History Main / BeastAndBeauty

->''"It's no use. She's so beautiful, and I'm so...well, look at me!"''
-->--'''The Beast''', ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/TheAncientMagusBride'': Chise who's a Human and fairly pretty Sleigh Beggy and her fiance and magic teacher Ellias whose a [[NonHumanHead deer-headed]] [[HumanoidAbomination demon]]-like fae.
* Manga/AngelDensetsu: The teenager Seiichirou Kitano is a FriendToAllLivingThings, but has such a creepy, demonic face that everybody takes him for an OmnicidalManiac, and his naivety only makes the misunderstanding worse. Koiso Ryoko is a beautiful girl skilled in martial arts and deadset into defeating Kitano in a duel until she realizes he is a good person. The trope is repeated with Kitano's parents (he takes after his father and his mom is gorgeous), who are HappilyMarried.
* ''Anima'', by Fran Brigs e Anna Giovannini, is a very curious Brazilian manga that rewrites the plot of Disney's film. Damaran, the beast, won his fortune by robbering but that cost him his humanity. Belle, a.k.a. Amadeus, is a HookerWithAHeartOfGold exploited by her roomate Cleo (Maurice's counterpart), a very feisty transwoman that has the brilliant idea of looting Damaran’s castle to pay her debts with a loan shark - the BigBad, since Gaston and Le Fou's counterparts are Amadeus' only true friends in town. Ah, and Damaran's subordinates are humans.
* ''Manga/{{Appleseed}}'': Briareos and Deunan. Briareos is a rather large and unmistakable cyborg (what with the eight eyes and literal rabbit-ear antennae), although they began their relationship ''before'' he got shot up and turned into a big metal man. Notably, despite his mechanical form, they apparently still are able to continue their relationship as normal. Yes, even ''that''.
* ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom'': [[spoiler:Aguri, a beautiful, compassionate teacher, formed an emotional connection with an amoral assassin known as ''the God of Death'', who was being cruelly experimented on by her [[DomesticAbuse abusive fiancé]]. He started out being physically attractive, but the experiments transformed him into a bizarre tentacle monster. Even so, Aguri [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe treated him with kindness]] and became the only person he could talk to, and gradually, he began to see the light and regret his past actions. Her tragic death cemented it, and he decided to honor her final request and look after her students, completeting a HeelFaceTurn and becoming Koro-sensei, the CoolTeacher we know and love.]]
* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'': Played with for Ladd and Lua. Sure, psychotically violent Ladd's gonna make sure nobody touches his girl, but only because ''he'' wants to be the one to kill her. Lua is [[MadLove disturbingly okay]] [[DeathSeeker with this]].
* ''Manga/BeautyAndTheBeastOfParadiseLost'' is a very dark and twisted retelling of the fairy tale. Belle believes she is ugly because she grew up hearing that from her [[AbusiveParents deranged father]], who blamed her for the death of her mother. The Beast [[GoodIsNotNice is an arrogant, cynical jerkass ]], but he saves her life, encourages [[BrokenBird Belle]] to be more assertive and to overcome her trauma, thus she sees the good in him as much as he denies it.
* ''Anime/Belle2021'' : a non-romantic example, although it is clearly inspired on Disney’s movie. Belle is the SecretIdentity of Suzu Naito, a girl who is only able to sing in the [[VirtualReality virtual world known as "U"]] because of a childhood trauma. The Dragon is a dirty fighter persecuted by a virtual posse whose leader is basically Gaston with different looks. Sensing in the Dragon a great pain, Belle obsesses into knowing who he is and helping him.
* ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'':
** [[HugeGuyTinyGirl Chrono's a demon with a terrifying amount of power, and Rosette is a blond, petite nun that keeps him in check]]. Surely they're an example of this trope, right? Except that Chrono has a gentle, emotional, loving personality, while Rosette is loud, HotBlooded, violent, and overall a loose cannon. There are ''some'' signs of the archetypes there--Rosette getting hurt is Chrono's BerserkButton, and Rosette IS a very kind person despite her temper--there's definitely a stark contrast between these two and the typical portrayal.
** Played much, ''much'' straighter with Chrono and Mary Magdalene. When Chrono met Mary, he was either a loner coping with survivor's guilt and UnstoppableRage (manga version) or a rebellious demon who is mentioned using a woman for pleasure and discarding her when she became "boring" (anime version). Mary, however, is a pure, holy saint with [[TheIngenue ingenue]] qualities whose gentle nature convinces Chrono to give humans a chance.
* ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'' has a gender-flipped example between Hiro and Zero Two. [[spoiler:When Zero Two was younger, she was a CuteMonsterGirl who fell in love with a normal boy. Moreover, her favorite picture book during her childhood was a fairy tale about a monster/beast princess who fell in love with a handsome prince.]]
* ''Manga/DeathNote'':
** Rem and Misa have a same-sex version of this dynamic. Misa is the first and only human Rem regards highly and she's willing to disregard shinigami law for her sake. Tragically subverted in that Misa doesn't appear to care that much about her and lets Light manipulate her as he pleases.
** There's also Misa with Gelus, a Shinigami who fell in love with her and began to observe her from the Shinigami Realm. Gelus was small, ugly, and knew that Misa didn't know he existed or that she would ever love him. When he sees her approaching death through a crazed, stalking fan, Gelus writes the fan's name in the Death Note and saves Misa's life, but dies himself because he broke a Shinigami's rule. While Rem tells Misa of this story, Misa finds the idea romantic.
* ''Manga/DGrayMan'': Krory and Eliade. While Krory isn't ugly, he's vampire-like, has a feral and bloodthirsty SplitPersonality, and everyone in the village he lives in sees him as a monster. Eliade, on the other hand, is a beautiful woman who loves him despite what he is. [[spoiler:Subverted, as it turns out Krory is a human with Innocence in his teeth that makes him thirst for Akuma blood, and Eliade is an Akuma who hopes Krory's love will redeem her.]]
* ''Manga/{{Dorohedoro}}:'' Kaiman and Nikaido. One is a lizard-headed guy, the other is a beautiful blonde. Aside from that, the usual underpinnings of the trope are defied, as both of them are cheery, [[BashBrothers tough bruisers]] whose relationship never gets romantic.
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** Played with Bulma and Vegeta. Although Vegeta is [[MrFanservice far from being ugly]], he starts as a genocide monster who terminated life in several planets because his BadBoss Freeza told him so or just ForTheEvulz, before he learned better. Bulma, by her turn, is a beautiful but futile scientist and the only person in the universe able to boss Vegeta around, probably because she is as self-centered and HotBlooded as him. It takes years, a FaceHeelTurn, a HeroicSacrifice and a [[BackFromTheDead magical ressurrection]] for him to admit he cares about Bulma and their son... but yes, they truly love each other, and show that more openly in ''Anime/DragonballSuper''.
** There's also Broly and Cheelai, from ''2018 Anime/DragonBallSuperBroly''. Like his original counterpart, retcon Broly has an impressive physique and almost infinite powers. And, although he doesn't get to be a psychopath like the former, he has no social skills or mental stability, having been raised in a planet full of beasts by Paragus, his abusive dad, who controls him with a shock collar. Cheelai is a good-natured thief that enlisted Freeza's troops to escape from galactic police and the first person to treat Broly with kindness. He protects her from a drunk; she listens to him, stands ground against Paragus and steals the control of the shock collar.[[spoiler: Later, she saves Broly from Gogeta by wishing him back into Planet Vampa... and goes to live with him. So, it's more him that brings the best out of her than the other way around. ]]
* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': Played with through Kyo and Tohru. While he's technically a human that turns into a cat when embraced 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.
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' has a non-romantic subversion in [[ExtremeOmnivore Gluttony]] and [[TheBaroness Lust]]. Gluttony is the Homunculi's DumbMuscle and has a lot of trouble getting through the day without someone telling him what to do; Lust is the brains and provides the orders that the big lug needs. The subversion comes from the fact that Lust is by far the more evil of the two, being a CardCarryingVillain and DarkActionGirl who gets her kicks by hurting people, while Gluttony is an ObliviouslyEvil dopey AntiVillain. She does keep him focused though, and hurting her is without a doubt his BerserkButton, complete with going OneWingedAngel.
** The manga/''Brotherhood'' has also Alphonse Elric and Mai Chang, in a platonic basis. He is a soul attached to a huge, empty armor. As such, he's very strong, but also a BruiserWithASoftCenter dedicated to protect all life. She is a stubborn, reckless 13 years old girl master in martial arts, who dreamed into meeting Edward because she heard he was tall and handsome. Disappointed with Ed's true appearance, she transfers her interest to Al after he says he's taller than his brother (in his human form), but comes to love him because of his kindness.
* ''Manga/GrimmsManga'': The first chapter has a short but cute retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. A wolf cub - a boy with wolf ears, tail and fangs - is told by his father that, to become an entire wolf, he has to eat a virgin - specifically, a little girl. He falls for Red, she saves him from the Hunter and he decides to protect her. That is more than an enough to give him the power of transforming into a big, intimidating wolf, whenever he wants.
* ''Manga/HayateCrossBlade'' has Ensuu, described as a "beast" even in canon, and her partner Meiko (She's definitely far from ugly). Subverted in that Ensuu appears to be more BloodKnight than mindless animal, and that Meiko is actually a {{Manipulative B|astard}}itch.
* ''Manga/HyperPolice'': Tommy is a werewolf pretty much permanently stuck in wolf form, and deeply in love with Peau, a human woman. Though she rejects him at first, eventually they date, become a couple, and even have children. A lot of children.
