One of the cornerstones of the period that animation geeks refer to as The Disney Renaissance, Beauty and the Beast loosely adapts the classic French fairytale into a 90 minute musical extravaganza containing equal parts humor and pathos. Pleased with the success of The Little Mermaid (1989), Disney executives instructed the filmmakers to take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to the follow-up. Beauty and the Beast had its share of creative issues and tragedy; the first director was fired a year into production and songwriter Howard Ashman sadly died while the movie was still in animatics. Despite this, Beauty and the Beast was a smash hit that collected critical accolades and award statues. Its stature has only grown in the decades following its release, especially among millennials who grew up watching a battered VHS tape of it over and over again.
Ryan is joined by Sylvan for a lengthy discussion about this beloved film. There's some comparison between this film and both its source material and the Beauty and the Beast films that precede it (the 1946 Jean Cocteau film inevitably comes up). The direct-to-video sequels, video game tie-ins, and 2017 "live action" remake also come up in the discussion. Other talking points include how Belle's character was developed at least partially in response to criticisms of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, whether it's fair to frame Beauty and the Beast's themes around Stockholm Syndrome, how Belle and Beast appeal to those on the spectrum, the frightening charisma of Gaston, and how the movie's climax is reflective of the queer experience during the AIDS crisis.
