Disney Execs Recall Beauty & The Beast's Groundbreaking Oscar Nomination
Disney executives recall their memories of hearing about 1991's Beauty and the Beast's groundbreaking Oscar nomination. Disney's animated classic Beauty and the Beast is one of the iconic «Disney Renaissance» films that were released between 1989 and 1999. The movie tells the story of a prince cursed to take the form of a monster unless he can end the spell by finding true love. Beauty and the Beast was helmed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, and starred Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson and Angela Lansbury. Today, Beauty and the Beast is considered to be one of the most iconic Disney films of all time, having since been turned into a hit Broadway musical, as well as receiving a live action adaptation in 2017 starring Emma Watson.
Beauty and the Beast also marks a major milestone for both Disney animation, and the film industry in general. Upon its release, Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year at the Academy Awards. At the time, only two Disney films had ever been nominated in the category: Mary Poppins and Dead Poets Society (both live-action). The nomination was especially impressive, as the category for Best Animated Feature did not exist yet, so it was rare that animated films were recognized for anything at the Oscars other than their music (for which Beauty and the Beast was indeed nominated for four times in one year). This unexpected nomination surprised no one more than the filmmakers who worked on the movie.
Related: This Dark Theory Completely Changes Beauty & The Beast’s Ending
In a recent article from THR, the team behind Beauty and the Beast have recalled their memories of the historic nomination ahead of the 2022 Academy Awards. Disney's West
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