New Disney+ Doc Showcases Life of Queer Disney Hitmaker Howard Ashman

Though his life was tragically cut short at the age of 40, Oscar-winning lyricist and writer Howard Ashman left an indelible mark on pop culture and helped shaped one of the Disney Animation's most iconic eras in musical film history.

And now, thanks to Disney+'s latest documentary, Howard's life story is finally being told.

Simply entitled Howard, the doc takes us behind the scenes at the creation of some of Ashman's greatest works for the beloved family entertainment powerhouse. In a short teaser, we even get to see an exclusive look at Ashman working with the likes of actresses Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) and Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast) in the studio while they were creating and recording legendary musical numbers like "Part of Your World" and the Academy Award-winning song "Beauty and the Beast."

"You may not know his name, but you sure know Howard Ashman's music," Howard director, writer, and producer Don Hahn said in a statement about the late, great artist, who passed away in 1991 (a few months before the premiere of Beauty and the Beast) due to AIDS-related complications.

Hahn continued:

"He's one of the greatest storytellers of the twentieth century who helped to revitalize the American musical and re-energize Disney Animation. He left us a songbook that still lives on in us today, yet his personal story has never been fully told until now."

Howard is now streaming on Disney+. Watch the official trailer in the video below.