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 30th film in the
Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third in the
Disney Renaissance period, it is based on the French
fairy tale of the same name by
Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, who was uncredited in the English version but credited in the French version, and ideas from the
1946 French film.
Beauty and the Beast focuses on the relationship between the
Beast (
Robby Benson), a prince who is magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance, and
Belle (
Paige O'Hara), a beautiful young woman whom he imprisons in his castle. To become a prince again, Beast must win her love in return otherwise he remains a monster forever. The film also features the voices of
Richard White,
Jerry Orbach,
David Ogden Stiers, and
Angela Lansbury.