Disney's live-action remakes of its classic animated films usually do quite well at the box office, especially Beauty and the Beast, which brought in over $1 billion. However, the creators of the animated Beauty and the Beast got no compensation when the updated version hit theaters, despite the fact that it used shots and techniques straight from the 1991 film.
"I didn't get a red cent from the new Beauty and the Beast, co-director Kirk Wise told Collider. "No, there was no financial to it. And the fact that we got credit was a surprise to me," his directing partner Gary Trousdale added.
Trousdale said he learned he got a screen credit in the remake when he attended the premiere, thanks to Don Hahn, producer of the animated version. "I know Don Hahn pulled strings to make that happen. I'm sitting there with my girlfriend and the credits went by [and I] was like, 'Holy crap, there I am!' Don worked his magic with that as well."
Wise and Trousdale have been animators, effects artists, writers or directors for many of Walt Disney Animation Studios' hits, including Aladdin, The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.