
Age: 76
male
Alan Irwin Menken (born July 12, 1949) is an American composer, pianist, music director, and record producer, best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Menken's music for The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995) has each won him two Academy Awards. He also composed the scores and songs for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Newsies (1992), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Home on the Range (2004), Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), and Disenchanted (2022), among others. His accolades include winning eight Academy Awards — becoming the second most prolific Oscar winner in the music categories after Alfred Newman (who has 9 Oscars), a Tony Award, eleven Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Menken is one of nineteen people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony ("an EGOT").

Long ago, Averett the Lion warrior forged the magical realm of Askari by uniting powerful wildlife. A century later, 16-year-old Chayton dreams of becoming one of its protectors alongside his younger sister Siena. When they discover that Thrax the sorcerer has come back plotting to overthrow Askari using dark forces, they set out on a perilous adventure to find Sahar—the wisecracking son of Averett who holds the key to restoring hope. Joined by their loyal friends Ravi and Liana, they face treacherous landscapes and fierce enemies while uncovering their own hidden strengths. As they search for Sahar amidst trials that test their courage and resolve, they learn that friendship is as powerful as magic in overcoming darkness.

