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Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It adapts the French fairy tale of the same name, following Belle and a prince cursed to live as a beast until he learns to love and be loved in return. The film is widely noted for its critical success, box-office performance, and Academy Awards recognition as the first animated feature nominated for Best Picture.

Plot

The film is set in an enchanted castle where a prince has been transformed into a Beast after rejecting a mysterious enchantress. Belle enters his world, and the story develops around their relationship, the curse, and the Beast’s need to change before the final petal falls from an enchanted rose.

Production and release

Disney’s 1991 animated version drew on earlier French tellings of the tale, especially the adaptation by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. It premiered in November 1991 and became a landmark release for the studio.

Reception and legacy

The film received strong critical acclaim and major awards recognition, including a historic Best Picture nomination. It is commonly described as one of the defining films of the Disney Renaissance.

The 1991 film inspired later stage adaptations, spin-offs, and a 2017 live-action remake. It remains one of Disney’s most recognized animated titles.

Key facts

  • The film is a Disney animated adaptation of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
  • Its central story concerns Belle, who befriends a cursed prince living as a Beast.
  • The curse is broken when the Beast learns to love and be loved in return.
  • The film was released in 1991 and became one of Disney’s major animated successes.
  • It was the first animated feature film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
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Canadian context

The film has long been popular in Canada through theatrical release, television, home video, and Disney-branded distribution, and it is part of the wider Disney catalogue widely consumed by Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Beauty and the Beast?
It is a 1991 Disney animated musical fantasy film based on the French fairy tale of the same name.
Who are the main characters?
The central characters are Belle, a young woman, and the Beast, a cursed prince.
When was the film released?
It was released on November 13, 1991.
What is the story about?
A cursed prince must learn to love and be loved in return before an enchanted rose loses its last petal.
Why is the film notable?
It was the first animated feature nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Is this the original fairy tale?
No. It is a Disney adaptation of the fairy tale tradition, especially the 1756 version by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

References

  1. Disney — https://movies.disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast
    Supports: Official release date, genre, and Disney identification of the film.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1991_film)
    Supports: Plot outline, setting, and broad description of the film’s significance.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and basic film identification.
  4. Time Out — https://time.com/news/beauty-and-the-beast-turns-30-heres-30-facts-about-the-classic-disney-animation-101022/
    Supports: Historical background, relation to earlier fairy-tale versions, and anniversary context.
  5. D23 — https://d23.com/beauty-and-the-beast-at-30-from-production-to-classic/
    Supports: Disney production history and studio significance.