Disney on Ice Beauty and the Beast 2002

Disney to Re-Release BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LITTLE MERMAID, FINDING NEMO, and MONSTERS, INC. in 3D in 2012 and 2013

Disney will re-release their animated classics Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc. in 3D in 2012 and 2013.

Spurred by the smashing success of The Lion King 's 3D re-release, Disney has announced that they'll be giving the big-screen 3D treatment to Beauty and the Beast , The Little Mermaid , Finding Nemo , and Monsters, Inc . The 3D post-conversion doesn't bother me so much because as we saw with The Lion King, it wasn't so much about throwing animation in your face as much as it was about seeing a 2D animated classic given an HD upgrade. I don't think there will be as much benefit from post-converting Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc. but it will still be nice to see them in theaters again. More than anything, I'm just happy I'll finally get to see the 3D Beauty and the Beast I was promised back at Comic-Con 2009.

Hit the jump for the full press release and to find out when each film will be returning to theaters.

Here are the release dates for the 3D re-releases:

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – January 13, 2012

FINDING NEMO – September 14, 2012

MONSTERS, INC. – January 18, 2013 (the prequel Monsters University opens in 3D six months later on June 21, 2013)

THE LITTLE MERMAID – September 13, 2013

Here's the press release:

DISNEY AND DISNEY•PIXAR FAVORITES POISED TO RETURN TO THEATERS IN 3D 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Monsters, Inc.' and 'The Little Mermaid' Will Make 3D Theatrical Debut in 2012 and 2013 BURBANK, Calif. – October 4, 2011 – On the heels of the phenomenal success of The Lion King 3D – which will cross the $80 million mark at the domestic box office today – The Walt Disney Studios has announced limited theatrical engagements for four of its classic films for the first time in 3D. The following titles from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be released in 2012 and 2013:

Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012

Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012

Disney•Pixar's Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)

The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013

"Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we're fortunate to have a treasure trove of both," said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. "We're thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen."Originally released in 1991, Beauty and the Beast is a classic "tale as old as time" that follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film ever nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, earning an additional five Oscar® nominations and winning two. It has grossed $380.4 million worldwide.
First released in 2003, Disney•Pixar's Finding Nemo takes audiences into a whole new world in this undersea adventure about family, courage and challenges. When Marlin, an overly cautious clownfish living in the Great Barrier Reef, helplessly watches his son get scooped up by a diver, he must put aside his fears of the ocean and leave the safety of his coral enclave to find Nemo. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a forgetful but relentlessly optimistic fish, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero in a seemingly impossible land-and-sea rescue. Finding Nemo won an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for three others. With a total of $867.6 million worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of 2003.In 2001, Disney•Pixar released Monsters, Inc. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home. Monsters, Inc. shattered every DVD-era home entertainment sales record when 11 million DVD/VHS copies were sold during its first week of release. It won an Academy Award® for Best Song and has grossed $526.9 million worldwide.Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid, stars Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula. One of the most celebrated animated films of all time, The Little Mermaid was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning two. It has grossed $228.9 million worldwide. ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel; and Touchstone Pictures, which includes the distribution of live-action films from DreamWorks Studios. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, visit www.waltdisneystudios.com.