stufflikehearts:

Supervising animator Glen Keane, who was charged with designing and drawing the Beast, spent a lot of time at the zoo figuring out how to best bring the character to life. Ultimately, the Beast became a hodgepodge of physical characteristics from many animals, including the mane of a lion, the horns and head of a buffalo, the eyebrows of a gorilla, the tusks of a wild boar, the upper body of a bear, and the legs and tail of a wolf. Oh, my! There’s also one physical attribute you don’t see: the posterior of a mandrill. According to Keane, ”Beast actually has a rainbow bum, but nobody knows that but Belle.”

To further add to the Beast’s savage ways, Robby Benson’s voice was enhanced by the growls of actual lions and panthers. Yet in order for Belle to fall for the Beast, his human side had to be readily apparent. Because of this, animators made sure to keep the Beast’s eyes deep blue and full of soul.