Beauty and the Beast is a beloved Disney animation that tells the classic fairy tale of two unlikely sources falling in love, despite all of the obstacles that stand in their way. The story all begins when a young, wealthy, good-looking prince refuses to show hospitality to an elderly woman that begs for some assistance. Not giving a second thought to her, instead neglecting her to the cold outside world and not becoming welcoming in the slightest, the prince doesn't even realize the harshness and poor-temper of his ways until it's too late. Discovering that this woman is actually an enchantress capable of numerous and powerful spells, she uses her powers to transform the prince into a monstrous and ugly Beast and commands the spell so that it will last until the Beast can redeem himself by discovering the true meaning of love, giving it to someone else and being loved back as well. Additionally, the spell also transforms all the servants and objects of the prince's castle into odd and extraneous items as well, like turning some servants into a talking clock and a talking candle. The Beast's life, which consists mostly of dreary isolation and solitude, is soon intetwined with that of Belle, a clever, high-spriited girl from a small village. Belle is the type of person that doesn't adhere to orders all that well, instead listening to her own interests, aspirations, and wishes, and with that mindset, she decides to venture off away from the village when she discovers that her father, Maurice, a brilliant inventor that she admires and cares for deeply, has been missing for quite some time and finds his horse that he would never leave behind. Upon leaving the village, Belle unknowingly enters the Beast's castle, where she believes her father is captured. At first glance, Belle is horrified at the grotesque features of the Beast, assuming him to be a cold and callous figure that has no warmth in his heart, but after learning more information from the Beast's servants, who remain enchanted as well, Belle slowly discovers that the Beast might not be as much of a monster as he can come across. As Belle spends more time with the seemingly cruel Beast, and separating him from all of his dreary loneliness, the Beast reveals himself to be far more caring and nurturing than she could have ever anticipated, and in the process, Belle learns the glaring truth of how what's on the inside matters more than what's on the outside. 
 Beauty and the Beast is a fairy tale in every sense of the genre, taking the common tropes of a prince falling in love with a beautiful woman of a lower social class, but using all of those common and expected devices and themes, the film still manages to produce something wholeheartedly consuming and engaging. There isn't any real sense of predictability in this heartwarming, sweet-centered tale, and while the growth of the relationship between Belle and the Beast is no doubt expected, seeing as they are both deserving of being in the title, the development of their interactions with one another are for more sophisticated than what might be suggested. Serving as the heart and soul of the movie, Belle, the beauty, and the prince-turned-Beast help to form a bond and a sense of growing love for one another that is strong enough to endure against the seemingly impossible obstacles that they face, including an entire village trying to riot against the Beast and storm his castle, and yet delicate enough that audiences feel excited to learn how their love for one another evolves in the face of danger. Belle brings out the best in the Beast, or at least tries to, and after becoming neglected from the outside world for so long, audiences come to an understanding of how impactful and influential Belle's decision to spend more time with and try to have the Beast abandon a life of isolation in favor of joyful compassion can be for both parties involved. Additionally, the inclusion of Belle helps to bring out the natural juxtaposition and complications of Beast as a character: both prince and monster, warm-natured and cold-spirited, and lonely and desperate for attention. Constantly begging the question of what makes a beast and what makes a person human or likable, the film takes everything viewers thought they knew about those ideas and revitalizes them. Central to the story and central to the Beast's change-of-heart and new appreciation for life, Belle certainly ensures that this adventure becomes thoroughly captivating and simultaneously enjoyable. 
 Beauty and the Beast is simply a beautiful story that takes the storytelling process and invigorates it through an infusion of modern, splendid visuals with a well-written and well-composed story that somehow creates a movie that has the best of both elements. The ultimate and definitive story of proving the true meaning of not judging a book by its cover—or the similar message of what's on the inside matters more than what's on the outside—the movie is nothing short of a careful and thought through examination of why an individual's inner-soul and personality matters so much. The defining characteristic for the Beast in the movie isn't how he looks, or the beast-like facial features that he has given through an enchanting spell, but rather how he pushes aside his looks and beauty and is forced to embrace love in an entirely different light: not loving someone for how they look, but for who they are. While it might certainly sound like a cliché through the written word, the film ensures that the emotional turmoil and journey that the Beast is forced to undergo is truly memorable and significant for all of the right reasons. The Beast's internal struggles with his new physical appearance are certainly more grim and crude than a family friendly fairy tale might be indicative of, but with the suggestions of how he feels depressed and heart-torn because of how he looks, and by how society ostracizes him as if he really was a literal monster ravaging through the streets, the isolation that the Beast is condemned to can really be seen as a heartfelt and relatable issue. The Beast was a glorious prince with a lavish, luxurious lifestyle, but transforming into something despised and hated by all that view him, with the exception of his enchanted servants that know the real man beneath the monster, this makes the Beast an outsider in every sense. There's nowhere for him to go, nowhere for him to hide but his castle, and such a life of loneliness and despair can only be viewed as a true challenge that tests his will at every turn. Emphasizing the challenges of such, and the difficulties of being in a world where no one takes the time to care or consider his thoughts, the movie creates a character that audiences should have every reason to fear and hate—much like the villagers of Belle's town do—and yet somehow makes him overwhelmingly compelling. If that's not one of the most notable and skillful talents of both this animation and Disney as a whole, nothing is. This concept of rooting for the unlikeable-turned-likable in the Beast, and how savage and beastly "normal" villagers can become, allows the movie to make the clear and distinct voice of how the inside of a person outweighs the outside, without any morsel of doubt. 
 Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's finest animations, nay creations, to have ever been crafted, and seamlessly transitioning from the twentieth century into the twenty-first century, it has still remained a beloved childhood treasure that is perfect for families and adults alike. Illustrating some truly morally-sophisticated thoughts and messages, it raises and elevates commonly felt and taught ideas of how to act in the world and presents it in a manner that is elaborate and expansive from start to finish. Rich in unforgettable characters, jammed with fan-favorite songs that have a wondrous rhythm to them, packed with spectacular visuals, and full of terrific storytelling methods, the highlights are fairly hard to beat. More than deserving of its impressive 94% from Rotten Tomatoes, it's a cinematic masterpiece worth receiving everyone's attention. Welcoming everyone to be their guest, this is absolutely a must-see.