* ''Manga/InuYasha'':
** Inuyasha and Kagome, although it seems most of the [[BeautyEqualsGoodness good demons in that series are beautiful]] and the bad ones are {{Body Horror}}s at best. Inuyasha is typically violent as the 'beast' (claws included) while Kagome is the kind, more open-hearted 'beauty.'
*** Gender flipped by the parents of the Thunder brothers.
*** There 's also Tsukiyomi and Hoshiyomi. She was a strong-willed priestess and he is a handsome but arrogant demon who changed his name in tribute to her. According to him, Tsukiyomi was the only one able to tame his "savage heart" but, after [[spoiler: her death]], he quickly reverts to his old, violent ways.
* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': Yuta's relationship with Rika is a gender-flipped example, and a twisted one at that. They were childhood friends who promised to marry each other when they grow up until Rika died in a car accident. Yuta unwittingly cursed Rika's spirit, causing her to become a cursed spirit. She becomes violently protective of him, and eventually [[spoiler:they use their PowerOfLove to defeat Geto. Upon being released from her curse, Rika tells Yuta that she was happy being by his side (and arguably more so after her original death).]]
* ''Manga/KaijuGirlCaramelise'' tells the story of Arata Minami, a NiceGuy and a popular ChickMagnet, dating Kuroe Akaishi, a [[ShrinkingViolet shy]], socially awkward CreepyLonerGirl who occasionally [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting transforms]] into a {{Kaiju}} known as Harugon whenever she gets too emotional. It's played with, as Kuroe is rather pretty in her human form ([[IAmNotPretty not that she thinks so herself]]), and [[SecretIdentity no one but Kuroe and her mother Rinko know that she and Harugon are the same person]].
* ''LightNovel/KakuriyoBedAndBreakfastForSpirits'': The plot is basically a cross between [[WesternAnimation/BeautyandtheBeast Disney’s Beauty and the Beast]] and ''Anime/SpiritedAway''. Aoi Tsubaki is a kind, assertive high-school student kidnapped by Odanna, an attractive but cynical oger from the Hidden Realm. It happens that Aoi's late grandfather offered her as a bride to Odanna to pay his debts with him. Aoi, however, negotiates to pay it by cooking by and working in his establishment. Of course they gradually warm up to each other, with Odanna never losing an opportunity of trying to convince Aoi to marry him, but she resists.
* ''Manga/KamisamaKiss'': Nanami and Tomoe. Nanami is a sweet teenage girl who inadvertently becomes the new Land God of Mikage Shrine and gains Tomoe, [[AsianFoxSpirit a ruthless fox-demon]], as a familiar who isn't too fond of taking orders from her. Naturally, they start becoming attracted to each other.
** Gender-flipped with the fish princess Himemiko in the manga. She met the clumsy human Urashima Kotarou when he was a kid and asks Nanami's help her to see him again, but is afraid that he'll be scared of her fishy face (no pun intended). Nanami and Tomoe help her to disguise as a human girl, but Kotarou (who can't remember her) is so overwhelmed by anxiety and shyness that abandons Himemiko in a park, until he notices two delinquents harasing her. That and a little (literal) push from Nanami are enough to make him go back to her.
* ''Anime/KillLaKill'': Gamagoori is a humungous, muscled, intimidating, strictly-by-the-book member of the AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil, while Mako is a cheerful, [[CloudCuckooLander clueless]], optimistic non-star student who lives in the slums. Along the series, he develops a crush on her, much for his colleagues' amusement, although Mako is completely unaware of that.
* ''Manga/MermaidSaga'': In one chapter, Mana is kidnapped by a man who consumed mermaid flesh and turned into a monster. Unlike most people who this happens to, he keeps his human mind...usually. While Mana pities him, he still has a breakdown and attacks her [[spoiler:and Yuuta has to kill him. He gets his human mind back as he dies, and Mana comforts him]].
* ''Manga/{{Monster}}'': Roberto is a Beast in every sense possible, [[FaceOfAThug not exactly the most handsome of men]], [[AxCrazy psychopathically violent]], and [[PsychoForHire capable of great rage and destruction]] without a doubt. Naturally, he deserves a Beauty and he gets the Beauty he deserves: [[{{Bishonen}} the angelically beautiful]] and terrifyingly [[ForTheEvulz amoral]] [[Manga/{{Monster}} Johan]]. [[PsychoSupporter From a certain perspective]], Johan ''definitely'' [[TheDragon brings out the best in him]]. Unfortunately for Roberto, this is a subversion, as his love for Johan is one-sided due to Johan being completely inhuman.
* ''Manga/{{SacrificialPrincessAndTheKingOfBeasts}}'': Sariphi is a brave, optimistic girl offered in sacrifice to the king of a land of "beasts" (anthropomorphic animals). Impressed by her absence of fear, the king not only spares her life but also decides to make her his queen, much for the court's dismay.
* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'': In the second episode, Mugen is hired to kill an oger that is terrifying the locals, but it is a trap set by Ryujiro, who also kidnaps Fuu. She is watched by Oniwakaru, the "oger", who is actually a huge, simple-minded man that endured a life of abuse because of his ugliness. Fuu pities him, even after he tells her he killed a lot of people (in self-defense). [[spoiler: Mugen comes to the rescue, but he was poisoned by a prostitute in cahoots with Ryujiro, so Oniwakaru defeats him easily, apparently killing the ronin. Ryujiro decides to kill Fuu ForTheEvulz, but Oniwakaru breaks his neck, before Mugen backstabs him. Fuu asks the fallen giant why did he save her and he says "You were not afraid of me. I'm not alone anymore," and dies watching the fireflies Fuu showed him minutes ago.]]
* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': In one episode of ''Slayers TRY'', the heroes help out a fish woman (read: giant talking fish with arms and legs) who's in a relationship with a human man against her father's wishes get components for a potion that can supposedly help them out. [[spoiler:It doesn't work, because although she gets turned into a human, he becomes a fish man!]]
* ''Anime/SpiderRiders'': Played with with Buguese and Aqune. Even if Buguese is the most humanoid Insector, he's still not exactly... human. First, we have the setup of Aqune willingly staying in the Insector castle, giving up any better life she could have had. Aqune is the gentle, nurturing, empathetic one. She tries to see the good in everyone. Buguese is the brooding, cynical, angry one. Despite his hate for humans, it's very clear he has a soft spot for Aqune. [[spoiler: Freeing her is the last thing he does before confronting Mantid, which he expects will kill him.]]
* ''Manga/ViolinistOfHameln'': Hamel might be very handsome and look nearly angelical at times ([[InformedAbility though it takes a while]] [[ArtEvolution for the manga artwork to reflect this fact]]), but, being [[HalfHumanHybrid the son of the Demon King]] means he has a god-awful-looking alternate monster form he slips into whenever he loses his mind (though it can look compelling in the hands of the right artist). He's also a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold jerkish brat who puts on an arrogant façade to push people away]]. Also, kind, cute Flute is the one who not only [[ThePowerOfLove turns him back into his human form]], but also the one who coaxes him into [[CharacterDevelopment slooooowly dropping the]] {{Jerkass}} [[CharacterDevelopment 'tude]].
* ''Manga/WatashiNoOokamiKun'': Downplayed with Ookami Yuu and Kusokogi Kougi. Yuu is member of a foster family composed by boys with habilities of turning into animals (cat, fox, etc, nothing too big); he is the wolf, although he spends most part of the manga as a human. Interestingly enough, Yuu is popular and a ChickMagnet, while Komugi is socially awkward because of a traumatic experience in her previous school. Not that he doesn't have issues of his own.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Tragically deconstructed in Creator/OscarWilde's ''The Birthday of the Infanta''. An ugly, naïve, cheerful dwarf is given to the Infanta of Spain in her twelfth birthday. He thinks the adorable girl loves him because she laughs whenever he dances, unaware that [[RoyalBrat she is actually mocking him]]. He learns the truth in the harshest way possible when he sees himself in a mirror for the first time.
* ''Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh'' provides an OlderThanDirt example with Enkidu and Shamhat in the first two tablets. She's a beautiful temple prostitute. He's an unkempt, hairy wild man who lives in the wilderness. Naturally, this experience (together with his first taste of beer) civilizes Enkidu and turns him fully human.
* ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' has an example of unrequited love, with Quasimodo and Esmeralda.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Not surprising, as Creator/GeorgeRRMartin wrote for ''Series/BeautyAndTheBeast1987''. The series has two prominent examples, although the two couples exist only as {{subtext}} and [[ShipTease tantalizing]] hints so far. The series in general is full of Beast and Beauty motifs (including a ribald song entitled "The Bear and the Maiden Fair").
** Sandor Clegane and Sansa Stark's relationship. Sansa loves songs and stories of knights and fair maidens. Sandor was playing with a knight toy when he was burned by his brother and assumed the Hound persona as a defense mechanism. He tells her the Beast's lines, "I am no lord, and I don't love compliments." He slowly changes and becomes Sandor again. She slowly changes and comes to desire him, dreaming of his kiss. The story is full of Beauty and Beast motifs, including the rose (from Loras), the prince (Joffrey), the father (Ned), and much more.
** Jaime Lannister and Brienne's relationship. Jaime is a handsome and [[DeadpanSnarker irreverent]] knight with a bad reputation as "the Kingslayer" and Brienne an ugly and stubbornly honourable woman mockingly nicknamed "the Beauty".
** Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf, has experienced the dynamic twice, and both in tragic ways. First with the commoner Tysha, to whom he saved from being raped by soldiers; they eventually became lovers and married. Unfortunately, Tywin, his father, learned about the union and made Jaime lie to Tyrion that Tysha was a prostitute Jaime had paid, so Tyrion would have some happiness. Worse, Tywin had Tysha raped by his soldiers while Tyrion was forced to watch, before she was cast away. [[spoiler:After learning the truth, Tyrion avenges her and himself by killing his father.]]
** The second time happens when he is forced to marry Sansa Stark. He refuses to consummate the marriage because of her visible repulse and shows nothing but kindness to her, but Sansa (who has seen her father executed by Tryion's family and been put through the emotional wringer for years as a hostage) coldly rejects his efforts and flees the first chance she has.
* ''Literature/IAmNotASerialKiller'' has a non-literal example in [[TheSociopath John]] and [[LovableAlphaBitch Marci]]. He has a tendency to scare people and a love for violence; she's the hot, smart LifeOfTheParty. He's drawn to the lightness and ease she brings out in him, and she likes that he's quiet and respectful and unusually interested in what's behind the pretty face.
