Disney's 1991 Beauty and the Beast received six Academy Award nominations.
The nominations included Best Picture, making it the first animated film nominated in that category under the Academy Awards' then-current rules. It was also recognized for its animated production, musical score, and three original songs: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Be Our Guest,” and “Belle.”
The film won two Oscars: Best Original Score for Alan Menken and Best Original Song for “Beauty and the Beast.” The title song was written by Menken and Howard Ashman, who died before the ceremony. The recognition helped establish animated features as major awards contenders.
The film's Best Picture nomination is sometimes described as the first for an animated feature, though later Academy category and nomination structures changed. Its six-nomination total remains a notable milestone in the history of American animation and Disney musicals.