Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Why The Prince Looks So Weird

Welcome to Friday Night Sleepover!

Beauty and the Beast (1991) showcases some of the most beautiful animation in the Disney Renaissance, especially in the beast transformation scene. But, when the prince turns around we were all shocked to see a prince that just didn't look how we imagined. Who's the blame for this horrible offense? Let's look at the animation process, from animator Glen Keane's pencil tests, to the color application, and see if we can solve this mystery.

#fridaynightsleepover
#princeadam
#glenkeane
#glenkeanebeast
#beautyandthebeast
#disneyanimation
#2danimation

[FridayNightSleepover]

Hope you enjoy the video! In all honesty, the prince looks fine! This video just uses to light humor as a doorway to talk about some interesting animation processes. So don't worry if you thought the Prince looked great! He's OK in my book too!

Please let me know what topics you'd like to see in the future!

[Shirayuuki]

this is the typical artist dilemma of "the sketch was better than the finished product". i know how that feels

[ZoraTheberge]

It’s also clear in Glen Keane’s original version, that the prince’s eyes are looking above “camera” at Belle. In the final, he’s drawn to look directly into the camera. He’s not looking at Belle, he’s looking at us. It’s an uncanny fourth wall break the artist didn’t envision.

[RacookiTV]

everything looks okay except for the fact tHAT I HAVE NOW SEEN THE SKETCH AND IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER

[sissysovereign]

I never thought he looked weird, but i always thought he looked like the love child of Hercules and Tarzan. Like somebody just took Hercules and grew his hair out into Tarzan's hairstyle.

[areyoubewhy]

The beast when he opens his front-facing camera on accident:

[AshleyAlyse]

I never thought he looked weird there. The dude is in utter shock at finally transforming back to human form, combined with the dramatic lighting and an upward angle, it made for a very intense expression/scene.

[tearoses]

To me it seemed like they were trying too hard to make him handsome, with the eyes, the lips, the dramatic lighting... it always read as something along the lines of Handsome Squidward to me.

[heathercontois]

I always thought the Prince got that look because he was in shock and also shocked that Belle was still there.

[ANGGELAful]

I feel so validated right now. All my childhood that scene bugged me because he looked so weird but I couldn't pinpoint why

[DragonRebelRose]

I always thought the Prince looked very handsome, despite the weird lighting in his reveal. As a kid I was mesmerized by the transformation, like I knew I was watching a piece of art and not just a movie. Seeing his reveal was actually quite moving for me because I had never seen another Disney prince look as old-worldly as he did. He looked *exactly* like marble sculptures and that only solidified my sense of awe with him. He was a work of art!

[zetsubouv]

I mean, he thought he was to spend eternity as a beast, then he thought he was dying. It's no surprise he's wide eyed when he finds himself alive and human.

[Xtheearthchildx]

Im an art teacher and I always tell my students the importance of knowing the elements of art. This video is a great example of why perspective, value, and light source it’s important and can completely change how the viewer sees your artwork.
I think I’ll show this to my students this school year. Thanks for this!

[NightEyeStudio]

Prince Adam is a snack, it’s just the angle that makes him look off.

[itzelmontalvo]

Can we just appreciate the talent and hardwork of the animators? Like geez no wonder 2D animation is so expensive and exhausting. I swear animators do not get paid enough.

[november]

I prefer this type of animation over the ones today.

[nixie]

As a kid, I really cringed during his reveal. I also thought it looked like he was flaring his nostrils and his eyes were weirdly far apart.

[andreacall]

When I was younger, I thought he was ugly as a human. When I became an adult woman and rewatched the movie, I thought he was the hottest Disney prince. Actually, I might still think that. I love his nose.

[databuser]

As a child, I just SCREAMED (and not in the good way) when the human beast turned, and my family considered me weird for weirding out over a handsome prince.

Now knowing this video exists, I'm glad im not alone.

[nobodyuknow]

I always thought the jump-scare intro to the prince's faces was over-dramatizing the eyes. Eyes that had been a key hints to his human side. Thankfully the artist redeemed themselves in other shots (except for the nose. Thought it was funny that in perspective, his human nose was bigger than the beast nose).