* ''Literature/TheManWhoLaughs'' is about a circus performer whose face has been carved into a permanent SlasherSmile, who somehow finds himself at the centre of a BettyAndVeronica LoveTriangle with Dea -- his [[BlindAndTheBeast blind]] [[ChildhoodFriendRomance childhood friend]] who doesn't care what he looks like -- and Josiane -- a sexy duchess who wants his inheritance, but also seems to be [[FreakyIsCool genuinely attracted]] to him. Notably, in the film version, Dea is played by Mary Philbin, the same actress who played Christine in ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera1925'', and Josiane is played by Olga Baklanova, who played a more outright [[GoldDigger mercenary]] take on this trope in ''Film/{{Freaks}}''.
* In ''Literature/RedDragon'', Frances Dolarhyde sees his relationship with [[BlindAndTheBeast blind colleague]] Reba this way, although it's clear that his "ugliness" - a cleft palate - is nowhere near as bad as he thinks it is, and a lot of the women around their workplace seem to find him attractive because he's in great physical shape. What Reba doesn't know, however, is that Frances is a SerialKiller, so he ''is'' a monster after all, at least metaphorically, although [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes their relationship does bring out whatever good and humanity remains in him]].
* Creator/PiersAnthony:
** ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'': Trool the Troll (literal troll with a heart of gold) and the vampiress Suchevane (described by more than one character as Sex On Two Legs, who was also inexplicably Unlucky In Love). It might have helped that Trool was both the Red Adept (maker of magic amulets and totems) and caretaker of the local DeusExMachina, the Book of Magic.
** ''Literature/OgreOgre'': Smash the half-ogre and Tandy the half-nymph. Technically it can also apply to Smash's parents, since his mother is a human actress, though she was costumed as an ogress for a play when her husband fell in love with her and stayed in ogress dress for the duration of the marriage.
* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': Played with ''and'' gender-switched in the short story "Labyrinth". An eight-foot-tall experimental SuperSoldier complete with fangs and claws can count as 'Beast', but considering that he is a four-foot-nine, fast-talking hunchback, Admiral Naismith does not quite fit most objective standards of 'Beauty'. Touchingly, he comes to consider Taura the 'Beauty', an enchanted princess to be rescued from the real 'Beasts'.
* ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': {{Deconstructed|Trope}} -- Christine is horrified when she unmasks her kidnapper, but to gain his trust and increase her odds of escaping, she puts on an I-love-you-for-your-musical-genius-and-don't-care-what-you-look-like act, which successfully convinces him to let her go as long as she promises to come back (which is no problem since she has a good case of StockholmSyndrome by then). Erik's so hideous that she admits there is ''no way'' she can be physically attracted to him, and so insane and controlling that she realizes there's no way she would be happy being his prisoner forever -- no matter how guilty those facts make her feel, they're true. The Phantom realizes he's been a murderous StalkerWithACrush and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy lets Christine go]] so she can be happy with her handsome VictoriousChildhoodFriend Raoul, even after Christine has said she'll stay with the Phantom [[ScarpiaUltimatum so Raoul's life will be spared]].
* ''Literature/WitchWorld'': Kerovan and Joisan from ''The Crystal Gryphon'' and its sequels. Although he never gets transformed to be less "different" -- they just go to live among people who won't be weirded out by his cloven hooves. For quite a while there, though, he had the attitude that "no fit mate for any human woman am I."
* ''Literature/QuoVadis'': The main plot revolves around Vinicius' transformation from a selfish, violent, lustful man to a devout Christian through his love for Lygia.
* ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'': Gender-switched, as John Taylor and Shotgun Suzie eventually end up [[spoiler:sort of]] together. This is ''after'' half her face is destroyed by a blow from a spiked mace, a disfigurement the bounty huntress chooses to keep because it makes her even more terrifying.
* ''Literature/DarkestPowers'': [[HugeGuyTinyGirl Chloe and Derek]]. Chloe is a cute little blond with big blue eyes. Derek, on the other hand... Let's just say that puberty has ''not'' been kind to him ''at all''. And even if it all clears up perfectly, he'll never be male model material. 'Hulking' has been used to describe him. He ''is'' built like a linebacker, though.
* ''Literature/HeartsBlood'' has Caitrin and Anluan in a surprisingly magic-free version of the myth, considering the amount of magic present elsewhere in the book.
* ''Literature/SenseAndSensibilityAndSeaMonsters'' features a subplot in which beautiful nineteen-year-old Marianne Dashwood gradually comes to love the much older Col. Brandon, who was cursed by a sea witch to have a writhing mass of tentacles hanging from his face, [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Davy Jones]]-style. (In [[Literature/SenseAndSensibility the original story]], Brandon was simply much older, so this trope doesn't apply there.)
* In "Literature/TheNutcrackerAndTheMouseKing", Marie falls in love with the eponymous Nutcracker and declares to him that if he would have her, she would never reject him for how he looks. This is enough to break the curse and turn the Nutcracker back into a human man, as his curse could only be broken when someone loves him regardless of how he looks. Earlier, this trope is subverted when the Nutcracker (who is still human at the time) breaks the curse on a princess and is cursed in return, only for her to scorn him for being ugly.
* ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'' is a modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast".
* ''Literature/TheFireRose'', being essentially a re-imagining of the fairy tale for which this trope is named, 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.
* Creator/RobinMcKinley rewrote the story twice:
** She first wrote it fairly straightforward in her debut novel, ''Literature/BeautyARetellingOfBeautyAndTheBeast'', which contains a number of similarities with Disney's animated version that came several years later.
** Some while after that, she reimagined the tale in ''Literature/RoseDaughter'', which -- among other things -- had the Beast [[spoiler:not turn back into a prince]].
* ''Literature/{{Ice}}'' has Cassie and Bear (not surprising, given that it's a retelling of ''East of the Sun, West of the Moon''). While Bear ''can'' turn into a human man, he can only do so when Cassie can't see him, and usually only for the purpose of them sleeping together.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' essentially gender flips this with Tobias and Rachel. Rachel is the one who smashed anything that got in the way by turning into a grizzly bear, and Tobias brings out the best in her, despite being trapped as a bird himself.
* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Alfred Harrington, who is perfectly normal physically but TheBerserker and a BloodKnight when in combat, and his eventual wife, Allison Chou. As in, the short story that details their meeting is actually ''called'' "Beauty and the Beast".
-->'''Allison:''' [The story is] us, Alfred. It's ''us!'' Me, running away from home because I need to be myself, and you, terrified of your 'monster,' afraid you're becoming the beast. But you're not. Maybe the beast is inside there, but it isn't ''you''. You ''control'' it, and it was the beast that let you save my life. And you didn't [[RescueRomance come for me]] because you wanted an excuse to kill other people. You came for me because what you are is a good, caring, decent, ''gentle'' man. I know that -- I ''see'' that -- and you know I do. You ''know'' it, Alfred, and you've been alone with the beast too long. Trust me. Oh, ''trust'' me, my love.
* In ''Literature/HeartOfSteel'', you have Alistair Mechanus, disfigured {{cyborg}} MadScientist with metal plates covering and replacing one entire side of his face. He wants to conquer the world and Julia's heart. On the other hand, you have Julia Parker, troubled ER doctor who starts to see the more vulnerable side of him. He is intelligent but broken by his past, but he will utterly ''destroy'' anyone to hurts Julia.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': After Eric [[spoiler: mana mutates into a grendel]], Kallen fills in the role of the gentle and understanding Beauty. She does this in her combat suit, due to the circumstances, but she had previously been dolled up in a kimono and make up, and Tasio laments the missed opportunity to snap "Beauty and the Beast" photos.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Remus Lupin]] and [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Nymphadora Tonks]]. He's a thirtysomething man most of the time but turns beastly once a month; she's a cute, quirky woman in her early twenties. Lupin is definitely the "intelligent and tortured" version of this trope: even during the full moon, he takes a potion that allows him to keep his human mind and not become bloodthirsty. And Tonks fits this trope by seeing the good in him and helping him function in the human world.
** [[HalfHumanHybrid Rubeus Hagrid's]] parents were a gender-inverted version of this trope: [[TinyGuyHugeGirl his mother was a giantess and his father was a small, meek man]]. This didn't work out very well once Rubeus was born; his mom left in disappointment after her son didn't turn out as big as other giants.
* ''Literature/TheLunarChronicles'': Scarlet Benoit and Wolf are an example of this, as Scarlet is a human girl and Wolf is a Lunar wolf-human soldier. This is especially the case in ''Winter'', [[spoiler: when Wolf is further genetically and surgically modified to be more wolf-like than before]].
