He’s the artist who gave life to a young singing mermaid, made an angry beast human and kind, and he even gave voice to a man-eating plant.

Now, the late legendary writer and director Howard Ashman is the subject of a new documentary aptly titled Howard. The film was written and directed by Don Hahn, who worked with Ashman on the animated feature Beauty and the Beast.

What You Need To Know

  • The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin: You know the Disney movies, but do you know the artists behind them?

  • A new documentary tells the story of songwriter Howard Ashman, who sadly died before his enduring legacy was realized

  • The documentary Howard premieres on Disney+ on Friday

"You have one of the great storytellers and great dramatists of the 20th century whose story hadn't been told. And yet his work is really well known," said Hahn, who also produced the film.

The film shows how the young theater lover ends up in New York City where he teams up with composer Alan Menken to create the off-Broadway hit “Little Shop of Horrors.” In 1986, he made his Broadway debut with the failed beauty pageant musical “SMILE.” The show starred Jodi Benson, who later reconnected with Howard, taking on the voice of the title character in The Little Mermaid.

 

"The blessing and the gift of that Broadway flop came The Little Mermaid,” said Benson. “Had the show have been a hit or if it had run, I don't even know if any of us would have been considered for the audition process. So you can see, you know, the beauty that comes from the ashes, so to speak.”

As Howard and his songwriting partner Alan Menken were taking Disney by storm, Howard was diagnosed with AIDS. The Oscar winner never saw the completion of his Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. Howard’s sister Sarah Gillespie said the time to tell her brother’s story is now.

"It's also the story of a plague. It's also the story of people not understanding, not getting it until so many people had died. AIDS is not the same as COVID, but there's a certain resonance," said Gillespie.

 

Howard died in March of 1991, eight months before Beauty and the Beast was released in theaters. And while Ashman never really got to bask in the glory of his international and acclaimed success, his characters, stories and songs will live on forever.

"Howard Ashman was incredibly smart, funny, difficult, and complicated," said Hahn.

"My brother was extraordinary," said Gillespie.

"Howard Ashman was a brilliant genius," added Benson.

If you would like to check out the story of the brilliant genius known as Howard Ashman, catch Howard on Disney+, beginning on Friday.