Few people have left a more indelible impression on our childhoods than Alan Menken. The eight-time Oscar-winning composer has not only inspired an entire generation of songwriters, but he's also given us some of the most iconic Disney songs, from "A Whole New World" to "Be Our Guest."
The memorable music of Menken and the late Howard Ashman largely contributed to Disney Animation's unlikely (and unparalleled) success in the 1990s. But the enchanting music of Beauty and the Beast sits atop Menken's many accomplishments, even 25 years later.
Menken's music from Beauty and the Beast lives on in Bill Condon's magical live-action remake, out on Blu-ray and DVD now. MTV News chatted with Menken about the process of writing new music for the record-breaking film, working with Guy Ritchie on the upcoming live-action Aladdin, and what made Disney's Renaissance era so special.
[…]
