Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
The film tells the story of a young woman named Belle, who becomes a prisoner in an enchanted castle owned by a Beast, a prince cursed for his arrogance and cruelty. To break the curse, the Beast must learn to love and earn Belle's love before the last petal from an enchanted rose falls.
The film features the voices of Paige O'Hara as Belle and Robby Benson as the Beast, along with an ensemble cast that includes Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, and David Ogden Stiers. It premiered as an unfinished film at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1991, and was released theatrically on November 22, 1991. Beauty and the Beast grossed over $425 million worldwide on a budget of $25 million, receiving widespread acclaim for its animation, characters, and musical numbers.
Notably, Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 64th Academy Awards. It won two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for its title track. The film's success led to adaptations into other media, including a Broadway musical that premiered in 1994.
The narrative explores themes of inner beauty and redemption, as Belle learns to see beyond the Beast's exterior and discovers his kind heart. The film is renowned for its memorable musical numbers like "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast," performed by Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury). The enchanting story and rich animation have made Beauty and the Beast a beloved classic in Disney's animated canon.