'Waking Sleeping Beauty' - Howard Ashman, Jodi Benson & Glen Keane

[shubdawg]

☹️ RIP Howard Ashman. You were one hell of a songwriter. A true genius.

[Vela]

This is the man who gave Ariel her voice! Such a talent!

[alexanderpytko]

Howard really knew how to get actors into their character. The man was a genius.

[nathaliarossetti]

"I have to do Ariel, I can feel it in my heart." So glad they listened to him and let him animate her. To me Ariel's the epitome of his work, and that's saying something, considering every single thing this guy animates turns out amazing.

[alexanderpytko]

The part where Ariel is in the dimly lit cavern singing "Part of Your World" was a very climatic scene in the movie. Believe it or not, some members of the production team actually thought that it should be cut from the film because they felt it was going to slow the movie down. But Howard Ashman insisted that it needed to be in the movie as it was necessary for the reasons that Howard explains in this video but also it he said it was necessary for the film because it shows that Ariel has other reasons to want to be human besides being in love with Eric. Roy Disney strongly agreed with Howard and backed Howard up 100% on that. Roy also believed it was very necessary for the film and said that sometimes a movie needs to be slowed down. Roy added that if his Uncle Walt was here, he'd be agreeing with Howard, too. So the scene was kept and it turned out to be a VERY wise decision.

[charlescannon]

I didn't know this until today, but Ashman got Benson that job. I love watching them work together because they obviously adored one another.

[LPJack]

RIP Howard Ashman (May 17, 1950 – March 14, 1991), age 40
You will be remembered as a legend.

[VladSicoe]

He poured his heart and soul in this song.

[simplystreeptacular]

Jodi still can't talk about Howard without tearing up. It's so plain how much they loved each other.

[nutku]

Damn mad respect for him! Disney always had "I want" songs since Snow White but it's only after The Little Mermaid and "Part of Your World" that that's been the formula ever since, thanks to Howard Ashman. The little mermaid, beauty and the beast and aladdin's songs is written by Howard Ashman. It's a shame that just few of disney fans talked about Howard. He is literally the reason why disney is still exist now. Howard Ashman is a legendary lyricist who made Disney rise from its downfall and started the renaissance era of Disney, who recently returned from his huge career in musical broadway theater world that time. You can know that Howard Ashman was a great lyricist that he can even tell a story from a song. He also made the song dynamically switching from singing to talking and vice versa but the transition between them is still unnoticeable. He is the one who directing Jodi Benson to sing Part of Your World. We all know that the original Part of Your World will always be the best "I Want" song, not just because the nostalgia vibe but also Jodi Benson is really well and carefully directed by Howard Ashman, that even her breaths, stress and pause on each syllable are really well and gently cared for. Disney renaissance is mostly known by their songs. Before the little mermaid project, Howard gathered the whole disney crew for a meeting. He tell about broadway history to all the crew and they all were impressed at him. Fun fact: Howard did much more than write the songs on this movie, he also brought on board Jodi Benson, directed her during this song, changed an English butler crab named Clarence to be a Jamaican crab named Sebastien, wrote the dialog in the scene where Triton gives Ariel her legs, and also produced the movie with John Musker.

After The Little Mermaid released and became a biggest success in box office, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken was going to make movie called Aladdin. They've come up with several of ideas and musical numbers but Jeffrey Katzenberg then dragging them to a new project, Beauty and The Beast. Unfortunately, Ashman passed away 6 month before beauty and the beast was released and that movie was dedicated to him that even in the credit scene you can see that they gaved him credit to honor him because of how important he was. After beauty and the beast released, Jeffrey then took away all of Ashman's idea and script, almost 99% of them. But sadly some of the songs were removed in the final film

He is the one who bring the new element broadway musical to the movie. This is the bright spot where everyone started to wacthing to animated movies again, previously no one was at all interested in animated movies. That's why every single disney movie now has a song in it. Disney keep using this formula until now (but not as effective as in the renaissance) because it's Howard's legacy. You can tell how they respect Ashman that even in Beauty and The Beast credit scene, there's a statement to honor him

"To our friend, Howard,
who gave a mermaid her voice
and a beast his soul,
we will be forever grateful."

Howard Ashman
1950-1991

No wonder why The Little Mermaid be the first disney animated classic who get an oscar nomination. Also Beauty and the Beast is Disney's 30th animated motion picture, a dedication to Howard Ashman before he had passed away and the only classic movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Picture.

He was the one who brought “I Want” song to another level! I Want song is literally every disney movies now. "In almost every musical ever written... the leading lady usually sits down on something... and sings about what she wants in life, and the audience falls in love with her and roots for her to get for the rest of the night." - Howard Ashman.

He and his partner, Alan Menken, is the greatest duo that anyone have ever recognized in animated movie history. Also gain respect to Alan Menken, The little mermaid is actually his first score yet he can bring the magic with that scores. You can said that Part of Your World orchestra in the opening scene is the best choir you have ever seen and heard.

