A tale as old as time and the first animated film to be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards, Beauty and the Beast is a cinematic classic for fans of all ages. What's not to love about the Belle the bookworm, the Beast and his inner beauty, the quirky and fun servants, or the dashing bad boy Gaston?
It's no wonder that it is so highly regarded even to this day. Whether you are a fan of the original or the remake, the love story remains true and has served as a source of inspiration for tons of fan artists. The following are just a sample of the stunning fan art that the fandom has produced. So take a seat, be our guest, and don't forget to show some love to the original creators.
10 Daekazu
A picture so nice, they did it twice! Over on Deviantart, Daekazu drew two alternate versions of Belle and the Beast in their poses from the Beauty and the Beast (2017) poster. The top version was recreated in the original 1991 film's style of animation while the bottom version captures Belle and the Beast's portrayals in the 2017 film in Daekazu's unique style. The ethereal glow to Belle in her serene pose gives an angelic air to her that serves as a contrast to the Beast in shadows. The bottom one even captures the remake's use of darker colors, dimmer lights, and Belle's necklace. Whichever version you prefer, they both are absolutely stellar.
9 red-monkey
Although red-monkey on Deviantart only made this as a WIP, what we get is still captivating. They manage to capture the Beast's size and strength along with how delicate and small Belle is by comparison.
If you zoom in and take a look at their faces, the artist has Belle and Beast giving each other sly looks. Even though his hand is larger than her head and could easily crush her, Belle is completely calm placing her trust in the Beast while he carefully holds her. Nothing says love like placing your trust in the one you love.
8 BeansEtc - Beneath the Sheets
For a picture titled Beneath the Sheets, what BeansEtc on Deviantart has made is adorably wholesome. Too often the Beast is either shown as menacing or snobby. It's rare to have his playful side shown off. The pinks give off a peaceful, romantic tone to the picture and the blankets used in this impromptu fortress make it feel like a homemade gift. Apparently the artist based this picture off of a scene from their fanfiction A Light In The East. Even without context, the implication of the two building a blanket fort to have a romantic moment is just precious.
7 Aaron Blaise/ablaise
This photo-realistic style piece was done by Aaron Blaise, or ablaise on Deviantart, that captures the Beast in a new light, pun not intended. The fur looks unnaturally realistic as is the lighting shining on him. Again we see a rare peaceful depiction of the Beast showing that he still has his humanity. The weary look around his eyes gives the impression that he's lived a long, challenging life and at last has found peace but we can't see why. If we didn't know any better we'd say this was done by one of the original animators.
Wait a second! It was! Aaron Blaise did work on the original Beauty and the Beast along with several other Disney films. Nice to see he's still making art.
6 Bekonulzado
Bekonulzado on Deviantart treats us to Belle and the Beast dancing the night away with an interesting low angle picture. It's almost as if you're watching the happy couple from the rose's perspective. What's worth noting about this picture is that the Beast is focused solely on Belle. Signifying that she is the center of his attention and that he cares more about her than the rose he's been protecting all of these years. A fitting image to capture the Beast's progression as he learns to love.
5 its-emimi
Over on Tumblr, we have its-emimi to thank for this anime-style take on Beauty and the Beast. The style they use is reminiscent of old Studio Ghibli films right down to the snowflakes and the anime eye glint.
Speaking of the eyes, it's interesting how similar Beast's eyes are to the wolves while Belle's are very different. It adds emphasis to the fact that he isn't human. On top of all that, Belle has a look of terror in her eyes but she isn't looking at the Beast. Subtle details like these really give pictures like these extra depth.
4 OlchaS
OlchaS on Deviantart graces us with a beautiful, water-marked picture of Belle recreating her first time entering the Beast's castle. The artist nailed Belle's expression capturing how lost, yet fascinated, she must be entering this castle. The rounded lines used on her also give her a soft outline giving her a delicate, gentle appearance. All the while moonlight shines in behind her through the window and gives her a heavenly glow. Not sure if those are supposed to be snowflakes or rose petals floating around her but they do make the picture pretty.
3 Luaprata91
Here Luaprata on Deviantart has graced us with a stunning picture titled Evermore_Beauty and the Beast, no doubt referring to the song "Evermore" in the remake. The picture captures the sorrow the Beast is experiencing as he lets Belle go to save her father. The juxtaposition of Belle posing on the left like an angel and Beast brooding on the right captures how different the two are along with how the Beast holds Belle up on a pedestal. The way he clutches his chest feels as if he is clutching a broken heart. It sure is a good thing that the film has a happy end.
2 Lander-Loan
Drawn by Lander-loan, we see another piece of the infamous ballroom scene between Belle and the Beast. The care and attention given to their clothes, the walls, and the trees outside the windows is commendable. What stands out is the stunned look that Belle has when she sees the Beast. Naturally, most people would be startled but her expression isn't that of disgust or fear. If anything, it almost as if she is realizing how handsome he looks and discovering she might be falling in love.
1 Chris-Darrill
There's so much to be said about this work of art by Chris-Darril on Deviantart. The detail placed in this picture is remarkable and captures the duality in the film. On the left you have Belle's provincial town, Gaston, and the triplets admiring him, and on the right is Maurice and the forest he gets lost in. Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Pott, and Chip loom hover above their master watching over him like they do in the film with the Beast's face split between his human and Beast form. The radiance of the rose at the center of the picture, fitting considering its importance to the Beast, is dazzling as it illuminates him and Belle in the center. One thing is for sure, it would make a captivating cover for this fairy tale.