References
References to this magical movie and its equally magical characters, as well as reference to the Beauty and the Beast fairytale in general, can be found in many movies, television shows, and more. Here are some famous and not so famous references.
Chicken Little
Chicken Little, an animated version of the tale released in 2005, has a reference to a quote from King Kong which also references the fairytale, Beauty and the Beast. During a gym scene Fish Out of Water climbs a newspaper-made tower just as in King Kong, and when he falls the pig holds fish, who has his eyes closed, and also holds up a paper doll and says "Twas beauty that killed the beast."
Cinderella III: A Twist In Time
In Cinderella III: A Twist In Time, when Cinderella is about to go to the Prince's Castle, she runs out into a field and sings. Part of her song includes: "I want SO MUCH MORE, SO MUCH MORE, Than a dream." This is very similar to when Belle runs out during Belle Reprise and sings about wanting "SO MUCH MORE than they've got planned." Come to think of it, Belle and Cinderella also wear very similar clothing, the major differences only lie in the colors and in the handkerchief Cinderella wears on her head.
When Cinderella is arranging her veil before her wedding, she tilts her head similar to the way that Belle tilts her head before Beast gives her the library. Their expressions are not exactly alike, but they do have similarities, such as their lip movement and the way they tilt their heads. As soon as I saw Cinderella make this expression I knew it reminded me of someone.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons was a television series which aired from 1983 - 1985, and centered around six children who, after riding on a Dungeons and Dragons ride at a carnival, are transported to the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons, each having also attained a special weapon. There they must try to get back home with the help of Dungeon Master and try to steer clear of Venger. One of the episodes is entitled "Beauty and the Bogbeast", and although this is not a reference to Beauty and the Beast because it came prior, it is a reference to the fairytale title.
Family Guy : Season Five : I Take Thee Quagmire
Family Guy is a television show that airs on Sundays on the Fox Network, created by Seth McFarlane. In "I Take Thee Quagmire", Quagmire [in the red shirt] falls in love with the house maid that Peter Griffin and his family have working for them [she is the one shown in the blue dress]. Notice how her blue dress looks much like Belle's blue dress, but the colors are reversed. Belle has blue on her apron, and white on her dress, while the girl is the opposite. Even their hair is similarly colored and picked up.
There is a great reference to Beauty and the Beast, especially the Ballroom Scene, in this episode. Notice Quagmire and his love dancing with the outfits of Belle and Beast. [Quagmire's hair is picked up in a similar manner in which the Prince has his hair picked up at the end of Beauty and the Beast]. Also notice Peter and Cleveland, who look like Cogsworth [Peter] and Lumiere [Cleveland] and make the same motions as well.
I think this is a most interesting reference to Beauty and the Beast and I was so excited to learn that there was a reference in this television show to Beauty and the Beast. My boyfriend actually let me know of it, as I had missed the episode, but recently I was able to see it again as a rerun episode. There are also references to Lady and the Tramp and Aladdin in this episode featuring the same couple. Thankfully I found screencaps of this episode. Thanks to CapThat.Net for the screencaptures.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles was a Disney animated television series which aired from 1994 to 1997. The main character is Goliath, and Elisa Maza is a human who is an NYPD detective, a friend of the Gargoyles, and later love interest for Goliath. In this episode, it is Halloween and Elisa and Goliath re-enact a scene from Beauty and the Beast sans the Angela Lansbury song.
King Kong
In King Kong, after King Kong unfortunately falls after going after the human woman that has become his friend, someone says that "it was Beauty killed the Beast."
Mujer de Madera
Mujer de Madera was a Mexican telenovela whose main character was Marisa. In one episode, presumably in October, she and her family and friends go to a Halloween party and she dresses as Belle/Bella and her date is dressed as Beast/Bestia but without the head I believe, so he might be The Prince. I don't have a picture but the dress she wore was beautiful, one of the most beautiful replicas of the dress I have ever seen, she had everything even a beautiful brown wig, and his costume was also really good.
The Simpsons
Episode [2F06] Homer: Bad Man
In this episode, Homer is accused of harassing a graduate student who was babysitter for Bart, Lisa, and Maggie when he drove her home. A report is done on him for the television show Rock Bottom and it is entitled Babysitter and the Beast. (Also it is interesting to me that The Simpsons has a lot of Disney references, even in The Simpsons Movie. In this same episode, they sing Under the Sea and it is a parody of The Little Mermaid). Although this is not a reference to the movie, it is a reference to the fairytale.
Episode [2F18] Two Dozen and One Greyhounds.
In this episode, Mr. Burns steals the twenty five greyhounds that belong to the Simpsons and wants to make coats out of them. He sings a song while showing his wardrobe. Mr. Burns' musical number "See My Vest" is a spoof of the "Be Our Guest" musical number. In this same song, Mrs. Potts is shown and at the end there is a 360 degree pan around the room similar to the one during the Belle song. Also during this song he makes movements similar to Lumiere's, such as when Lumiere tips his candle top on his head and then uses a matchstick to tap his legs (Mr. Burns uses a cane instead). To the right of the image is the dialogue used.
Smithers: Are you sure you want to go through with this, Sir? You do
have a very full wardrobe as it is.
Burns: Yes...but not completely full. For you see...
[singing] Some men hunt for sport, others hunt for food,
The only thing I'm hunting for is an outfit that looks good.
[to the tune of "Be Our Guest"]
See my vest, see my vest, made from real gorilla chest,
Feel this sweater, there's no better than authentic Irish
Setter.
See this hat? 'Twas my cat. My evening wear? Vampire bat.
These white slippers are albino African endangered rhino.
Grizzly bear underwear; turtles' necks, I've got my share.
Beret of poodle on my noodle it shall rest;
Try my red robin suit, it comes one breast or two,
See my vest, see my vest, see my vest!
[with hat and cane]
Like my loafers? Former gophers! It was that or skin my
chauffers,
But a greyhound fur tuxedo would be best.
So let's prepare these dogs --
Woman: Kill two for matching clogs!
Burns: See my vest, see my vest, oh please, won't you see my vest?
[spoken] I really like the vest.
Episode [9F03] Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie
At the end of the movie, 40 years from now Chief Justice Bart and his senior citizen father attend a "Classics of Animation" double feature of "The Itchy and Scratchy Movie" and "Beauty and the Beast" in much smaller letters.
Episode [JABF07] Springfield Up
Thanks to The Simpsons Archive.
Metal Gear
In Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid IV, the protagonist must fight against a group of beautiful, but disturbed soldiers, called the Beauty and the Beast Corps. Kojima is a huge movie buff, so it could refer to Disney's film, the 1946 film, or the fairy tale in general. Submitted by Silicon Hero.
Ugly Betty
In Season 1, Episode 4 of Ugly Betty, titled "Fey's Sleigh Ride," the song that Walter sings to Betty at the end is, of course, 'Beauty and the Beast' from the movie Beauty and the Beast. Submitted by Becki.