How Did Beauty and the Beast Bring Disney Animation Back?

Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal say Beauty and the Beast lit up the box office and showed Disney Animation was back. It grossed $330 million on a $25 million production budget, from the musical team that already trusted each other.

Aladdin followed in 1992 with about $500 million, half a billion, on a $28 million budget, and Robin Williams as the genie. The Lion King in 1994 cost $45 million, used James Earl Jones, and brought in $750 million, the most successful traditionally animated hand-drawn film at the time. Michael Eisner then announced a new animation building back on the Disney lot in Burbank.