Alan Menken - the musical genius that saved Disney

[CaptainJasHook]

I'm currently writing an article about Alan Menken and would like to know if anyone knows anything about the following:

1) About what time Menken began work on Newsies, if Ashman was ever involved, and how Ashman effected Menken's work on the film.

2) If it was ALWAYS Elton John & Tim Rice for LION KING, or did Disney approach Menken first? In other words, because of Menken's death, did Menken not do Lion King? Or was it never an option?

3) When are we getting 2-disc SEs of HERCULES and HUNCHBACK? (If you have insider info you do not want published, please email me at andrew@moviemusicals.net).

4) How did Menken & Ashman get involved with the Mermaid project? Was Mermaid always going to be a musical?

Thank you!!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

2) If it was ALWAYS Elton John & Tim Rice for LION KING, or did Disney approach Menken first? In other words, because of Menken's death, did Menken not do Lion King? Or was it never an option?

3) When are we getting 2-disc SEs of HERCULES and HUNCHBACK? (If you have insider info you do not want published, please email me at andrew@moviemusicals.net).

First of all for #2, it should have been because of Ashman's death, not Menkens. And besides, in the midst of making the music for Aladdin, Ashman had dies, and Tim Rice came in to not necessarily take over, but kind of replaced Ashman's job. I really don't know the answer to #2, but you just kind of said the wrong thing.

For #3, no one is for certain when, or if, there will be 2-disc Special Editions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame & Hercules. There have been "little rumors" for Hunchback to be re-released this year, but so far, these rumors have been proven false. There has been absolutely NOTHING on have a Special Edition for Hercules. Or maybe I just don't read everything on the front page of UD. But as far as I know, there isn't really any info about these 2 movies have a Special Edition.

[Kram Nebuer]

2) If it was ALWAYS Elton John & Tim Rice for LION KING, or did Disney approach Menken first? In other words, because of Menken's death, did Menken not do Lion King? Or was it never an option?

3) When are we getting 2-disc SEs of HERCULES and HUNCHBACK? (If you have insider info you do not want published, please email me at andrew@moviemusicals.net).

4) How did Menken & Ashman get involved with the Mermaid project? Was Mermaid always going to be a musical?

Thank you!!

2) GAAAH Menken didn't die! ...In addition to TheSequelofDisney's post, you can find more about this if you manage to navigate through The Lion King PE's 2nd disc. If you don't have it, I'm pretty sure you can rent it.

3) As much as we'd love for some member to be secretly holding this information or have access to such information, I highly doubt that any of us are. UltimateDisney.com is probably the best and one of the most reliable sources to get this information. If the main page doesn't say so or a thread topic isn't brought up with the truth , then sadly there's no news at all. Many threads pertaining to your question have been made and you can use "Search" to find them and read through speculations.

4) I think they were asked by Disney after the two finished Little Shop of Horrors. I'm pretty sure The Little Mermaid was planned to be the fairy tale musical that Disney was hoping to use to save Disney Animation. Don't quote me on that though. Leonard Maltin's book "The Disney Films" or The Art of Disney or any other official publication should have this information. Just visit your local library or Barnes and Nobles and do the research

Good luck on your article!

[ChrisLyne]

In The Music Behind the Magic book it's said that the key to their success was bringing Broadway sensibilities to the animated movies.

Disney contacted Ashman in 1986 with a mission to revitalize the company's legacy. Ashman had a passion for Disney and loved Hans Christian Andersons stories and invited Menken to join him on the project following their earlier success with Little Shop of Horrors (after which they had briefly parted ways).

I remember reading somewhere (I couldn't find it when I was scanning through the book just now) that they were asked to create a film that could stand alongside Disney's older classic musicals that were being released on video around that time. But at the same time make it fresh for the modern audience.

Menken is quoted as saying "Our goal was to reinvigorate and reinvent the music in an animated feature and to be able to bring a hipness and fresh energy to a form that was associated with things that were dated."

The fact was with Mermaid, Beauty and Aladdin they managed to bridge the generation gap. The films were up-to-date yet timeless tales that appealed to both adults and children and worked well on both levels. The sad fact is that's exactly what Disney seems to be missing right now with standard fare like Chicken Little. Hopefully Menken can be brought in to work his magic again!