Aladdin (found Howard Ashman treatment of Disney animated film; 1988)

Composer Alan Menken (left) and writer Howard Ashman (right); c. late 1970s.

Status: Found

Date found: 14 Aug 2017

Found by: Anonymous

Originally pitched as an animated film by producer and lyricist Howard Ashman to Walt Disney Studios, the story of Aladdin went through many different hands between 1987 and its final release in 1992, resulting in many different scripts, outlines, and treatments. However, the most famous and sought-after treatment is Ashman's original 1988 treatment.

History

As he began work on Disney's upcoming feature The Little Mermaid, writer and lyricist Howard Ashman pitched an idea of a possible new animated feature to the studio, and in January 1988, he turned in a 40-page treatment of Aladdin, featuring a complete score, with lyrics by him and music by his frequent collaborator Alan Menken. Though the head of Disney animation at the time called it the best treatment he had ever read, Disney passed on it, and as per Ashman's contract, the company owned both the treatment and the score.

Soon after, the story was handed off to writer Linda Woolverton, and, once his work on Mermaid was nearing completion, Ashman, along with Menken, was brought in by studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg to save the troubled Beauty and the Beast production.

Chosen as a follow up to Mermaid by directors John Musker and Ron Clements, the duo looked through everything that had already been done for Aladdin and decided to combine the best aspects off all the different drafts and treatments, as well as adding more animation friendly characters (namely Abu the monkey and Rajah the tiger), and began working on a new draft of the script. Around this time, it was decided that Ashman and Menken's original score would be used when possible with the duo coming on board to write new material when needed. Also around this time, as Musker and Clements were preparing to fly out to New York (where Ashman lived), Ashman told Musker during a phone call;

"I just want to let you know before you come out here… I’ve been ill."

(Ashman, who had been diagnosed in 1988 as HIV positive, was beginning to show signs of his illness.) Due to this, the directors, along with producer Don Ernst, flew over and visited Ashman whenever possible to make sure he was involved. Ashman died from complications due to AIDS on March 14th, 1991, after completing a few new songs with Menken. Around the same time, the storyboard reel was shown to Jeffery Katzenberg, who told Musker and Clements afterward;

"I was so disengaged that all through the movie, I was working on the guest list for my wife’s surprise birthday party!"

With the fate of the film in jeopardy, Musker and Clements brought on writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio to rewrite the script yet again. Due to this, various story elements were cut or streamlined, resulting in further cuts to Ashman and Menken's score. To fill in the holes now left in the score, Menken wrote various songs by himself, before lyricist Tim Rice was hired to complete the final film score with him.

All story problems were successfully worked out by the film's release date of November 25th, 1992.

Status and Revivals

According to Ashman's sister, Sarah Ashman Gillespie, after production was halted on her brother's original draft, he thought about "getting the rights back from Disney [...] and doing something along the lines of Shelley Duvall’s brilliant 'Faerie Tale Theater' with it." However, these plans were abandoned, possibly due to Disney's continued work on the property,

In July 2011, a musical theatre version of Aladdin premiered in Seattle, Washington, at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Though restoring much of Ashman's original vision and score, cuts and changes between the show's original production and 2014 Broadway production resulted in various other cuts and edits. For these, writer and lyricist Chad Beguelin supplied the show with new lyrics.

On August 14th, 2017, LMW founder Dycaite received an anonymous email containing a copy of Howard Ashman's treatment in its entirety, available for download here.

The treatment is also available for viewing at the Library of Congress, as a part of the Howard Ashman papers, with another copy likely remaining in the Disney Animation Research Library. In addition to the treatment, the Library of Congress also houses several scripts for the film, including two from 1988, mere months after the initial treatment, likely meaning they are actually based on Ashman's original treatment, before the film was put on hold and then reworked. These scripts are available for any member of the public to read in person and get scanned to digital files for their own research purposes, but they are not available for free online reading, and they can't be scanned remotely without either permission from the Ashman estate or hiring an independent researcher to get them scanned in the same way any visitor can.

Parts of Howard Ashman's original script treatment for Aladdin was shown in Disney Plus' original documentary film Howard released on August 7th, 2020, when discussing his early involvement in creating music for the film.

