Sing Me A Story With Belle
Encyclopedia
Sing Me a Story with Belle is an American
live-action series created by Patrick Davidson and Melissa Gould. The series features Belle from Beauty and the Beast
, who works at her own bookstore in France
. She is usually greeted by children who would like to hear a story. Belle interacts with the children and narrates classic Disney stories while doing activities around the bookstore. The series premiered in 1995 on Disney Channel
. The series lasted four seasons and ended on December 11th, 1999.
, using classic animated shorts allows the show to present a higher quality of animation than would normally be feasible in an educational show that who get U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) approval.
By early 1995, it was said that the show would present two short films per episode (with updated music), which Belle and the children would sometimes interrupt for discussion purposes or to "test cognitive abilities".
and owns her own music and bookshop. Helping her at the bookstore are Lewis and Carol (their names being a joke on author Lewis Carroll
), two magical bookworms. Also at the bookstore is Harmony the Cat. The bookstore is visited by local children to whom Belle will tell (and sing) stories, usually with a moral that fit a situation happening in the shop or with the children.
Often classic Disney short films, such as "Pecos Bill
" and "The Brave Little Tailor" are used to illustrate the stories.
on September 10, 1995 and lasted four seasons. It ended on December 11, 1999. The show continued to play on Disney Channel in the early mornings, as part of Playhouse Disney
, in 2000. It was later taken off the channel for upcoming shows. It continued playing in the United Kingdom
version of Disney Channel until 2004. It has not been on the air since.
Two videos featuring two episodes on each were released as part of the Disney Princess Collection: Chapters of Enchantment and The World of Music. In 1999, two episodes from the first season were released with an episode of an abanded cartoon Beauty and the Beast series and were released direct-to-video as Belle's Tales of Friendship
.
One episode of the series will appear on each of the 2011 releases of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
and Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World
, set for release on November 22nd, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
live-action series created by Patrick Davidson and Melissa Gould. The series features Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
, who works at her own bookstore in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She is usually greeted by children who would like to hear a story. Belle interacts with the children and narrates classic Disney stories while doing activities around the bookstore. The series premiered in 1995 on Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
. The series lasted four seasons and ended on December 11th, 1999.
Development
According to Ken Weiner, vice president at Buena Vista TelevisionBuena Vista Television
Disney-ABC Domestic Television is the domestic television syndication firm of the Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company, that handles the television distribution of product from Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, BVS Entertainment, and ABC...
, using classic animated shorts allows the show to present a higher quality of animation than would normally be feasible in an educational show that who get U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) approval.
By early 1995, it was said that the show would present two short films per episode (with updated music), which Belle and the children would sometimes interrupt for discussion purposes or to "test cognitive abilities".
Synopsis
Belle (portrayed by Lydnsey McLeod) lives in the country of FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and owns her own music and bookshop. Helping her at the bookstore are Lewis and Carol (their names being a joke on author Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
), two magical bookworms. Also at the bookstore is Harmony the Cat. The bookstore is visited by local children to whom Belle will tell (and sing) stories, usually with a moral that fit a situation happening in the shop or with the children.
Often classic Disney short films, such as "Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill is an American cowboy, apocryphally immortalized in numerous tall tales of the Old West during American westward expansion into the Southwest of Texas, New Mexico, Southern California, and Arizona. Their stories were probably invented into short stories and book by Edward O'Reilly in the...
" and "The Brave Little Tailor" are used to illustrate the stories.
Opening sequence
Belle walks down the quiet countryside of France and greets the citizens of the town while singing "Sing Me a Story." She later enters her bookshop and the song ends.Cast
- Lydnsey McLeod - Belle from Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
- Jeff Conover - Harmony the Cat (voice)
- Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
- Big Book, Lewis the Book Worm (voice) - Christine CavanaughChristine CavanaughChristine Cavanaugh is an American former voice actress who had a distinctive speaking style and had provided the voice for a large range of cartoon characters. She is best known as the voice of Babe in the hit film, Babe, Chuckie Finster on Rugrats, and Dexter for the original Dexter's Laboratory...
- Carol the Book Worm (voice) - Mary Kay BergmanMary Kay BergmanMary Kay Bergman was an American voice actress and animation voice over teacher, who was the lead female voice actress on South Park from the show's 1997 debut until her death and was best known as the official voice of Snow White for the Walt Disney Company starting in 1989 with the Snow White...
- Fifi, Hansel & Gretel, Elf, Witch - Tim Goodwin - Brioche
- Jacob Chase - Jacob
- Kirsten StormsKirsten StormsKirsten Renee Storms is an American actress. Her biggest break came when she was cast as Isabella "Belle" Black in the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives from 1999 to 2004....
- Kirsten - Shawn PyfromShawn PyfromShawn Caminiti Pyfrom is an American actor who has appeared in several television series and movies, and is best known for his portrayal of Andrew Van de Kamp on ABC's Desperate Housewives-Life and career:...
- Shawn - Hampton Dixon - 'Little' Hampton
- Jennefer Jesse - Jennefer
- Natalie Trott - Natalie
- Julie Vanlue - Julie
- Kerry Anne Bradford
- Chris Robles
- Kristian Truelsen - Musician
Syndication
The show premiered on Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
on September 10, 1995 and lasted four seasons. It ended on December 11, 1999. The show continued to play on Disney Channel in the early mornings, as part of Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children...
, in 2000. It was later taken off the channel for upcoming shows. It continued playing in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version of Disney Channel until 2004. It has not been on the air since.
Two videos featuring two episodes on each were released as part of the Disney Princess Collection: Chapters of Enchantment and The World of Music. In 1999, two episodes from the first season were released with an episode of an abanded cartoon Beauty and the Beast series and were released direct-to-video as Belle's Tales of Friendship
Belle's Tales of Friendship
Belle's Tales of Friendship is a live-action/animated Disney film released direct-to-video as a midquel to Beauty and the Beast. It was also released to help promote Disney Channel's television series, Sing Me a Story with Belle, for which Belle tells stories about classic cartoons such as The...
.
One episode of the series will appear on each of the 2011 releases of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Beauty and The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is a 1997 animated holiday special produced by The Walt Disney Company. It is a midquel that takes place within the timeline of the original Beauty and the Beast...
and Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World
Belle's Magical World
Belle's Magical World is a 1998 direct-to-video Disney midquel film and the third installment in the Beauty and the Beast trilogy. It was originally released on February 17, 1998, and features the voices of Paige O'Hara as Belle, Robby Benson as The Beast, Jerry Orbach as Lumiere, David Ogden...
, set for release on November 22nd, 2011.