The Disney animated feature Beauty and the Beast was a phenomenon in the early 90’s. What made it such was because it was the very first animated film feature to have ever earned a Best Picture nomination at the Oscar. Thus, it has become the benchmark to which every other animated movie (not only by Disney) hopes to follow after.
Beauty and the Beast is the story of a simple provincial girl named Belle who lives with her inventor father. While on one of his trips Belle’s father inadvertently stumbles upon a palace where a beast-like Prince lives. Offended at something her father has done, the Beast takes the old inventor prisoner. But upon learning of this, Belle bravely faces the Prince to offer herself in exchange for her father’s freedom. Her father thinks this is a big mistake. But living as a prisoner in the Prince’s dreary palace, Belle not only brought color, harmony and life to it. She also eventually taught the Beast with a heart of stone to appreciate life and love.
In terms of visuals, Beauty and the Beast is a well-put together animated classic. Dazzling can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it is. The animated drawings had been considered of finest quality at that time, and maybe even until today. The ballroom scene with the Beast and Belle dancing to a love song for the first time isn’t just straight out of fairy tale book; it’s straight out of a superbly directed movie. When it came to the effects, Disney surely didn’t scrimp on the budget.
With its brilliant Broadway musical tunes and zany animated characters voiced by superb talents like Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and David Ogden Stiersit, is easy to see why Beauty and the Beast is hailed as Disney’s best. Their production numbers defines why Disney is so good at doing this because the singing and dancing were literally show-stoppers.
Beauty and the Beast is the best mix of music, story and movie innovation. It’s the kind of film that’s equally enjoyable to watch with the whole family and kids or just by you, alone.