Interested in Making Musicals?

You MUST Watch Howard Ashman’s Lecture at Disney!

This was the presentation that single-handedly set into motion a renaissance of excellence for Walt Disney Feature Animation. During a time when Disney animation might have gone extinct if the project wasn’t successful, Broadway visionary Howard Ashman brought a sense of direction and inspiration to his role as executive producer and lyricist for The Little Mermaid.

In this lunchtime lecture, Ashman guided Disney animators, many of whom at the time were unfamiliar with how to create a fairy tale musical, through the different beats of the story, complete with its captivating characters and enthralling music.

This was the presentation that was the first point of contact for many of these people to the heart of the film they’d be working on for the next several years, and the excitement in Ashman’s voice and stature is unmistakable.

On the DVD for the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty, you’ll find the full, raw lecture, which is discussed in the accompanying feature-length documentary. On the blu-ray for The Little Mermaid , you’ll find a reflective piece looking back on the impact of the presentation from Little Mermaid cast and crew members, interspersed with clips from the lecture. We have the modern legacy of Disney animation to thank for this single presentation, and it’s a marvel to see take shape! – Via.

Howard Ashman’s legendary lecture is currently available on:

Waking Sleeping Beauty DVD (2010) (full, unedited lecture), The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition Blu-ray (2013) (edited with reflective interviews)