Disney's Beauty & the Beast Started this Love Affair

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Like many young girls in the 1980s, my love for fairy tales began with the Disney classics.  They are great, after all.

My first favorite was Sleeping Beauty... until Disney released Beauty and the Beast in November 1991, and I was hooked.  I loved Belle and the different kind of princess she brought to the classic mix.  She loved books and independence and deftly navigated those around her that didn't agree with her perspectives.

I collected posters, the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack CD to memorize all song lyrics, figurines, dolls, you name it, I probably had it.  I really loved this movie… and I was a senior in high school.  We were not too cool for Beauty and the Beast.

My high-school sweetheart liked to draw, and was a good artist.  For my birthday he drew a frame-worthy masterpiece of one of the ballroom scenes.  I loved it, and it proudly went to college with me.  I've saved the picture and toted it around with me for 30 years because it's still a gem and the memories are sweet.

After college, still a fan.  The Disney Beauty and the Beast musical came to Chicago in 1998 where I was working at the time.  It was fantastic.  



Still Appreciating Disney's Beauty and the Beast After All These Years

31 years later and I'm still a big fan.  I still know most of the lyrics to the soundtrack, and purchased the enhanced Blu-ray when it was released.  Trips to Walt Disney World aren't complete without a visit to the France Pavilion in Epcot for a hopeful snap of the Beauty and the Beast topiary.

Beauty and the Beast topiary at Epcot, taken 2018

Belle remains a heroine to admire.  The live-action Beauty and the Beast adaptation released in 2017 proved that true.  I'm glad Belle signaled a turn in our expectations of strong fairytale princesses who can be role models for young folk.

I also enjoyed the live action special on ABC released December 2022 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Disney Beauty and the Beast.


Don't we all want adventure?

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned"
                             - Belle, Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Isn't that just the sentiment an 18 year-old girl about to embark on a college adventure would feel? 💗

As I have discovered new Beauty and the Beast tales, I've thought back to how the Disney retelling reflected the original fairytale.


Disney's Beauty and the Beast is Based Loosely on the Original Fairytale

Disney's version of Beauty & the Beast is based loosely on Madame Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont's version of the tale, which is a shorter, less fanciful version of the original by Madame Barbot de Villeneuve.  The structure of the tale is the same - Belle takes her father's place, love & respect grow, Beast is released from his enchantment.

Disney also reflects a few other elements of the original fairytale:

  • Beauty returns to Beast after visiting her father
  • Beast transforms into a prince once his enchantment is released
  • Beast's castle is enchanted with magical caretakers
  • There is a magic mirror to view the outside world
  • A happily every after, of course it does!

Statue of Gaston, a character of the Beauty and the Beast animated feature
Tribute to Gaston taken 2018

On the other hand, you won't find an enchanted rose, dastardly Gaston, an easily-swayed village, or books in the original.
















To streamline the story, quite a few interesting elements were not included, such as: 

  • Selfish sisters that turn to stone
  • Fairies!  An evil fairy nanny, a warrior queen fairy, a good auntie fairy… a veritable soap opera of fairies
  • An adoption
  • A daily marriage proposal

That's ok!  You'll just have to read the original.


You're a fan, too?  Need Disney's Beauty and the Beast Fan Gear?

Beauty and the Beast Funko Pop - yes, please!







You just can't have too many journals.  I may snag this one for blog planning - Beauty and the Beast illustrated journal.

 





Precious Moments "Dream of Adventure" Belle -  too cute!





Cheers to Disney's Beauty and the Beast!


What about you?  What's your favorite fairytale?

💗 What was your favorite fairytale as a kid?  Has it changed through the years?


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