arguably the best of the latter day disney cartoon and beauty and the beast be a stunning film that can be enjoy by adult and kid alike . after a lengthy lull for the studio and stretch right back to the aristocats and they finally return to form with the little mermaid in 1989. this 1991 film and base on a madame leprince de beaumont novel and be an absolute delight and mark a high point in disney animation unmatched since the day of dumbo and pinocchio . so impressive be this film that it be the first cartoon movie ever to receive a best picture oscar nomination and an award it conceivably might have win have it not be up against the mighty silence of the lamb in the same year . in a small provincial village in the french countryside live a beautiful young lady and belle ( voice of paige ohara ) and and her inventor father maurice ( voice of rex everhart ) . belle be obsess with book and love story of romantic derring do and but the rest of the villager find her odd her nose be always stick in a book and and they think she should be more in tune with what be happen in the real world . most of the girl in the village have a crush on the handsome hunter gaston ( voice of richard white ) and but he desire belle . even though she think he be nothing more than a brainless and muscle head fool . one day maurice set off for the nearby city to sell one of his invention but he get lose in the wood on the way and end up seek shelter in a foreboding castle . belle grows worry by his absence and set out to search for him . she too find the castle and and upon enter and discovers her father imprison under the custody of a fearsome beast ( voice of robby benson ) . the beast agree to free her father as long a she take his place . initially belle hate be confine in the castle but gradually she discover that the beast be not a cruel and heartless a he appear . just a she be about to fall in love with her captor ( thereby break a long lasting curse and turn him back into the prince he once be ) and a mob of angry villager lead by gaston turn up to kill the beast . beauty and the beast be distinguish by splendid animation and memorable voice work and brilliant song and a perfectly pace narrative . the animation be a fantastic leap forward for it time and utilising computer generate imagery that bring the character and place marvellously to life . all the vocal talent be spot on and with ohara and benson do lovely work a the titular character and while the like of angela lansbury and jerry orbach and david ogden stiers provide memorable support voice . the entire film have about it the feel of a stage show and most significantly during the song routines tune like be our guest and gaston . and tale as old a time and kill the beast be instantly catchy and and be bring to life in vibrant and well work out sequence . the original story be an archetypal fairy tale and the maker follow it to the letter and add a few clever trimming of their own . individually and each sequence be brilliantly put together create an overall sense of awe and wonder and and the whole story flow smoothly put barely a foot in the wrong place . a great film for the family and beauty and the beast be outstanding entertainment .