Giant-Screen Version of Beauty and the Beast' To Be Released Worldwide on January 1st, 2002
Giant-Screen Version of Walt Disney Pictures' 'Beauty and the Beast' To Be Released Worldwide on January 1st, 2002
The worldwide release date for the giant-screen version of Walt Disney Pictures' Academy Award®-winning "Beauty and the Beast" has been set for January 1st, 2002, it was announced today (4/9) by Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. Marking the film's 10th anniversary, this special giant-screen release of "Beauty and the Beast" includes a newly-animated song sequence and enhanced imagery. The film's New Year's Day debut follows Walt Disney Pictures' smash hit, "Fantasia/2000 - the IMAX® Experience," which opened January 1st, 2000, to record-breaking success, taking in 2.8 million dollars in its first two days, more than $10 million in two weeks, and more than $64.4 million worldwide in only 75 theaters by the end of its limited four-month IMAX engagement.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "Clearly, New Year's Day has been a lucky date for us, and we are continuing that tradition with 'Beauty and the Beast.' Directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale and producer Don Hahn took this 'tale as old as time' and created a special film, one that has quickly become an audience favorite and the highlight of our Studio's animation renaissance. It looks great on the giant screen and we can't wait to share it with audiences around the world."
To make "Beauty and the Beast" a must-see event, Walt Disney Feature Animation has spent a year in production on the film, enhancing the image and refining character faces, backgrounds, and special effects, in order to let the film shine brightly on the giant screen. In addition, the filmmakers have added an extraordinary, never-before-seen musical sequence, featuring the song "Human Again" by the Academy Award®-winning team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Written for the original 1991 release, the song was storyboarded but never animated, until now. Featured in the hit Broadway musical "Beauty and the Beast," "Human Again" is an upbeat, festive sequence in which the enchanted characters dream about what they'll do when they change back into their original forms. This marks the first time that Disney has ever animated a new sequence for a previously-released feature.
Still the only animated film ever to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar®, "Beauty and the Beast" was nominated for 6 total Academy Awards, and won for Best Original Score and Best Song. The film also proved popular with audiences, taking in more than $350,000,000 at the box office worldwide.
-- Posted April 10, 2001
Source: Company Press Release