Build-a-Bear Workshop invites Beauty and the Beast to be their guests with a new collection celebrating the upcoming live-action film.
The Build-a-Bear Workshop of my teenager-hood was primarily stocked with bears and goofy outfits for them, whereas my trip last weekend in search of outfits for my stuffed Charmander gleaned mostly pop culture plushes. I might raise an eyebrow at my own inability to recognize many of the characters on the shelf nowadays, but the latest collection announced from Build-a-Bear Workshop should easily appeal to all ages of bear-lovers. I’m talking about their Beauty and the Beast collection in celebration of the upcoming live-action remake of the Disney film with Dan Stevens and starring the glorious Emma Watson as Belle.
Entertainment Weekly reports that the emphasis of the collection is on the iconic ballroom scene, which represents both the movie’s most memorable moment and a huge milestone in animation history. The website lists items such as Belle’s familiar yellow dress (in what appears to be two different versions, actually!) the Beast’s fancy ballroom suit (complete with silly ruffle), accessories and a wig for Belle, and a rose for the Beast. All items look positively adorable as modeled on the generic bears, perfect for a fancy bear party or anyone who just likes to collect such things.
That’s not all, though, because it wouldn’t be a Beauty and the Beast collection without actual bears representing the titular characters. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Credit: Build-a-Bear Workshop website Credit: Build-a-Bear Workshop website
Pros: Those look like the softest bears in the universe and I want to hug them forever. Also, neat paw pads!
Cons: What is going on with their eyes? Yikes.
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I think their faces are intended to (loosely) replicate those from the animated film faces, with Belle’s animated fluttery eyelashes and the Beast’s tiny eyes and rather creepy smile. I’m not sure how I feel about those on a stuffed bear, though. Still, I can see why the animated route was easier–one can only imagine the difficulties in getting a bear to look sufficiently like Emma Watson. Weirdly, the Belle bear looks much better with the wig on.
Beauty and the Beast hits theaters on March 17th, 2017. The commemorative bears and accessories are, fortunately, available now if the whimsy strikes you.