* ''Literature/TheBFG'' has an entirely platonic IntergenerationalFriendship example, with the eponymous character and the plucky orphan Sophie. Sophie is at first (understandably) terrified of him, but the two grow to trust one another very quickly. The giant, for his part, doesn't have a mean bone in his body, and compared to [[AlwaysChaoticEvil the other giants]]... suffice to say, he's a lot less ghastly.
* ''Literature/PlanetOfTheApes'': The human Ulysse and his sapient chimpanzee handler Zira gradually fall in love over the course of the story. When they say goodbye, she's the one who tearfully insists it would never have worked out because [[HumansAreUgly he's too ugly for her to see past it]].
** Downplayed in the [[Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968 film version]], where Zira is engaged to another chimpanzee, Cornelius, and her relationship with the Ulysse-equivalent character, Taylor, is more of a strong friendship than a romance. They ''do'' share a kiss at the end, much to Cornelius' annoyance and Zira's mild but sporting indignance ("But you're so damned ugly!")
* ''Literature/TheMinotaurTakesACigaretteBreak'' features [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin you guessed it]] [[Myth/GreekMythology the Minotaur]] seeking a relationship with a pretty waitress named Kelly. It's worth noting though that M's uh, appearance [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight doesn't cause quite the stir]] you would think, possibly due to the existence of other mythological creatures having become a known phenomenon. Throughout the story, M encounters various women who practically ''throw themselves at him''.
* ''Literature/MarketOfMonsters'':
** The OfficialCouple are Nita -- a superpowered but normal looking girl -- and Kovit -- a zannie, an "unnatural" species that feeds on human pain and is repeatedly called a "monster." Everyone who first sees them together is shocked unless they initially assume she's hired him and promptly tell them it will never work out because [[PhraseCatcher "Zannies don't have friends."]]
** Diana and Adair are the BetaCouple. Diana is a ghoul, but her species is neither considered dangerous nor hunted, and she's sweet and kind, while Adair is a kelpie, notorious for murdering people for food and whose true form beneath the illusion he projects is a fish-reptile-like monster. There's even a scene where Nita's about to shoot Adair, and Diana gets to channel [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Belle]] by telling her he's not the monster, Nita is.
* ''Literature/DragonAndDamsel'': Azrael the Third, a large, dark male dragon with a bad temper, develops a friendship and romance with Bernadette, a human woman with a slightly less bad temper.
* In Dark Triumph, the second book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers, Sybella and Benebic are this. In the first book, Grave Mercy, another fellow assassin, Ismae, describes her meeting with Benebic, whose nickname is literally Beast due to how fierce a fighter he is on the battlefield: "The largest man I have ever seen steps into the room. Half a head taller than [her traveling companion], he is travel stained and road weary and looks like an ogre who has strayed out of a hearth tale. His face bears the roughened texture of pox scars; his nose—broken at least twice—is a lumpen knob. His hair is shaved close to his head, and his eyes are creased in a permanent squint...His light blue eyes are startling in his scarred face and put me in mind of a wolf. In truth, he may be the ugliest man I have ever seen." It is also revealed that other females have run away from him in terror over his looks. In Dark Triumph, Sybella describes herself like this: "I am beautiful and educated and have all manner of useful—and deadly—skills." In the third book, Mortal Heart, Sybella's fellow assassin, Annith, describes Sybella: "Even with the charcoal smudged on her face, she is beautiful." However, despite their looks, and his almost insane battle rage, other aspects of this trope are not played perfectly straight. Off the battlefield, Beast is gentle and respectful, with a silly sense of humor, a tendency towards rescuing anyody he sees in trouble, and a pleasure in simple things. While he does rescue Sybella a few times, she is an unwilling recipient of two of them, and the third she turns into a team effort to get them both out of a dangerous situation. Sybella is the one who has inner darkness that terrifies her and unhealed trauma, but Beast accepts her darkness, as he has come to terms with his own darkness caused by his battle rage, and can still see the best in her, as he can for the soldiers under his command. Together, they make a powerful team and fight side by side in multiple conflicts.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'': In "Edge of Darkness", Goose is dragged through a black hole that bugs his powers, morphing him into different creatures. He crashes on Ozark and a beautiful cowgirl called Annie tries to shield him from the other locals, who have no tolerance against off-worlders. Of course that Goose's transformations into a half-irrational, growling beast don't help. [[BigDamnHeroes His ranger comrades save him in the exact moment]] he is about to be shot by the local xeriff, [[UngratefulTownsfolk although he has just saved a local child from drowning]]. Annie helps Goose to calm down, so Doc may restore him back to his human form; the latter even lampshades the two, by calling them "Beauty and the Goose". Unfortunately, Goose is unable to return Annie's feelings [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest because he still loves Darkstar]].
* ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'': Apparently, the writers of the TV series were very fond of this trope:
** “Garden of Evil” parodies/twists the fairy tale. When the Sultan was young, he picked up a flower of a magnificent garden, prompting the wrath of its master, a [[PlantPerson plant-man called Arbutus]]. The creature demanded the future Sultan to promise him his most valuable treasure… which, twenty years later, turns out to be Jasmine. Subverted when Arbutus' treats Jasmine not as his future bride, but as an ornament for his garden. When she says she is not an object, he rants that’s exactly how humans treat the flowers and plants in general. Jasmine realizes that he loves his garden as much as her father and Aladdin love her, [[spoiler: but is unable to stop the latter from accidentaly killing Arbutus, by cutting off the flower that is his heart. [[BittersweetEnding Jasmine plants the flower somewhere outside and it breathes, hinting that Arbutus will regrow eventually]].]]
** Gender-flipped in “ Eye of the Beholder“, when Mirage tricks Jasmine into using a lotion that slowly transforms her into a snake woman.
** Played straight and gender-flipped in "Seems Like Old Crimes", when the con artists Aziz, Minos and his lover Fatima become monsters(respectively, a goblin, a minotaur and a harpy) as a punishment for trying to steal the sacred Destiny Stone.They use their newfound powers to loot Agrabah, but Fatima wants to take revenge on Aladin, to whom she blames for having become a monster because he tried to stop them from stealing the gem. However, after Jasmine saves Aladdin's life, Fatima realizes that both are like her and Minos and takes a HeelFaceTurn. Aziz tries to kill her, but [[DivingSave Minos pushes Fatima of the way]] and is burned, instead. [[spoiler: The scene of Minos dying as Fatima touches his face is a frame-by-frame replay of Beast's death; luckily, the Destiny Stone turns them back into humans, giving them a second chance. Both decide to atone.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': "[[Recap/TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS3E20TheShell The Shell]]" has a gender-flipped version where Gumball is the beauty to Penny's beast. The episode even alludes to Beauty and the Beast multiple times.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': In [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE52Mudslide Mudslide]], Dr. Stella Bates is a pretty scientist in love with Clayface/Matt Hagen, a former actor transformed into a clay blob that can shapeshift temporarily. Deconstructed because [[LovingAShadow Stella is in love with the handsome man Clayface was once]] and he is manipulating her to find him a cure. And he won't listen to Stella's pleas to not kill Batman, subverting the MoralityPet thing.
* Lydia Deetz and WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}}. One episode was called "Beauty and the Beetle," only the beast in this case was Neitherworld ape Thing Thong. Lydia helps Thing Thong gain some self-esteem.
* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': In "Benwolf", Ben and Kai seem this when he starts transforming into a wherewolf (actually a wolf-like alien), though she is more annoyed by his antics than anything. Subverted after he turns back to normal and Kai confesses that she was only interested on Ben because she thought she could train him.
* In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' and ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', Gwen and Kevin fit both sides of the trope in several episodes.
** In “Kevin’s Big Score”, he is [[BodyHorror encased by Vulcanus into a taedenite shell that is a grotesque replic of himself]]. Gwen frees him, and Kevin gratefully embraces her.
** He suffers a mutation again at the beginning of Season 3, becoming an [[EldritchAbomination amalgam of the matters he absorbs most]]; even Gwen’s support is not enough to break him out of depression. [[spoiler: He becames human again in the last episode and the two share a BigDamnKiss]].
** By her turn, Gwen becomes the Beast in “War of the Worlds” when she goes full Anodyte for the first time to defend Kevin from a Highbreed. He convinces her to snap out of this, or she might never be able to be human again.
** In the end of Aggregor's arc, [[HeroicSacrifice Kevin is forced to absorb the Ultimatrix]] to stop the villain, but that turns him into a psychotic, hungry-for-power amalgam of Ben's aliens. Gwen spends the next episodes trying to convince Ben and the rest of their friends to not kill Kevin, and eventually finds a way to save him, although she almost dies in the proccess.
%%** [[spoiler: Kevin returns the favor when Gwen turns Anodyte as she is mind-controlled by Dago. He encases her briefly in a metal shell, cutting Dagon's telepathic control, turns her back to normal and gives her a metal helmet to block his mental waves.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons1983'': In "The Garden of Zinn", an ugly but gentle goblin called Solarz shelters the gang after Bobby is poisoned. Actually, he is Sir Lawrence, a king cursed by his evil sister, Zinn. He ends up saving the heroes from her ghostly minions and Sheila gratefully embraces him, crying a [[SwissArmyTears tear of gratitude]] that breaks the spell. Sir Lawrence gets to ask her to become his queen, but she refuses politely because she wants to go back home(also, she only sees him as a friend). Subverted and PlayedForLaughs [[HoistByHisOwnPetard when the broken curse turns Zinn in a goblin]] [[AllForNothing while she is marrying Erik in an attempt to avoid that fate.]]