Plot

In the original story, originally set in Baghdad, there were two genies: The Genie of the Ring - who would serve as the film's narrator appear from time to time to comment on and explain various points of the story - and The Genie of the Lamp. Aladdin is actually not an adult; instead, he is about fifteen years old and is motivated by the need to prove to his mother that he is responsible, capable of growing up and making her proud. Babkak, Omar, and Kasim are Aladdin’s gang of friends. Jafar was not "Jafar" yet; instead, he was called The Wazir, and his “smart-mouthed, back-talking sidekick” parrot was named Sinbad.

However, most surprising is the description of Jasmine as “ a purely comic creation; the ultimate in pampered spoiled brattiness” as well as the character Abbi:

"The tomboy female component in Aladdin’s gang. (In West Side Story she’d play ‘Anybody’s.’) She’s the Girl-Next-Door to Aladdin, and he doesn’t even notice that she is a girl until fairly late in the proceedings. But when he does notice, boy are we happy."

The original love story of the film would be as follows:

"While on an epic adventure to save the princess, Aladdin would see Abbi’s love for him manifested as she protects him on his journey. Though he is offered the princess’ hand in marriage after saving her life and the kingdom, Aladdin ultimately refuses in favor of true love with Abbi."

Songs

Only two songs from Ashman and Menken's original score remain in the final movie: "Arabian Nights", and "Friend Like Me".

• Arabian Nights: Written to be sung by The Genie of the Ring, who was to be the narrator of the film, it was meant to introduce the setting and tone of the film. Though making the final film, much like The Little Mermaid's "Fathom's Below", it would be cut down, losing roughly two choruses, a verse, and a bridge section in the process. The first direct-to-video sequel used the unused second verse as the basis for its own version of Arabian Nights, and the stage musical would revive almost the entire Ashman-written version. The 2019 film would then revive the complete song's structure and reuse some cut lyrics, though songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul would be brought on to contribute original lyrics.
• Arabian Nights - Reprise #1*: To be sung by Genie of the Ring and meant to introduce The Wazir. (These reprises of Arabian Nights -- save for the third, which would be replaced by a new, original one -- would later be used in the Seattle and Vancouver productions of the stage musical, sung by Babkak, Omar, and Kassim, though they would be cut after these preview shows)
• Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim: To be sung by, and meant to introduce, Aladdin and his friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. (Revived for the stage play)
• Arabian Nights - Reprise #2*: To be sung by Genie of the Ring as The Wazir leads Aladdin to The Cave of Wonders.
• Friend Like Me: To be sung by Genie of the Lamp as Aladdin becomes his master. This song would make it to the final film, earning Ashman and Menken their final Oscar nomination together.
• Proud of Your Boy: To be sung by Aladdin to his mother. Though included when production on the film was fully revived, it was cut around the time of Ashman's death. The rough storyboard and demo to the song was included on the film's 2004 Platinum Edition release, along with a recording of the song by singer Clay Aiken. The sing was restored to the stage musical.
• Call Me a Princess: Sung by Princess Jasmine, a "purely comic" character, after she hears her maids gossiping about her behind her back. The song was reworked by Chad Beguelin for the original Seattle and Toronto productions of the musical, where she uses the song to scare away potential suitors. However, the song was again cut for the Broadway run, replaced by "These Palace Walls."
• How Quick They Forget*: To be sung by Babkak, Omar, and Kassim after Aladdin abandons them while trying to gain the love of the princess.
• Arabian Nights - Reprise #3*: To be sung by the Genie of the Ring, after Aladdin has been imprisoned, the Sultan falsely believing he was in cahoots with the Wazir.
• High Adventure: To be sung by the Genie of the Ring, Aladdin, Abbi, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim as the group goes to save Princess Jasmine. (This song would be revived for the stage play)
• Arabian Nights - Reprise #4: To be sung by the Genie of the Ring at the end of the film as the finale, as Aladdin, Abbi, and their friends get their happy endings. (Recorded but cut from the final film, and used for Aladdin and the King of Thieves. Though not fully used, the musical's finale is based on this reprise.)

