Movies

Disney Cut The Dark Reason Behind Beast’s Transformation

BBG News

The timeless fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast,” originally penned in the 18th century, stands as a significant milestone in fantasy literature. It’s most commonly recognized today due to the 1991 Disney animation, which was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, this movie was both well-received critically and commercially upon its release. However, it significantly deviated from the grim original story’s core elements – a departure that was probably necessary.

In the story by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve, the Prince isn’t punished for his unkindness or harsh behavior. Instead, he undergoes a transformation into the Beast for a much more unsettling and mature reason that portrays the prince as an unfortunate victim of the true antagonist in “Beauty and the Beast.” Even though later viewings of the Disney movie have made audiences face some harsh truths since its debut, the Beast’s transition from arrogance to humility continues to be a heartwarming aspect of the story—however, the dark foundation of this original fairy tale cannot be ignored.

The Real Reason The Prince Became Beast In The Original Beauty & The Beast

The Prince Has A Bad Godmother In The Original Fairy Tale

In the 1991 Disney film, the Prince is cursed by the Enchantress who disguised herself as an old beggar woman for not letting her into his castle during a storm. However, in the original fairy tale, it’s not a stranger who places the curse on him, but rather his own fairy godmother. The reason for this transformation is quite troubling; she turns him into a monster because he spurned her romantic advances.

The unexpected change made to the classic story creates awkward situations involving misuse of authority and control, which is why it was smart for Disney to eliminate this eerie aspect when catering to families and younger viewers. However, there’s a hidden depth in the corrupt power relationships within Villeneuve’s fairy tale that paints the Prince as a more sympathetic character who suffers significantly more than his Disney counterpart.

Beauty & The Beast’s Original Story Shows Why The Disney Version’s Real Villain Is The Enchantress

Her Villainous Nature Is Largely Unnoticed By Most Viewers

To remove the Prince’s wicked fairy godmother from the story, Disney found themselves in a predicament as they needed to introduce a new character who would be responsible for transforming the Prince into the Beast. Consequently, they came up with the Enchantress, a magical entity who may initially seem kind but is actually the malevolent force shaping the events in “Beauty and the Beast”.

Despite seeming like a young adult during the movie’s stained-glass opening scene where he rejects the Enchantress, the truth is, he was only eleven years old at that time. Regardless of his actions, it’s unfair to hold him accountable for an entire decade. Given his age, it’s evident that the Enchantress had no right to punish and isolate him as she did. In reality, the Beast in the animated Beauty and the Beast film is more of a tragic character, deserving our sympathy.

The ruthlessness of the Sorceress isn’t only directed at young children, but extends to the utterly innocent too. This is best demonstrated by her metamorphosis of the Prince’s entire staff into household items, essentially imprisoning them in the haunted castle. It’s surprising that her sinister motives haven’t been more widely recognized, as she disguises them as lessons meant to teach kindness. Despite Belle eventually lifting the spell and restoring the Prince’s human form, it’s important to note that in “Beauty and the Beast”, the real antagonist wasn’t the Beast or Gaston – it was always the Sorceress.

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2025-05-31 21:49

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