%% ** There's also the episode " Beauty and the Bogbeast," but the "beauty" is just a flower that transforms Eric into the eponymous bogbeast, a frog-like creature.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' has a gender-flipped version with the strong, often violent one-eyed sewer mutant Leela and the amiable human nice guy Fry. She definitely typifies the "beat up anyone who might hurt him" side of Beast, he the emotional, kind, sees the good in the world side of Beauty.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': Goliath and Elisa Maza -- he's a gargoyle, she's a human, but they fall in love anyway. During a Halloween episode, Elisa even dresses as Belle from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''. However, while they were good friends, they didn't really notice that other options might present themselves until Elisa was magically changed, briefly, into a gargoyle (and then, later, Goliath and the others became humans, also for a short time). Interestingly, it was Goliath (the "beast") who didn't find Elisa physically attractive at first, not the other way around. Elisa had always been attracted to him.
-->'''Goliath''': I never realized, when you were human, how beautiful you are.\\
'''Elisa''': *wryly* You mean you thought [[HumansAreUgly I was ugly?]]\\
'''Goliath''': Well, uhh... Careful! Updraft!
%%** Their relationship is also one of the few exceptions to the Beast and Beauty rule in that neither changed their species permanently for the other, yet they still end up being together despite their physical differences.
%%** Amusingly, a number of other characters notice the chemistry long before their first kiss. When Elisa was pretending to be a corrupt cop to get close to a slippery criminal and Goliath played along, the criminal instantly assumed that they were together and congratulated Goliath on his good taste.
%%** WordOfGod [[http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/archives.php?lid=128&qid=7559 holds]] that Goliath finds Elisa's hair to be an attractive feature, and the lack of wings or tail or horns were not, but he had his eyes opened when she temporarily turned into a gargoyle in "[[Recap/GargoylesS2TheMirror The Mirror]]". The main thing he's attracted to about her is her soul.
* ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'': Razer and Aya have nuances of this trope. Razer begins as the Beast: he is a reformed red lantern who enlisted to avenge the death of his wife until discovering he was manipulated, and all of this made him bitter, violent and depressive. Aya is the BenevolentAI of Hal Jordan's ship who built a robotic body for herself. She is calm, curious, acts as Razer's MoralityPet and tries to understand his pain. In the season 2, the tables are reversed. Razer came to abhor violence, while Aya has had enough [[AndroidsArePeopleToo of people treating her as machine]], [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman instead of a person.]], which takes her to a [[spoiler: FaceHeelTurn and decided to eliinate all the organic life in the universe, along with with suffering. It’s Razer who plays Beauty then, trying to reasonate with her. He eventually succeeds, at a great cost.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' has one episode specifically called “Beauty and the Beast”, although it’s not romantic. A storyteller tells “Beauty and the Beast” to a group of children as [[{{Foreshadowing}} Teela comments that she loved the fairy tale when she was little]]. Shortly after, Skeletor kidnaps Orko and Teela and hides them in the palace of a king that Evil-Lyn turned into a "monster"(a bald, gray-skinned man with bat wings instead of ears). The king reluctantly complies because otherwise his subjects will become as hideous as he is. Of course Teela convinces him to stand ground against Skeletor; although he is easily defeated by the villain's gang, she thanks him with a kiss that breaks the spell.
** In “The Shadow of Skeletor”, Teela helps Man-E-Faces to rehearse a theatral release of Beauty and the Beast.
** In “The Return of Granamyr”, He-Man and Man-At-Arms must help a dragon that wants to become human because he fell in love with the daughter of a wizard. She loves him back, but her father demands that her suitors go through a series of tests that only humans can perform; since her dragonfriend is not allowed to be turned into a human until she is commited to him, it's up to He-Man to do the hard work.
* ''WesternAnimation/JaneAndTheDragon'': Has this trope with the titular characters - a peasant girl who lives and works in the royal palace who is best friends with the resident dragon. While their relationship is entirely platonic it should be remembered that Dragon does not do well when [[LivingEmotionalCrutch Jane]] isn’t around and she is the only one who can calm him down.
* ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'':
** Played straight with Camazotz and Zynaya. As the God of Bats, Camazotz has a very beastly appearance, with purple skin and [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmonds teeth so big that he shouldn't be able to talk]], but that didn't keep him of being loved with the human warrior. They had a son, Zatz, but she was eventually murdered and Camazotz forced to return to Lorde Mictlan's reign. Zynaya's soul became a star; both Camazotz and Zatz find comfort seeing her at night. [[spoiler: Camazotz ends up killed by Lord Mictlan, [[TogetherInDeath and becomes a star,too, joining her.]]]]
** Gender-flipped with Michi and Rico. Michi was raised by animals after her people cast her away because of her albinism, but the responsible for her violent behavior [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters are the humans who killed her adoptive family]]. Despite having also a DarkAndTroubledPast, Rico has a humorous, friendly personality and, in spite of Michi's initial rejection (and a temporary crush on [[MrFanservice Picchu]]), she ends up returning his feelings.
** Subverted with Lord Mictlan and Lady Micte. She married him only for status and power; still, she is not repulsed by his hideous appearance (he's got two heads that become one, and menacing [[FangsAreEvil fangs]]), but by the monster he is within.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHigh'': [[CuteClumsyGirl Iris Clops]] and [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Manny Taur]]. The former is a demure, clumsy, soft-spoken and friendly ghoul who's the same height as Draculaura. The latter is a hulking [[HairTriggerTemper temperamental]] JerkJock [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold with a heart of gold]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': ZigZaggingTrope, and employed platonically, in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E11KeepCalmAndFlutterOn Keep Calm and Flutter On]]", where the sweet-hearted pegasus [[FriendToAllLivingThings Fluttershy]] befriends the beastly ([[MixAndMatchCritters in more ways than one]]) [[MadGod Discord]]. First it's subverted because Fluttershy is charged by [[PrincessesRule Princess Celestia]] to reform Discord, while Discord only plays along because he'll get [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]] if he doesn't, and craftily plots to exploit her kindness and secure his freedom. It's then double-subverted when Fluttershy shows him so much kindness that he actually starts to [[BecomingTheMask Become the Mask]]. [[spoiler:Then comes a ''triple''-subversion where Fluttershy ends their friendship after Discord goes through with his plan anyway. This directly leads to a ''quadruple''-subversion where Discord, realizing he cares about Fluttershy after all, pulls a genuine HeelFaceTurn to win her back.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Hordak a stern, bat-looking DarkLordOnLifeSupport and Entrapta, a cute human princess who is also a GadgeteerGenius. Slightly subverted, for it’s hinted that Entrapta finds Hordak attractive, but he doesn't notice how beautiful she is until she comforts him about his self-esteem issues. Besides, Entrapta is not exactly a MoralityPet for Hordak, but encourages him to be himself instead of [[spoiler:Horde Prime’s shadow]]. For good measure, many moments between Hordak and Entrapta [[https://www.deviantart.com/silverlady7/art/Something-There-and-Very-Familiar-809211373 recreate shots of Disney's film]].
** Adora and Catra's relationship fits the trope, too, since Catra is a CatGirl with a very unstable temper who fights for the Horde and Adora is the kind, righteous saviour of the world. However, it takes all the five seasons for them to realize their true feelings towards each other.
* ''WesternAnimation/SherlockHolmesInTheTwentySecondCentury'': Two episodes are based on the trope: "The Crooked Man" and "The Creeping Man," both concerning men made beastly through genetic manipulation [[spoiler: by a rival suitor]].
* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': Eclipsa and Globgor. She is the [[AllLovingHero sweet, graceful daughter]] of the genocide queen Solaria the Monster Carver, while he is a gigantic, four-eyed, red-skinned, horned monster that used to eat Mewmans until Eclipsa convinced him to become a vegetarian. Not that would make any difference to the [[BigotWithABadge Magic High Commission]] or the rest of Mewni.
* ''ComicBook/WildCATsWildStorm'': The HugeGuyTinyGirl duo -- they're just friends but the Tiny Girl ensures that the Huge Guy remains a sane GentleGiant.
* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', the demon-esque ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} becomes the boyfriend of pretty-girl [[FreakinessShame Amanda Sefton]]. And in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'', he has some mutual UST with the smokin' hot ComicBook/ScarletWitch.
[[/folder]]

