Ashman died of AIDS-related complications six months before the release of the film, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
Beauty and the Beast follows Belle, the beauty, as she falls in love with a prince cursed to live as a terrifying beast in the French countryside. The songs for Beauty and the Beast were composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman. The two had previously worked on The Little Mermaid. Ashman died of AIDS-related complications six months before the release of the film, and the film was dedicated to his memory. Beauty and the Beast went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. It is available to stream on Sling and Disney+.