Have you ever heard about the quote
"There are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists."

-Vladimir Horowitz

That quote actually referring to Ashman because he was Jewish and gay but still doesnt changed the fact that he really putted his care and love the the moviesMad respect for Howard! Disney always had "I want" songs since Snow White but it's only after The Little Mermaid and "Part of Your World" that that's been the formula ever since, thanks to Howard Ashman. The little mermaid, beauty and the beast and aladdin's songs is written by Howard Ashman. It's a shame that just few of disney fans talked about Howard. He is literally the reason why disney is still exist now. Howard Ashman is a legendary lyricist who made Disney rise from its downfall and started the renaissance era of Disney, who recently returned from his huge career in musical broadway theater world that time. You can know that Howard Ashman was a great lyricist that he can even tell a story from a song. He also made the song dynamically switching from singing to talking and vice versa but the transition between them is still unnoticeable. He is the one who directing Jodi Benson to sing Part of Your World. We all know that the original Part of Your World will always be the best "I Want" song, not just because the nostalgia vibe but also Jodi Benson is really well and carefully directed by Howard Ashman, that even her breaths, stress and pause on each syllable are really well and gently cared for. Disney renaissance is mostly known by their songs. Before the little mermaid project, Howard gathered the whole disney crew for a meeting. He tell about broadway history to all the crew and they all were impressed at him. Fun fact: Howard did much more than write the songs on this movie, he also brought on board Jodi Benson, directed her during this song, changed an English butler crab named Clarence to be a Jamaican crab named Sebastien, wrote the dialog in the scene where Triton gives Ariel her legs, and also produced the movie with John Musker.

After The Little Mermaid released and became a biggest success in box office, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken was going to make movie called Aladdin. They've come up with several of ideas and musical numbers but Jeffrey Katzenberg then dragging them to a new project, Beauty and The Beast. Unfortunately, Ashman passed away 6 month before beauty and the beast was released and that movie was dedicated to him that even in the credit scene you can see that they gaved him credit to honor him because of how important he was. After beauty and the beast released, Jeffrey then took away all of Ashman's idea and script, almost 99% of them. But sadly some of the songs were removed in the final film

He is the one who bring the new element broadway musical to the movie. This is the bright spot where everyone started to wacthing to animated movies again, previously no one was at all interested in animated movies. That's why every single disney movie now has a song in it. Disney keep using this formula until now (but not as effective as in the renaissance) because it's Howard's legacy. You can tell how they respect Ashman that even in Beauty and The Beast credit scene, there's a statement to honor him

"To our friend, Howard,
who gave a mermaid her voice
and a beast his soul,
we will be forever grateful."

Howard Ashman
1950-1991

No wonder why The Little Mermaid be the first disney animated classic who get an oscar nomination. Also Beauty and the Beast is Disney's 30th animated motion picture, a dedication to Howard Ashman before he had passed away and the only classic movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Picture.

He was the one who brought “I Want” song to another level! I Want song is literally every disney movies now. "In almost every musical ever written... the leading lady usually sits down on something... and sings about what she wants in life, and the audience falls in love with her and roots for her to get for the rest of the night." - Howard Ashman.

He and his partner, Alan Menken, is the greatest duo that anyone have ever recognized in animated movie history. Also gain respect to Alan Menken, The little mermaid is actually his first score yet he can bring the magic with that scores. You can said that Part of Your World orchestra in the opening scene is the best choir you have ever seen and heard.

Have you ever heard about the quote
"There are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists."

-Vladimir Horowitz

That quote actually referring to Ashman because he was Jewish and gay but still doesnt changed the fact that he really putted his care and love the the movies

[ericburns]

Howard Ashman was truly a genius he wrote the songs of Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and even some of the songs of Aladdin he will be missed

[shiradaniel]

They did this song on the exact day I was born.

[tylerolsonfilms]

He was a brilliant creative mind who came from a place of pure emotion and longing. much respect

[baileycrawly]

Howard gave some truly precious gifts to the world. He was an absolute genius. It’s hard to imagine how much more he would’ve given to us if he had more time. He’s dearly missed.

[VFXCommander]

Ariel had the best voice on all Disney animated movies!

[shockingheaven]

He was fantastic, I admire him so much

[muhammadandraaditya]

both the recording process and the film scene's show the female singer in a dimly-lit space, symbolizing a glimpse of hope that starts to shine out of the dark

[maggiemag]

They must release the whole interview with Howard and Alan someday.

[NillandBenetar]

Saw the leaked version with Halle Berry, and was immediately reminded of this moment between Ashman and Jodie Benson. How Ashman’s passion and complete understanding of musical theater led to the creation of a string of iconic musicals. Never solely about the vocals, but rather the expression of character through song. Brilliant!

[ericburns]

Hard to believe that years later Glen Keane would win an Oscar with Kobe Bryant