** There is a [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Merry Melodies]] short called[[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast1934 ''Beauty And the Beast'']] that subverts completely the fairy tale. The protagonist, an unnamed, chubby little girl who dreams she is in Slumberland, where everybody welcome her but warn about the “terrible beast”. She makes friends with a toy soldier and together they read a book supposedly of the fairy tale; however, the book portraits the Beast as vicious monster whom [[LivingDrawing jumps out of the book]] and grabs the little girl, supposedly to eat her. Fortunately, she wakes up.

See also UglyGuyHotWife (along with its rarer conterpart HotGuyUglyWife) and SexyDimorphism for cases of a beastly partner and a pretty partner, where the difference comes from real-life beauty standards and doesn't symbolize anything about the characters' personalities. See also FreakinessShame. If the "beast" part is downplayed, it may be a case of InterspeciesRomance. If they are only friends or work together with no romantic subtext, or that subtext being in the background, that's MonsterAndTheMaiden. For the metaphorical variety, see DeathAndTheMaiden. Also see MarsNeedsWomen.

* In Dark Triumph, the second book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers, Sybella and Benebic are this. In the first book, Grave Mercy, another fellow assassin, Ismae, describes her meeting with Benebic, whose nickname is literally Beast due to how fierce a fighter he is on the battlefield: "The largest man I have ever seen steps into the room. Half a head taller than [her traveling companion], he is travel stained and road weary and looks like an ogre who has strayed out of a hearth tale. His face bears the roughened texture of pox scars; his nose—broken at least twice—is a lumpen knob. His hair is shaved close to his head, and his eyes are creased in a permanent squint...His light blue eyes are startling in his scarred face and put me in mind of a wolf. In truth, he may be the ugliest man I have ever seen." It is also revealed that other females have run away from him in terror over his looks. In Dark Triumph, Sybella describes herself like this: "I am beautiful and educated and have all manner of useful—and deadly—skills." In the third book, Mortal Heart, Sybella's fellow assassin, Annith, describes Sybella: "Even with the charcoal smudged on her face, she is beautiful." However, despite their looks, and his almost insane battle rage, other aspects of this trope are not played perfectly straight. Off the battlefield, Beast is gentle and respectful, with a silly sense of humor, a tendency towards rescuing anyody he sees in trouble, and a pleasure in simple things. While he does rescue Sybella a few times, she is an unwilling recipient of two of them, and the third she turns into a team effort to get them both out of a dangerous situation. Sybella is the one who has inner darkness and unhealed trauma, but Beast accepts it and can still see the best in her, as he can for the soldiers under his command. Together, they make a powerful team and fight side by side in multiple conflicts.

* In Dark Triumph, the second book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers, Sybella and Benebic are this. In the first book, Grave Mercy, another fellow assassin, Ismae, describes her meeting with Benebic, whose nickname is literally Beast due to how fierce a fighter he is on the battlefield: "The largest man I have ever seen steps into the room. Half a head taller than [her traveling companion], he is travel stained and road weary and looks like an ogre who has strayed out of a hearth tale. His face bears the roughened texture of pox scars; his nose—broken at least twice—is a lumpen knob. His hair is shaved close to his head, and his eyes are creased in a permanent squint...His light blue eyes are startling in his scarred face and put me in mind of a wolf. In truth, he may be the ugliest man I have ever seen." It is also revealed that other females have run away from him in terror over his looks. In Dark Triumph, Sybella describes herself like this: "I am beautiful and educated and have all manner of useful—and deadly—skills." In the third book, Mortal Heart, Sybella's fellow assassin, Annith, describes Sybella: "Even with the charcoal smudged on her face, she is beautiful." [[spoiler: When Beast and Sybella spend the night together for the first time, Beast picks her up and carries her to bed, telling her "I’ve always wanted to carry a fair maid away and ravish her." The next morning, Sybella is studying him and, when he wakes up, there's this little bit of dialogue: '''Sybella:''' I was wondering, since I have kissed you three times now, if you might turn into a handsome prince. '''Beast:''' (grins) Alas, you are still stuck with a toad, my lady. '''Sybella:''' Ah, but it turns out I am quite fond of toads.]]

* In Dark Triumph, the second book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers, Sybella and Benebic are this. In the first book, Grave Mercy, another fellow assassin, Ismae, describes her meeting with Benebic, whose nickname is literally Beast due to how fierce a fighter he is on the battlefield: "The largest man I have ever seen steps into the room. Half a head taller than Duval, he is travel stained and road weary and looks like an ogre who has strayed out of a hearth tale. His face bears the roughened texture of pox scars; his nose—broken at least twice—is a lumpen knob. His hair is shaved close to his head, and his eyes are creased in a permanent squint...His light blue eyes are startling in his scarred face and put me in mind of a wolf. In truth, he may be the ugliest man I have ever seen." It is also revealed that other females have run away from him in terror over his looks. In the third book, Mortal Heart, Sybella's fellow assassin, Annith, describes Sybella: "Even with the charcoal smudged on her face, she is beautiful."

->''"As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?"''
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' has Rex and Natalie of the First Family. He's a giant orange dinosaur monster with rocky scales and the prince of Monstro City; she's an energy being who internalizes her powers to become a SizeShifter giantess. TheyFightCrime!

* ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': {{Deconstructed|Trope}} -- Christine is horrified when she unmasks her kidnapper, but to gain his trust and increase her odds of escaping, she puts on an I-love-you-for-your-musical-genius-and-don't-care-what-you-look-like act, which successfully convinces him to let her go as long as she promises to come back (which is no problem since she has a good case of StockholmSyndrome by then). Erik's so hideous that she admits there is ''no way'' she can be physically attracted to him, and so insane and controlling that she realizes there's no way she would be happy being his prisoner forever -- no matter how guilty those facts make her feel, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome they're true]]. The Phantom realizes he's been a murderous StalkerWithACrush and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy lets Christine go]] so she can be happy with her handsome VictoriousChildhoodFriend Raoul, even after Christine has said she'll stay with the Phantom [[ScarpiaUltimatum so Raoul's life will be spared]].

* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'' has the ugly WarriorPoet Cyrano fall in love with his beautiful [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend childhood friend]] ([[KissingCousins and cousin]]) Roxane but never tell her until his deathbed, instead setting her up with the handsome-but-tonguetied Christian. When Roxane tells the dying Cyrano that she loves him, he jokes that [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome he won't be magically made handsome and brought back to life]] like the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast".

* ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' has a ShipTease between the [[WhiteHairedPrettyGirl beautiful]] [[DarkskinnedBlond Storm]] and the Demon-esque mutant ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} who is blue, scaly with MoreTeethThanTheOsmonds. In a slight subversion, he is the [[NiceGuy kind]] and [[NonActionGuy gentle pacifist]] [[spoiler: when he's not BrainwashedAndCrazy that is]], whilst she is more likely to [[ActionGirl kick some serious ass]] [[MamaBear if she feels her fellow mutants are in the slightest danger]].

* ''Beauty And The Beast(1962)'' is the first English language adaptation of the fairy tale, although it has a completely different plot. Lady Althea pays a visit to Duke Edward Marc, her fiancé and heir of the throne, but finds out he transforms every night into a werewolf, because of a curse tossed by an alchemist that his late father killed many years ago. She decides to help him break the curse, but a rival of Edward discovers his secret and [[TorchesAndPitchforks stirs the townspeople against him]]. It’s not hard to guess what happens next.

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': Yuta's relationship with Rika is a twisted and gender-flipped example. They were childhood friends who promised to marry each other when they grow up until Rika died in a car accident. Yuta unwittingly cursed Rika's spirit, causing her to become a cursed spirit. She becomes violently protective of him, and eventually [[spoiler:they use their PowerOfLove to defeat Geto. Upon being released from her curse, Rika tells Yuta that she was happy being by his side (and arguably more so after her original death).]]

The ideal is often so high that [[NoHuggingNoKissing sexual relations are not mentioned]] ([[RuleThirtyFour not by the creators, at least]]). If they happen or are mentioned, the results could be [[DeathBySex doom]], [[ManOfSteelWomanOfKleenex risky]], [[HeadtiltinglyKinky kinky]] or [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction mysterious in how it works]]. By means of FunctionalMagic, AppliedPhlebotinum, or a good old-fashioned TrueLovesKiss, the issue could be avoided entirely by one of them permanently turning into the other's species. The relation may not even be romantic; all that matters is the contrast between the two characters.

* Tragically deconstructed in Oscar Wilde's ''The Birthday of the Infanta''. An ugly, naive, cheerful dwarf is given to the Infanta of Spain in her twelth birthday. He thinks the adorable girl loves him because she laughs whenever he dances, unaware [[RoyalBrat that she is actually mocking him]]. He learns the truth in the harshest way possible, when he sees himself in a mirror for the first time.

** Sandor Clegane and Sansa Stark's relationship. Sansa loves songs and stories of knights and fair maidens. Sandor was playing with a knight toy when he was burned by his brother and assumed the Hound persona as a defense mechanism. He tells her the Beast's lines, I am no lord, and I don't love compliments. Slowly he changes, and becomes Sandor again. Slowly she changes, and comes to desire him, dreaming of his kiss. The story is full of Beauty and Beast motifs, including the rose (from Loras), the prince (Joffrey), the father (Ned), and much more. Hard to understand for someone who hasn't already read the books%%

** Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf, has experienced the dynamic twice, and both in tragic ways. First with the commoner Tysha, to whom he saved from being raped by soldiers; they eventually became lovers and married. Unfortunately, Tywin, his father, learned about the union and made Jaime lie to Tyrion that Tysha was a prostitute Jaime had paid, so Tyrion would have some happiness. Worse, Tywin had Tysha raped by his soldiers while Tyrion was forced to watch, before she was cast away. [[spoiler: After learning the truth, Tyrion avenges her and himself by killing his father.]]
** The second time happens when he is forced to marry Sansa Stark. He refuses to consummate the marriage because of her visible repulse and shows nothing but kindness to her, but Sansa--who has seen her father executed by Tryion's family and been put through the emotional wringer for years as a hostage--coldly rejects his efforts and flees the first chance she has.
* ''Literature/IAmNotASerialKiller'' has another non-literal example in [[TheSociopath John]] and [[LovableAlphaBitch Marci]]. He has a tendency to scare people and a love for violence; she's the hot, smart LifeOfTheParty. He's drawn to the lightness and ease she brings out in him, and she likes that he's quiet and respectful and unusually interested in what's behind the pretty face.
* ''Literature/TheManWhoLaughs'' is about a circus performer whose face has been carved into a permanent SlasherSmile, who somehow finds himself at the centre of a BettyAndVeronica LoveTriangle with Dea - his [[BlindAndTheBeast blind]] [[ChildhoodFriendRomance childhood friend]] who doesn't care what he looks like - and Josiane - a sexy duchess who wants his inheritance, but also seems to be [[FreakyIsCool genuinely attracted]] to him. Notably, in [[Film/TheManWhoLaughs the film version]], Dea is played by Mary Philbin, the same actress who played Christine in ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera1925'', and Josiane is played by Olga Baklanova, who played a more outright [[GoldDigger mercenery]] take on this trope in ''Film/{{Freaks}}''.
* In ''Literature/RedDragon'', Frances Dolarhyde sees his relationship with [[BlindAndTheBeast blind colleague]] Reba this way, although it's clear that his "ugliness" - a cleft palate - is nowhere near as bad as he thinks it is, and a lot of the women around their workplace seem to find him attractive because he's in great physical shape. What Reba doesn't know, however, is that Frances is a SerialKiller, so he ''is'' a monster after all, at least metaphorically, although [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes their relationship does bring out whatever good and humanity remains in him.]]

* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold: Played with ''and'' gender-switched in the short story "[[Literature/VorkosiganSaga Labyrinth]]". An eight-foot-tall experimental SuperSoldier complete with fangs and claws can count as 'Beast', but considering that he is a four-foot-nine fast-talking hunchback Admiral Naismith does not quite fit most objective standards of 'Beauty'. Touchingly he comes to consider Supersoldier Taura the 'Beauty', an enchanted princess to be rescued from the real 'Beasts'.
* ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': {{Deconstructed|Trope}} -- Christine is horrified when she unmasks her kidnapper, but to gain his trust and increase her odds of escaping, she puts on an -I-love-you-for-your-musical-genius-and-don't-care-what-you-look-like act, which successfully convinces him to let her go as long as she promises to come back (which is no problem since she has a good case of StockholmSyndrome by then). Erik's so hideous that she admits there is ''no way'' she can be physically attracted to him and so insane and controlling that she realizes there's no way she would be happy being his prisoner forever -- no matter how guilty those facts make her feel, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome they're true]]. The Phantom realizes he's been a murderous StalkerWithACrush and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy lets Christine go]] so she can be happy with her handsome VictoriousChildhoodFriend Raoul, even after Christine has said she'll stay with the Phantom [[ScarpiaUltimatum so Raoul's life will be spared]].

* ''Literature/HeartsBlood'' 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.

* In the story of "Literature/TheNutcracker", Marie falls in love with the eponymous Nutcracker and declares to him that if he would have her, she would never reject him for how he looks. This is enough to break the curse and turn the Nutcracker back into a human man, as his curse could only be broken when someone loves him regardless of how he looks. Earlier, this trope is subverted when the Nutcracker (who is still human at the time) breaks the curse on a princess and is cursed in return, only for her to scorn him for being ugly.
* ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'', by Alex Flinn, is a modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast".

* From ''Literature/HonorHarrington'', Alfred Harrington, who is perfectly normal physically but TheBerserker and a BloodKnight when in combat, and his eventual wife, Allison Chou. As in, the short story that details their meeting is actually ''called'' "Beauty and the Beast".
-->'''Allison''': [The story is] us, Alfred. It's ''us!'' Me, running away from home because I need to be myself, and you, terrified of your ‘monster,' afraid you're becoming the beast. But you're not. Maybe the beast is inside there, but it isn't ''you''. You ''control'' it, and it was the beast that let you save my life. And you didn't [[RescueRomance come for me]] because you wanted an excuse to kill other people. You came for me because what you are is a good, caring, decent, ''gentle'' man. I know that—-I ''see'' that -- and you know I do. You ''know'' it, Alfred, and you've been alone with the beast too long. Trust me. Oh, ''trust'' me, my love.

