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Ho ho ho, all you rad dudes and dudettes! Christmas is here on 90s Disney! Join AJ, Mike, and Chris Minotti as they unwrap the often-overlooked holiday treasure, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. From festive fun to Forte’s chilling villainy, we dive into the magic, the music, and the madness of this direct-to-video Disney sequel. Whether you’re nostalgic for your VHS collection or curious about forgotten Disney Christmas lore, this is the episode for you!
In This Episode:
? The Enchanted Christmas Origins:
- A deep dive into the 1997 direct-to-video release.
- How Disney expanded their animation studios in Canada to capitalize on direct-to-video success.
- The scrapped sequel concept featuring Gaston’s vengeful brother, Avernon.
? Music and Magic:
- Meet Tim Curry as Forte, Disney’s first fully CG-animated villain.
- Explore the festive soundtrack by Rachel Portman, including As Long as There’s Christmas and Forte’s villain song Don’t Fall in Love.
- Paige O’Hara’s surprise Christmas carol album—yes, it’s on Spotify!
? Plot Highlights:
- How the story retcons Beast’s curse and places Christmas at its emotional center.
- Belle’s attempts to bring holiday cheer clash with Beast’s Christmas trauma.
- Forte’s sinister plan to keep the curse intact and a snowy showdown in the Black Forest.
? Legacy and Reception:
- With 7.6 million VHS copies sold, it’s the fourth-highest-grossing direct-to-video animated film of all time!
- Critics called it a “soggy Christmas fruitcake,” but fans still find nostalgia in its quirky charm.
- The film’s role as a proving ground for digital animation techniques that influenced future Disney features.
Nostalgia Factor:
- Why does no one talk about this movie?
- AJ shares childhood memories of the Paige O’Hara Christmas album, and the brothers compare this forgotten gem to other Disney direct-to-video sequels.
- Is The Enchanted Christmas a hidden holiday classic or a Disney curio?
Share your memories! Email us at 90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment on Spotify.
