard for what was to come with the rest of the Renaissance Era in terms of grand musical numbers, and Beauty and the Beast doubles down on these. There’s more of them, and they’re almost all better than the already excellent songs in Little Mermaid. Unforgettable songs like ‘Be Our Guest’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ send shivers down your spine and make your arms hairs stand on end with excitement and awe.
Add to this the improved animation quality from The Rescuers Down Under and you have much more detailed and interesting character and environment designs, as well as impressive use of 3D computer generated animation that blends seamlessly with the traditional 2D animation to enhance the visuals beyond anything possible in a Disney film before.
I could gush about Beauty and the Beast for ages, but at the end of the day I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said before. The film is nothing short of a masterpiece, and in my personal opinion there’s still much better to come from the Animated Classics collection. But Beauty and the Beast is a true timeless classic in the same sense as many of the early Disney Animated Classics, and one that pushes the types of story Disney told further than anything else before, and set the stage for a slew of equally impressive films to follow in the near future.
Secondly there’s the incredible soundtrack. The Little Mermaid set the standard for what was to come with the rest of the Renaissance Era in terms of grand musical numbers, and Beauty and the Beast doubles down on these. There’s more of them, and they’re almost all better than the already excellent songs in Little Mermaid. Unforgettable songs like ‘Be Our Guest’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ send shivers down your spine and make your arms hairs stand on end with excitement and awe.
Add to this the improved animation quality from The Rescuers Down Under and you have much more detailed and interesting character and environment designs, as well as impressive use of 3D computer generated animation that blends seamlessly with the traditional 2D animation to enhance the visuals beyond anything possible in a Disney film before.
I could gush about Beauty and the Beast for ages, but at the end of the day I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said before. The film is nothing short of a masterpiece, and in my personal opinion there’s still much better to come from the Animated Classics collection. But Beauty and the Beast is a true timeless classic in the same sense as many of the early Disney Animated Classics, and one that pushes the types of story Disney told further than anything else before, and set the stage for a slew of equally impressive films to follow in the near future.