An Inside Look at the Original Beauty and the Beast
Reviewed By: Deban Becker
REVIEW
Contrary to its name, An Inside Look at the Original Beauty and the Beast does not explore the origins of the story “Beauty and the Beast”. However, it does describe the beginnings of Disney’s production “Beauty and the Beast” in an online article. It features information on the adaptation process which Disney used to make their own version of “Beauty and the Beast”. It also shows the process they used to blend and develop each character within the world of animation.
The information and news within An Inside Look at the Original Beauty and the Beast was written, edited and produced by Joe Tracy, publisher of Digital Media FX Magazine. The site is sponsored by Digital Media FX, a free animation and visual effects news publication. As a result, the images presented in the site are aesthetically pleasing. Within the site, Mr. Tracy provides his internet audience with his contact information and a link to his email address. He has established a link to a “frequently asked questions list” as well as several other reliable links pertaining to Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. One drawback appears to be that the site was last updated in mid December 2001 with the release of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” special edition DVD.
Overall, this site is informative and seems to be supported by authoritative sources. This is a great site for anyone who would like to take a glimpse “inside” the creation of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and read about the effort it took to bring the tale to life.
Reviewed By: Timothy Creamer
With the viewing of Disney's Beauty and the Beast as a required segment of the Storytelling class, it seems only appropriate to evaluate "An Inside Look at the Original Beauty and the Beast." This site, an article written in 2001 by Joe Tracy (the publisher of Digital Media FX Magazine, an award-winning online publication for animators, FX artists, and animation enthusiasts), seems aimed toward the glorification of the film rather than an objective review. Even so, it does educate the user about the film. The article contains interviews with various participants in the production - from heads of studios, producers, as well as animators. In addition, a history of the film's box-office accomplishments has been includes, as is a mention that Beauty and the Beast remains the only animated movie to garner a Best Picture Academy Award nomination. In keeping with Tracy's background, the article illustrates many of the production techniques required in bringing this tale to the big-screen, from character design and development to computer animation. This last area details very well the work needed to bring the ballroom scene to life - a segment described as "a defining moment in the movie" by producer Don Hahn. The website has a wonderful look, illustrated by images taken from the film. It also provides links to separate pages listing additional information about Beauty and the Beast such as news stories, additional features, a frequently asked question page, reviews, an image gallery, a credits page, and of course, a store in which movie inspired articles may be purchased.