Disney remains the powerhouse for fairytale stories, but it took 34 years to realize Gaston is not the real villain of Beauty and the Beast. You could argue that the multiple antagonists in Disney’s motion pictures are just one element of Beauty and the Beast that doesn’t make sense, but they definitely help create a compelling story and a captivating romance. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991. Despite the limited details provided about him, including the Prince having no name in Beauty and the Beast, the Beast remains one of the strongest members of Disney movie royalty.