History Main / BeastAndBeauty

* Played with in Kyo and Tohru from ''FruitsBasket''. While he's technically a human that turns into a cat when touched by members of the opposite sex, [[spoiler:Kyo's "true" form is actually a monster]]. Furthermore, Kyo tends to consider himself a monster even when he's fully human.

** A TV series entitled ''Series/BeautyAndTheBeast'' ran on CBS from 1987-1990, starring Linda Hamilton and RonPerlman as Catherine (the Beauty) and Vincent (the Beast). Despite its brief run and disappointing third season, it spawned a vast and enthusiastic fan following.

* Another fits most of the same elements of the tale, but acts as a whopping subversion: Psyche was considered to be as pretty as/prettier than Aphrodite. But, she finds it difficult to find a husband. An oracle deemed that she was to be left on the side of a mountian as a bride to a winged monster. Psyche was taken to a beautiful palace, attended to by invisible servants, and her husband would come by night, but not stay until morning. In the darkness, she could not see his face. Her sisters convince her that her husband is a terrible beast that means to devour her and their unborn child, and to hide an oil lamp and a knife for the next time he comes to visit. Turns out, her unseen husband was anything ''but'' a beast - Aphrodite's own son [[WingedHumanoid Eros]] had [[ProphecyTwist decided to marry her]].

* The characters [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Adam]] and [[BadassBookworm Blake Belladonna,]] of RWBY, are based on those on the original fairytale, and the series references the Disney movie at least once. A variation on the trope in both are physically attractive, but Blake dislikes Adam's BloodKnight tendencies and casual murder of innocents...and Adam doesn't really care what she thinks. [[spoiler:This prompts her to abandon him.]]

* The characters [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Adam]] and [[BadassBookworm Blake Belladonna,]] of {{RWBY}}, are based on those on the original fairytale, and the series references the Disney movie at least once. A variation on the trope in both are physically attractive, but Blake dislikes Adam's BloodKnight tendencies and casual murder of innocents...and Adam doesn't really care what she thinks. [[spoiler:This prompts her to abandon him.]]

The male is usually a monster physically, capable of great rage and destruction. The female is kind, smart, and emotional. She [[MoralityChain brings out the best in him]]. She sees the good; [[BodyguardCrush he smashes anything that threatens her into itty-bitty pieces]].

* The characters [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Adam]] and [[BadassBookworm Blake Belladonna,]] of [[WebAnimation/RWBY]], are based on those on the original fairytale, and the series references the Disney movie at least once. A variation on the trope in both are physically attractive, but Blake dislikes Adam's BloodKnight tendencies and casual murder of innocents. [[spoiler:This prompts her to abandon him.]]

* Lydia Deetz, the beauty to ''WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}}'''s beast. The title of one episode, "Beauty And The Beetle," even tells it.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{X-Men Evolution}}'', the demon-like Nightcrawler becomes the boyfriend of pretty-girl Amanda Sefton.

* The characters [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Adam]] and [[BadassBookworm Blake Belladonna,]] of [[RWBY/WebAnimation]], are based on those on the original fairytale, and the series references the Disney movie at least once. A variation on the trope in both are physically attractive, but Blake dislikes Adam's BloodKnight tendencies and casual murder of innocents. [[spoiler:This prompts her to abandon him.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has a platonic version between [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength Equius]] and [[BadassAdorable Nepeta]]. Equius is a {{Fantastic Racis|m}}t [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold With a Heart of Gold]] who builds robots so he can beat them to bits with his bare hands. Nepeta spends most of her time roleplaying and being a ShipperOnDeck for all their friends. Equius specifically mentions that he's scared of what he might be without Nepeta taklepouncing him and making him talk about his feelings.

* [[Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella Wonderella]] gets kidnapped to be the "beauty" part of a parody on the Disney classic. She opts instead to reassure the Beast that there's a fetishist for everything, and [[spoiler: hunts down the enchantress anyway, for cursing the castle servants who didn't do anything wrong]].

* Subverted by WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}} and Eve, because while Wall-e is an ugly and outmoded robot, he also the kind and sensitive one, whereas Eve is an extremely attractive and state-of-the-art robot, she is insensitive and hot-tempered one and Wall-e is the one that calms her down teaches her to be more carrying and sensitive.

* Quasimodo and Esmeralda in ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. [[spoiler:She ends up with Phoebus in the end, but it is indicated that she and Quasimodo remain good friends.]]

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' plays this one both straight with Sandor and Sansa's relationship (although with a big [[{{squick}} creepy]] factor due to their respective age), and subverted with Jaime Lannister and Brienne's relationship. In the latter case, Jaime is a handsome knight with a bad reputation as the Kingslayer and Brienne an ugly woman who is stubbornly honourable. However the two couples exist only as {{subtext}} and [[ShipTease tantalizing]] hints so far. The series in general is full of Beast and Beauty motives (including a ribald song titled 'the Bear and the Maiden Fair'), perhaps not as a coincidence since George RR Martin used to write for the ''Series/BeautyAndTheBeast'' TV show.

