When a prince is turned into a hideous beast by a magical spell, he finds that the only way out of his predicament is to win the love of the beautiful Belle (voice of Paige O'Hara). Belle agrees to stay at his castle in exchange for the freedom of her father, whom the Beast (Robby Benson) had previously held captive.

At first she is repulsed by his hideous features, but as time passes she learns to recognise his true inner beauty, much to the disgust of local hunter Gaston (Richard White) who wants to take Belle for himself.