*indicates that song was not restored in the Broadway production of the stage musical adaptation.

Along with the songs listed above, Ashman and Menken wrote other songs for Aladdin, not included in the original score, including:

• The Wazir's Song: To be sung by Jafar / The Wazir and his parrot Sinbad as they're unmasking Prince Ali. Listed on the Aladdin Central website, the lyrics are supposedly from the July 15, 1990, draft of the script and written by Ashman. With what appears to be rough, unfinished lyrics, it's possible that "The Wazir's Song" is Ashman's rough sketch for "Humiliate the Boy" or placeholder lyrics by Musker and/or Clements.
• Prince Ali: Sung by the Genie of the Lamp (now the only Genie in the film), the song was written by Ashman and Menken. The song would ultimately be cut down slightly for the movie, removing an intro section and a verse, though the cut sections would be restored for the stage musical.
• Humiliate The Boy: Sung by Jafar and his parrot, now re-named Iago, it was to take place when Jafar takes over control of Agrabah and unmasks "Prince Ali". This would be the final song Ashman and Menken wrote for the film, as well as their final collaboration altogether. Jonathan Freeman recorded two demos of the song, using the same instrumentation and lyrics, but a very different delivery.

See Also

Disney Animated Films

• Aladdin (found Howard Ashman treatment of Disney animated film; 1988)
• Alice in Wonderland (partially lost original draft of Disney animated film; 1939)
• The Black Cauldron (partially found deleted scenes of Disney animated film; 1985)
• American Dog (partially found original version of "Bolt" Disney animated film; 2007-2008)
• Dumbo II (partially found production material from cancelled Disney animated film sequel; 2000s)
• Fantasia (partially lost original audio of Disney animated film; 1940)
• Fantasia 2006 (partially lost production material for cancelled Disney animated film sequel; 2002-2004)
• Frozen (partially found early drafts of Disney animated film; 1937-2012)
• The Jungle Book (lost Bill Peet version of Disney animated film; 1963-1964)
• Kingdom Of The Sun (partially found cancelled original version of "The Emperor's New Groove" Disney animated film; late 1990s)
• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (partially found production material and deleted scenes of Disney animated sequel film; 1995-1998)
• My Peoples (partially found production material of cancelled Disney animated film; late 1990s-early 2000s)
• Pinocchio (lost Mel Blanc’s "Gideon the Cat" dialogue from Disney animated film; 1940)
• The Search for Mickey Mouse (lost production material of cancelled Disney animated film; 2002)
• The Seven Dwarfs (partially found cancelled direct-to-video prequel to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"; 2000s)
• Tangled (partially found early drafts of Disney animated film; 2001-2010)
• Wild Life (lost production material for cancelled Disney animated film; late 1990s-2000)

