Disney Rereleasing 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'Monsters Inc.' and 'Little Mermaid'

Throwing open its vault with unprecedented gusto, Disney has announced it will rerelease four of its classic animated films in 3D, including two Pixar titles -- Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc. and The Little Mermaid.

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The sweeping announcement follows the runaway success of the 3D rerelease of The Lion King, which has grossed nearly $100 million worldwide in less than a month. Today, the rerelease jumps the $80 million mark at the domestic box office.

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First out of the gate is Beauty and the Beast in 3D, which begins its limited theatrical run on Jan. 13, 2012. The animated film, grossing $377.4 million worldwide, was first released in 1991 and, like Lion King, spawned a long-running Broadway show, as well as regional tours.

Beauty and the Beast is followed on Sept. 14 by Pixar's 3D update of Finding Nemo, first released in 2003 and grossing $868 million to date worldwide.

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Pixar's Monsters, Inc in 3D will debut on Jan. 18, 2013, six months before prequel Monsters University on June 21. Monsters, Inc. originally hit theaters in 2001, earning an estimated $524.5 million globally.

The Little Mermaid in 3D goes out on Sept. 13, 2013. It first hit theaters in 1989, and has grossed $211.3 million worldwide. It also was adapted into a musical stage show.

"Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we're fortunate to have a treasure trove of both," Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman said.