[[folder: Web Original]]

* ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'': Lewis is a muscular, vindictive ghost whose head is a floating skull, who wants to take revenge on his former best friend Arthur for killing him; also, he is still in love with his former girlfriend Vivi, a cheerful, naive girl who took Lewis' place as the leader of their paranormal investigator group. The point is, neither she or Arthur (who was [[DemonicPossession possessed]] when he commited the crime)remember Lewis' death and don't even guess that the ghost that terrified them is their dear friend.

* The animated music video from DAT's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vJf38Lp5CI "Showtime"]] depicts a depressed devil that falls in love with an eccentric woman. He eventually decides to become human, or at least less demonic, since his horns and wings just get small, but [[spoiler: he can't remain in this form much long and painfully turns back into fully devil. With the woman's consent, he erases her memories of him as he cries, before they have a last dance [[StarCrossedLovers and he leaves her for good. ]]

* Myth/KingArthur: Gender inverted where the handsome Sir Gawain must marry Dame Ragnell, who is cursed into the form of the Loathly Lady, in order to gain the answer to the question "What do women want the most?" Interestingly, a kiss is able to break half the spell: she can be beautiful only by day or by night and Ragnell tells Gawain he can choose which it will be. The spell is only fully broken when Gawain gives her the choice instead, thus standing by the answer to the riddle which is that what women want the most is their own will.

** ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'': Beta Ray Bill is an alien of the Korbinite race technologically transformed into a bio-machine ressembling the "most ferocious carnivore in the Burning Galaxy" , although its head looks like a horse's. On her turn, Sif is a [[ActionGirl hot warrior goddess]] and Thor's romantic interest. Unusually, it's Bill's gentle heart that helps Sif to become more compassionate during their adventures on space. [[DidTheyOrDidntThey It has never been clear if they were "just friends" or something else.]]

The "beast" is [[AlwaysMale usually a male character]], due to ruggedness and by proxy beastliness traditionally being considered masculine traits, but there may be [[{{Beastess}} exceptions]].

*** Subverted in an episode where the monstrous Doglion retells the story with guest-star-of-the-week in a speechless dance. At the end, when true love blossoms despite their differences, [[spoiler:she turns into a monster]] and they go away happily.

** The second time happens when he is forced to marry Sansa Stark. He refuses to consummate the marriage because of her visible repulse and shows nothing but kindness to her, but that doesn't keep Sansa from abandoning him when he is unfairly accused of killing Joffrey.

* Deconstructed in the ''Series/{{Millenium}}'' episode "Somehow Satan Got Behind Me". A demon starts a relationship with a stripper, who accepts him even though he eventually reveals his true form to her. Just when the demon looks like he's going to make a love confession, he instead dumps her in a humiliating fashion so she's DrivenToSuicide and [[TheFarmerAndTheViper he can claim her soul]]. He then expresses his contempt for the PunyEarthlings who need to form such connections out of physical and emotional need.

* The animated music video from DAT's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vJf38Lp5CI "Showtime"]] depicts a depressed devil that falls in love with an eccentric woman. He eventually decides to become human, or at least less demonic, since his horns and wings just get small, but [[spoiler: he can't remain in this form much long and painfully turns back into fully devil. With the woman's consent, he erases her memories of him as he cries, before they have a last dance [[StarCrossedLovers and he leaves her for good.]]

** Their relationship is also one of the few exceptions to the Beast and Beauty rule in that neither changed their species permanently for the other, yet they still end up being together despite their physical differences.
** Amusingly, a number of other characters notice the chemistry long before their first kiss. When Elisa was pretending to be a corrupt cop to get close to a slippery criminal and Goliath played along, the criminal instantly assumed that they were together and congratulated Goliath on his good taste.
** WordOfGod [[http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/archives.php?lid=128&qid=7559 holds]] that Goliath finds Elisa's hair to be an attractive feature, and the lack of wings or tail or horns were not, but he had his eyes opened when she temporarily turned into a gargoyle in "[[Recap/GargoylesS2TheMirror The Mirror]]". The main thing he's attracted to about her is her soul.

* ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'': Lewis is a muscular, vindictive ghost whose head is a floating skull, who wants to take revenge on his former best friend Arthur for killing him; also, he is still in love with his former girlfriend Vivi, a cheerful, naive girl who took Lewis' place as the leader of their paranormal investigator group. The point is, neither she or Arthur (who was [[DemonicPossession possessed]] when he commited the crime)remember Lewis' death and don't even guess that the ghost that terrified them is their dear friend.

* The animated music video from DAT's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vJf38Lp5CI "Showtime"]] depicts a depressed devil that falls in love with an eccentric woman. He eventually decides to become human, or at least less demonic, since his horns and wings just get small, but [[spoiler: he can't remain in this form much long and painfully turns back into fully devil. With the woman's consent, he erases her memories of him as he cries, before they have a last dance [[StarCrossedLovers and he leaves her for good.]]

* ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'': Lewis is a muscular, vindictive ghost whose head is a floating skull, who wants to take revenge on his former best friend Arthur for killing him; also, he is still in love with his former girlfriend Vivi, a cheerful, naive girl. and meet Vivi, his former girlfriend, again. She is a cheerful girl who took Lewis' place as the leader of their paranormal investigator group before the former's disappearance. The point is, neither she or Arthur (who was [[DemonicPossession possessed]] when he commited the crime)remember Lewis' death and don't even guess that the ghost that terrified them is their dear friend.

* The animated music video from DAT's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vJf38Lp5CI "Showtime"]] depicts a depressed devil that falls in love with an eccentric woman. He eventually decides to become human, or at least less demonic, since his horns and wings just get small, but [[spoiler: he can't remain in this form much long and painfully turns back into fully devil. With the woman's consent, he erases her memories of him as he cries, before they have a last dance [[StarCrossedLovers and he leaves her for good.]] The song, however, sounds optimistic: " Though I can't see, I can see compassion/Trust in the hope of our future"]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Hordak a stern, bat-looking DarkLordOnLifeSupport and Entrapta, a cute human princess who is also a GadgeteerGenius. Slightly subverted, for it’s hinted that Entrapta finds Hordak attractive, but he doesn't notice how beautiful she is until she comforts him about his self-esteem issues. Besides, Entrapta is not exactly a MoralityPet for Hordak, but encourages him to be himself instead of [[spoiler:Horde Prime’s shadow]]. For good measure, many moments between Hordak and Entrapta [[https://www.deviantart.com/silverlady7/art/Something-There-and-Very-Familiar-809211373 recreate shots of Disney's Beauty and the Beast]].

* Manga/AngelDensetsu: The teenager Seiichirou Kitano is a FriendToAllLivingThings, but has such a creepy, demonic face that everybody takes him for an OmnicidalManiac, and his naivety only makes the misunderstanding worse. Koiso Ryoko is a beautiful girl skilled in martial arts and deadset into defeating Kitano in a duel until she realizes he is a good person. They become friends, but, except for Ryoko's bestie, [[CassandraTruth nobody else believes when she tells the truth about him]]. The trope is repeated with Kitano's parents (he takes after his father and his mom is gorgeous), who are HappilyMarried.
* ''Anima'', by Fran Brigs e Anna Giovannini, is a very curious Brazilian manga that rewrites the plot of Disney's film. Damaran, the beast, won his fortune by robbering but that cost him his humanity. Belle, a.k.a. Amadeus, is a HookerWithAHeartOfGold exploited by her roomate Cleo (Maurice's counterpart), a very feisty transwoman that has the brilliant idea of looting Damaran’s castle to pay her debts with a loan shark - the real villain, since Gaston and Le Fou's counterparts are Amadeus' only true friends in town. Ah, and Damaran's subordinates are humans.

* ''WesternAnimation/BoxBallet'': the short shows what happens when a rude, big, ugly boxer falls in love with a frail ballerina. Realistically, their worlds are too different... but living in them is [[CrapsackWorld very hard, sometimes unbearable]]], so both boxer and ballerina find support on each other.

* Percilla Lauther (1911-2001) and Emmit Bejano (1915-1995)]] lived a true love story in spite of their advertisies. She had hypertrichosis and two rows of teeth and he had a calloused skin that earned him the nickname of "Alligator Man"; but she was also a graceful woman with a enchanting singing voice, while he was gentle and kind. They saw past their physical differents and lived together for many years, until Emmit's death.