An Animation In The Making

Certainly, Ugly and the Beast is a tale as old as time. With a seemingly complex message that beauty is only skin deep, this animation really is about loving one another – even if one looks and has a character that is unlovable. Director Lewis Charles has it in his blood to present the tale in such a way that it can be easily understood by even the youngest child.

The story unfolds with a fair young lady who was unkind to an enchantress disguised as a starving beggar. Seeing how ugly her character was, the enchantress cast a spell on her, putting a hideous scar which ran across her face. The lady was told she would for the rest of her lifetime remain ugly until she learnt what true beauty was and another could see beauty from within her. The lady’s fate seemed sealed, until one day, when she met a creature more hideous than her – the Beast. Ugly, as many in her village called her, had chanced upon the injured Beast when she ran to the woods in a bid to avoid the mockery of her fellow villagers. Her friendship with the Beast became her only hope of getting back the face she once had.

With the clever twists in the plot and the inclusion of many lively supporting characters, Kevin Langhorne sculptures a cast of characters who offer a sincere heart – something that animation films before it lacked. Together with Steve Mack’s moving music score, Ugly and the Beast brings to light how love can overcome darkness and how true beauty is above physical appearance. The magic in this animation draws its audience into the heart of the story and the sadness and joy experienced by the characters dive deep into their minds, letting the audience forget that they are watching an animation and not a non-animated film. Indeed, it is a film that is moving and takes the audience where they want to go and not where it wants them to go.

Flawlessly rendered, this animation has landed itself a nomination in this year’s Wildcard Film Award. The talented voice cast includes Jasmine Bernard (Ugly), Bobby Williams (The Beast), and many other celebrities from Hollywood. Perhaps, the secret of the film’s success lies in the therapeutically beautiful theme song Ugly and the Beast. Stay for the credits to listen to Ewan Nelson and Jaime Swazi perform the theme song, making the closing experience of the animation show completely surreal and satisfying.