Disney Channel

• 101 Dalmatians: The Series (partially found unaired pilot episode of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
• Amazing Animals (found Disney Channel animated educational series; 1996-1999)
• Arwin! (partially found pilot of cancelled spin-off of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" Disney Channel sitcom; 2007)
• Bonkers "Fall Apart Bomb Squad" (found episode of Disney Channel animated series; 1993)
• Country Club (partially found test pilot of "Big City Greens" Disney Channel adventure-comedy animated series; 2015)
• Disney Channel Interactive (lost Dish Network game channel; late 2000s)
• Disney Channel "Disney's One Too" (partially lost "Recess" gags of TV channel block; 1999-2003)
• Disney's Coyote Tales (found Disney Channel extended version of "The Coyote's Lament" animated short; 1991)
• Disney's Doug (found episodes of animated TV series; 1996-1999)
• Dreamfinders (unproduced Disney Channel series based on "Journey Into Imagination" Epcot ride; 1983)
• Dumbo's Circus (partially found Disney Channel live action puppet series; 1985-1986)
• Fish Hooks (partially found unreleased pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2009)
• Going Wild with Jeff Corwin (partially found Disney Channel documentary series; 1997-1999)
• Gravity Falls (found Comic Con 2012 promo of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2012)
• Gravity Falls (found pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2010)
• Hannah Montana (lost production material of cancelled anime adaptation of Disney Channel teen sitcom; 2009-2010)
• Herbie the Lovebug (lost Disney Channel animated pilot; late 1990s-2000s)
• J.O.N.A.S. (lost unaired pilot of "Jonas" Disney Channel comedy series; 2007)
• Katbot (partially found unreleased Disney Channel animated series; 2005)
• Lizzie McGuire "Season 3" (lost production material of unfinished season of Disney Channel comedy series; 2020)
• Minnie Takes Care of Pluto (found original English audio of Mickey Mouse Works animated short; 2000)
• Mousercise (partially found Disney Channel exercise series; 1983-1996)
• Mouseterpiece Theater (partially found Disney Channel cartoon compilation series; 1983-1990)
• Pepper Ann (partially found unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney animated series; 1996)
• Phineas and Ferb (lost script of cancelled theatrical film based on animated series; 2010s)
• Phineas and Ferb: Shooting Star Milkshake Bar (partially found full version of song; late 2000s)
• Phineas and Ferb: Spot the Diff (found Disney Channel animated special; 2008)
• Recess "The Break In" (partially found pilot of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
• Star and the Forces of Evil (partially found unaired pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2011)
• Teen Angel (partially found Disney Channel serial drama; 1989)
• The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (partially found revival of Disney variety TV series; 1989-1994)
• The Jersey (partially lost Disney Channel sports themed comedy series; 1999-2004)
• The Owl House (partially found unaired pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2017)
• The Proud Family (partially lost unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney Channel animated sitcom; 1999)
• Welcome to Pooh Corner (partially found Disney Channel live-action puppet series; 1983-1986)
• What's Stevie Thinking? (lost unaired pilot of cancelled spin-off of "Lizzie McGuire" Disney Channel comedy series; 2003)

Playhouse Disney

• Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos (partially found Playhouse Disney animated short series; 2004-2007)
• Bear in the Big Blue House "Water, Water Everywhere" (lost unaired pilot of Disney Channel puppet series; 1997)
• Bear in the Big Blue House (partially lost original English audio of Playhouse Disney puppet series; 1997-2006)
• Breakfast with Bear (partially found episodes of Playhouse Disney spin-off series; 2005-2006)
• Handy Manny (partially found unaired pilot of Playhouse Disney CGI animated series; 2005)
• Little Einsteins (lost second pitch pilot of Playhouse Disney animated series; existence unconfirmed; 2004)
• Out of the Box (partially lost Playhouse Disney children's series; 1998-2004)
• PB&J Otter (partially found original credits sequences of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1998-2000)
• Playhouse Disney UK (partially lost interstitial material of children's TV channel; 1999-2006)
• Stanley (found unaired pilot episode of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1999)
• The Book of Pooh (found Playhouse Disney puppet series; 2001-2004)

Disney Junior

• Beverly Hills Chihuahuas (found pilot of cancelled Disney Junior animated adaptation of film series; 2012)
• Jungle Junction (lost pilots of Disney Junior CGI animated series; 2003; 2005; 2008)

Toon Disney

• Teamo Supremo (partially lost Toon Disney animated series; 2002-2004)
• Toon News (partially found CGI Interstitial Toon Disney series; 2004/2005)

Disney XD

• Billion Dollar Freshmen (lost unaired pilot episode of "Lab Rats" Disney XD live-action comedy TV series; 2010)
• DXP (partially found Disney XD video game block; 2017)
• Power Rangers Animated Series (lost Disney XD pilot of animated adaptation of live-action superhero series; existence unconfirmed; 2007-2009)

Other

• Green Monkeys (lost Disney pilot; 1999)
• La Chambre Folle (lost French Disney children's TV block; 1998)
• Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (found English dub of anime series; 2015)
• Robodz (lost Disney Toei animated TV series; 2008)
• The Mouse Factory (partially found Disney live-action/animated TV series; 1972-1973)
• The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show (found episodes of Disney animated TV series; 1995)
• X-Heart (partially found unreleased English dub of "X-Coração" Brazilian animated TV series; 2014)

External Links

• Howard Ashman's Wikipedia page.