* The [[GreekMythology Greek god]] Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, was so ugly he got thrown off Mt. Olympus as a baby and was crippled upon landing (or was defenstrated because he was born crippled). When the goddess of love, Aphrodite, needed a husband, all the unwed gods (including Hephaestus) were lined up for her to make her choice. Zeus chose Hephaestus for her -- and she remained completely and utterly unfaithful to him.

* Sort of used in the movie ''Disco Pigs''. Pig isn't so much ugly as creepy-looking, and without Runt, he is violently insane.

* Cleft-palate serial killer Frances Dolarhyde, who believes he is hideously deformed but played by the handsome Ralph Fiennes in the movie, the eponymous ''Red Dragon'', had a surprisingly sweet romantic relationship with a pretty blind coworker, before his split personality decided she had to die. Hannibal Lecter thought it was hilarious.

* ''Heart's Blood'' by Juliet Marillier has Caitrin and Anluan in a surprisingly magic free version of the myth, considering the amount of magic present elsewhere in the book.

* ''[[Literature/ElementalMasters The Fire Rose]]'' by Creator/MercedesLackey is based on the story of "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast".

* Essentially a re-imagining of the fairy tale for which this trope is named, Creator/MercedesLackey's book ''The Fire Rose'' features a pretty female scholar hired by a magician who has been shifted into a half-wolf form. Notably subverted near the end, when the beast chooses the life and love of the protagonist over the information that will allow him to return to human form.

* The Greek god Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, was so ugly he got thrown off Mt. Olympus as a baby and was crippled upon landing (or was defenstrated because he was born crippled). When the goddess of love, Aphrodite, needed a husband, all the unwed gods (including Hephaestus) were lined up for her to make her choice. Zeus chose Hephaestus for her -- and she remained completely and utterly unfaithful to him.

** A subversion occurs with Sansa's forced marriage to [[DepravedDwarf Tyrion Lannister]], who agrees not to force himself on her unless she accepts him willingly. But although she recognises Tyrion's kindness and even pities him, Sansa is unable to love a man whose family is responsible for the destruction of her family.

* Stevie Nicks's "Beauty and the Beast".

* The theme song for Disney's ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' of the same title, sung by Mrs. Potts in-universe and out of 'verse by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent (and knows it),]] but he's ruthless, strange ([[NoSocialSkills in]] [[BunnyEarsLawyer personality]] and [[UglyCute looks]]), [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and [[UnscrupulousHero his moral code has quite a few holes in it.]] His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] [[WhatTheHellHero is often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least]] [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer until the end...]]]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent (and knows it),]] but he's ruthless, strange ([[NoSocialSkills in]] [[BunnyEarsLawyer personality]] and [[UglyCute looks]]), [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] [[WhatTheHellHero is often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least]] [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer until the end...]]]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent (and knows it),]] but he's ruthless, [[NoSocialSkills strange]], [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] [[WhatTheHellHero is often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least]] [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer until the end...]]]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent (and knows it),]] but he's ruthless, [[NoSocialSkills strange]], [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] is [[WhatTheHellHero often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least]] [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer until the end...]]]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent,]] but he's ruthless, [[NoSocialSkills strange]], [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] is [[WhatTheHellHero often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least]] [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer until the end...]]]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent,]] but he's ruthless, [[NoSocialSkills strange]], [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with pretty much everyone in the story are [[LonersAreFreaks quite troubled,]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Erin]] is [[WhatTheHellHero often very critical of him,]] [[VitriolicBestBuds but sticks]] [[AMatchMadeInStockholm with him, anyway.]] [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least until the end...]]]]

** In the background and supplementary material, a [[LesYay same-sex]] and [[EvilCounterpart more villainous]] version of this dynamic can be seen in [[spoiler:Rem and Misa.]]

* The ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfic ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury'' showcases shades of this dynamic with L and OriginalCharacter and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Erin. [[AntiHero L]] is of course human, not a monster (at least not literally) and he is [[InsufferableGenius very intelligent,]] but he's ruthless, [[NoSocialSkills strange]], [[TheStoic emotionally constipated]] and his moral code has quite a few holes in it. His relationships with everyone are quite troubled, and Erin is [[WhatTheHellHero often very critical of him,]] but sticks with him, anyway. [[spoiler:[[ShooTheDog At least until the end...]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BeatyAndBeast.jpg]]]]

* Disney/TheLionKing: Most fan depictions of Ahadi and Uru, Scar and Mufasa's parents from a series of books, are like this. Ahadi is depicted as a scraggly, rouge male who's [[AbusiveParents horribly abusive]] to his youngest son, [[TheUnfavourite Scar]], as a cub. Likewise, Uru is desribed as an elegant, regal queen [[RoyalBlood (usually by birth)]] and functions as Scar's comfort during these dark times.

* A popular practice in GothicMetal and SymphonicMetal bands is to perform a duet of a male growler and a female soprano singer. They're often given the roles of "The Beauty" and "The Beast" in song's lyrics. Examples include "Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean" by Nightwish, "Nyphetamine" by CradleOfFilth, "As the Shadows Dance" by TheatreOfTragedy, among many others.

* ''HayateCrossBlade'' has Ensuu, described as a "beast" even in canon, and her partner Meiko (Sshe's definitely far from ugly). Subverted in that Ensuu appears to be more BloodKnight than mindless animal, and that Meiko is actually a ManipulativeBitch.