<P> Belle was also the main character in various comic books based on the film, including one set during Belle's stay at the castle published by Marvel Comics, and a prequel set several years before the film distributed by Disney Comics . In the former, the storylines generally have the servants trying to coax Belle into doing something with the Beast, only for it to backfire and nearly ruin their friendship before they make up . In the latter serial, Belle ends up locked up in a cellar by village children after reluctantly playing pirates with them, and later nearly goes down the path leading to Beast's castle . The latter serial also implies that she holds misandric views and refuses to associate herself with the village children, especially the males, due to their not being as well - versed in literature as she . </P> <P> Belle and the other characters from the first movie appear in the stage show, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World . Belle appears in a meet - and - greet attraction at Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland called Enchanted Tales with Belle . In season 18 of Dancing With the Stars, Danica McKellar played Belle while performing a Quickstep on a Disney themed episode . Ginger Zee and Edyta Śliwińska also both portrayed Belle while performing a Foxtrot and Waltz respectively during the Disney night episode of the 22nd season of Dancing with the Stars . Emma Slater then played Belle while dancing a Foxtrot during the Disney theme night of the show's 24th season . </P> <P> Belle, alongside other Disney Princesses, is set to cameo in the film Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck - It Ralph 2, as was announced at the 2017 D23 Expo, with Paige O'Hara returning to the role after seven years . </P> <P> Belle has garnered widespread acclaim from film critics, several of whom voiced their preference for the character over her predecessor, Ariel from The Little Mermaid . Hal Hinson of The Washington Post described Belle as a "compelling" character who is "more mature, more womanly and less blandly asexual" than Ariel, as well as "a more worldly girl", describing her as "a bookworm, with gumption and a mind of her own ." Similarly comparing Belle to Ariel, John Hartl of The Seattle Times wrote that, in Beauty and the Beast, "there's rarely a sense of deja vu, perhaps because the heroine is so different from' Mermaid's' dependent Ariel, and her dilemma is more poignant," while Boxoffice scribed, "Undoubtedly in response to criticism that the cute little' Mermaid' Ariel was nothing more than a precocious sexpot, the idea - people behind this beauty--aptly named Belle...chose to make her an icon of self - reliance and a voracious reader with a curiosity and love for everything around her ." Jennie Punter of The Globe and Mail extolled Belle as a "smart, courageous ...' take - charge kind of gal'," while crowning her the "main attraction of Beauty and the Beast ." Emma Cochrane of Empire hailed Belle as "a feminist heroine who (is) more rounded than previous Disney characters", while Paste's Annlee Ellingson similarly enjoyed the character's "feminist kick ." Stephen Hunter of The Baltimore Sun wrote that "Belle...is no passive fairy tale princess, but a real live girl, with a spunky personality and her own private agenda ." TV Guide wrote that "The familiar narrative is strengthened by the independent, self - assured character of Belle," concluding, "Unlike Disney heroines from Snow White through Ariel, Belle is smart, knows what she wants, and doesn't spend her time pining away for the love of a handsome prince ." Marc Bernardin of Entertainment Weekly praised Belle's heroism, dubbing her "the hero" of Beauty and the Beast, while Entertainment Weekly's Christian Blauvelt opined, "Unlike previous Disney heroines who needed to be rescued by a prince themselves, Belle not only saves the Beast's life, she saves his soul ." TLC's Vicki Arkoff received Belle as a "smart" and "sharp - tongued" heroine, crediting the character for "break (ing) Disney's passive - princess mold ." About.com's David Nusair described Belle as an "admirable" heroine . AllMovie's Don Kaye and Perry Seibert echoed each other's reviews of the character, with Kaye describing both Belle and the Beast as "three - dimensional...complex individuals who defy stereotyping and change over the course of the story," and Seibert calling Belle a "strong female character" who "sidesteps most of the clichés surrounding Disney heroines ." Common Sense Media hailed Belle as "one of Disney's smartest, most independent heroines ." </P>

Who plays belle in beauty in the beast