 Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The 30th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third in the Disney Renaissance period , it is based on the French fairy tale of the same name by Jeanne @-@ Marie Leprince de Beaumont , who was also credited in the English version as well as in the French version , and ideas from the 1946 French film directed by Jean Cocteau . Beauty and the Beast focuses on the relationship between the Beast ( Robby Benson ) , a prince who is magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance , and Belle ( Paige O 'Hara ) , a beautiful young woman whom he imprisons in his castle . To become a prince again , Beast must win her love in return otherwise he remains a monster forever . The film also features the voices of Richard White , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , and Angela Lansbury . 
