FUN FACT: The animated segments contained in the post-January 1998 direct-to-video titles were originally planned for a TV series in the franchise, supposedly called Beauty and the Beast: The Animated Series. For reasons that will probably never be revealed anytime soon, the series itself was eventually cancelled when production of the segments was completed by mid-1997, so the segments were combined into a film.
Copies printed after July 6, 1992 open with theatrical previews for Aladdin and a scrapped Sleeping Beauty reissue, and a video preview for Pinocchio; and close with a video preview for 101 Dalmatians.
Copies prior to June 19, 1992 open with theatrical previews for Aladdin and a scrapped Sleeping Beauty reissue and close with the Pinocchio preview, before the 101 Dalmatians preview, while copies printed between June 19-July 8, 1992 entirely lack the Pinocchio preview.
The earliest copy of this release was printed on May 15, 1992.
The first title in the Classics series to have a Proof of Purchase tab label printed above the back cover on the clamshell case.
Copies prior to October 25, 1992 have the prototype slipcover-style variation, while copies printed after have a regular variation.
Copies that came in Deluxe Collector's Edition boxsets were packaged in black clamshell cases, while individual copies were packaged in white clamshell cases.
Opens with trailers for "Flubber", "Peter Pan", "Hercules", "George of the Jungle," and "Belle's Magical World", a promo for The Wonderful World of Disney, an advertisement for Disney Cruise Lines and a promo for the soundtrack album to the film itself.
Contains the animated segment, Mrs. Potts' Party (erroneously mistitled on the back cover as "Mrs. Pott's Party" as if the character's name was Mrs. Pott) and a live-action segment from the TV series, Sing Me a Story with Belle, where Belle reads the classic tales, Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretel.
The earliest copy of this release was printed on May 31, 1999.
October 2002
Catalog number
Title
Country of origin
Original year
Length
Version
MPAA rating
Film format
Tape count
Tape break placement (if applicable)
Color
Released
Note(s)
25125
Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition
USA
1991
90 min
2001 IMAX theatrical edit
G
Matted 1.66
1
N/A
Color
October 8, 2002
Part of the Platinum Edition line.
Contains a previously unreleased song, "Human Again."
THX-certified.
Opens with theatrical trailers for Treasure Planet and The Jungle Book, video trailers for Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Special Edition, Lilo and Stitch and Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition and an advertisement for Walt Disney World, called "Anticipation." Closes with a short clip from Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Special Edition, a video trailer for The Lion King: Special Edition and a music video of "Beauty and the Beast," performed by Pop Sensation Jump 5.
The "Filmreel" Coming Soon to Theaters bumper precedes the theatrical trailers, while the "Filmreel" Coming Soon to Own on Video and DVD bumper precedes the video trailers.
Following the trailers is the "Sleeping Beauty Castle" Feature Presentation bumper.