Belle's Magical World

A quartet of simple, stand-alone stories continues the cartoon adventures of Belle and her enchanted friends in this second made-for-video spin-off from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. But while the Oscar-winning original was both charming and visually ambitious, the dull and poorly animated material presented here just smacks of cheap cash-in. Still, undemanding tots will be moderately entertained - even if their parents aren't - as old and inferior new characters learn heavy-handed lessons about trust, respect, teamwork and forgiveness by tackling issues including an injured bird and the Beast's boorish behaviour. Ultimately, the film's best feature is its expressive voice cast, with returning talent Jerry Orbach (Lumiere the candlestick) in particular making the most of his frequently clumsy dialogue.