Since I was a child I have enjoyed watching Disney cartoons and read the stories. I have many favourites among Disney classics like Peter Pan,
The projects for the animation were already done in the beginning of the 20th century but they were finally given up because the production team considered it a challenge. The team worked also introducing new characters in the story for example the living objects in the castle to add a more cheerily atmosphere to the gloomy storyline. Also the prologue of the film which tells the story is made different with stained glass windows because the producers wanted to have the classical Disney prologue without using a book as they did so many times in the past. Also the visual effects were praised and stated to be "stunning early use of computer animation" as in the scene where Beast and Belle are dancing, 3-D techniques have been used for creating the ballroom.
The animated film was also nominated for many prizes and won most of them setting even records. For example, it was the only full-length animated feature film to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and the winner of two Academy Awards for best original song and best original score. The film is part of the so-called Disney Renaissance era and after it animations were made mixing the traditional with computer generated imagery. The film was also the base for a sequel released in 1997, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas and one in 1998, Belle’s Magical World as well as a theatrical production, Sing me a Story with Belle.
The music was composed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and the songs were included in Classic Disney: 60 Years of Musical Magic box set and the Disney's Greatest Hits CD set. Moreover, the songs of the movie strongly influenced the Finnish metal band Nightwish and this can be seen on their first album Angels Fall First where there is a song Beauty and the Beast, a reinterpretation of the original plot.
Disney studios are also planning a release of the movie in Disney Digital 3-D format in 2011.
Here is the trailer of the animation, some more information about it and a link where it is the entire movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRlzmyveDHE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1991_film)
It is hard not to imagine that everybody, at least in a certain moment of their lives, is a fan of Disney. What I enjoy most about their animations is the 'moral end', the idea of good x evil and that 'good' always wins in the end. Although it might not be a realistic idea, it is a hopeful way to teach children they must be good and righteous. Culturally, I believe Disney's way of portraiting foreign cultures, as in Mulan, allows children to have a broaden view of the world and more respect to other ways of living.
ReplyDeleteI must confess that I, for example, have always had problems with Disney Productions. Mostly because of the heavy stereotyping they have in their stories. I found their idealized super-thin-waisted, big-eyed fairytale-princesses unrealistic and strangely passive compared with the wide-shouldered and more active male characteres long-long before I knew anything about gender roles and stereotypes..I just felt that they are telling the same story again and again and just from the one viewpoint. I used to like Lion KIng more because of the animal characters - even if the story was still full of stereotypes (obligatory comical side-character etc) at least it all took an animal form and that was the nice break from the usual Barbies and Kens :)
ReplyDeleteI think Lion King had very good success, because it was translated to many different languages. I have like Lion King and I really think that this Disney movie managed to have good "dubbing" actors to it too in different languages.
ReplyDeleteHere are few samples about that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNA5JSdpsao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRR_XhSUesU
I have also read about some gender interpretations of Disney cartoons but i disregard them totally. I grew up with Disney and i am sure they did not influence me in a bad way. I regard them as a source of optimism and i can get cheered up immediately by watching cartoons, they are very relaxing. And not to forget, i like that they always have a moral. And besides, I find the Beast the most enjoyable animated character. Somehow he reminds me of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
ReplyDelete