<PAGE>   1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 30, 1999.
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                      -------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      -------------------------------------

                                ARIS CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
                   WASHINGTON                                                    91-1497147
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or                  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
                  Organization)
</TABLE>

                 -----------------------------------------------
                              2229 112TH AVENUE NE
                         BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004-2936
                                 (425) 372-2747
   (Address and Telephone Number of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                     ARIS CORPORATION 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                               TIMOTHY J. CARROLL
                              2229 112TH AVENUE NE
                         BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004-2936
                                 (425) 372-2747
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                                   COPIES TO:
                           CHRISTOPHER J. BARRY, ESQ.
                             MATTHEW W. RUNKEL, ESQ.
                              DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
                                1420 FIFTH AVENUE
                            SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101
                            TELEPHONE: (206) 903-8800
                            FACSIMILE: (206) 903-8820
                 -----------------------------------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==========================================================================================================================
                                                            PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM          AMOUNT OF
   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO     AMOUNT TO BE   OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING        REGISTRATION
               BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)        SHARE(2)               PRICE(2)                FEE(2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>             <C>                    <C>                       <C>
  Stock Options and Common Stock,             225,000           $11.0625              $ 2,489,063             $ 657.11
  without par value
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


         (1)      In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
                  of 1933, this registration statement also covers an
                  indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
                  pursuant to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan
                  described herein that may be necessary to adjust the number of
                  shares reserved for issuance pursuant to such Plan as the
                  result of any future stock split, stock dividend or similar
                  adjustment of the outstanding Common Stock of the Registrant.

         (2)      Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration
                  fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities
                  Act of 1933, as amended. The price per share and aggregate
                  offering price are based upon an estimated price per share of
                  $11.0625 based on the average of the high ($10.875) and low
                  ($11.25) sales prices for the Registrant's Common Stock on
                  December 29, 1999, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

                 -----------------------------------------------


<PAGE>   2

                           INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE


         Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose of registering an
additional 225,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to the Registrant's 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan"). The
Registration Statement on Form S-8 previously filed with the Commission relating
to the Option Plan (File No. 333-40923) is incorporated by reference herein and
the opinions and consents listed below are annexed hereto.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

         The following is a complete list of Exhibits filed as part of this
Registration Statement and which are incorporated herein:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT NO.      DESCRIPTION
  -----------      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>              <C>
     4.1           Amendment dated April 15, 1999 to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option
                   Plan.
     5.1           Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of shares to be issued.
    23.1           Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1).
    23.2           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public
                   accountants for the Company.
    23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.
    24.1           Power of Attorney (Included in the signature page to this Registration
                   Statement).
</TABLE>






                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Seattle, State of Washington, on the 29th day of
December 1999.

                                       ARIS CORPORATION

                                       By:  /s/ Paul Y. Song
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul Y. Song
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes
and appoints Paul Y. Song and Timothy J. Carroll, or either of them, with full
power of substitution and full power to act without the other, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his name, place and stead and to
execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each
capacity stated below, and to file, any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments with the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated below on the 29th day of December, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     SIGNATURE                                           TITLE
     ---------                                           -----
<S>                                     <C>
      /s/ Paul Y. Song                  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------        (Principal Executive Officer)
    Paul Y. Song

   /s/ Timothy J. Carroll               Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
--------------------------------        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 Timothy J. Carroll

    /s/ Kendall W. Kunz                 Senior Vice President and Director
--------------------------------
  Kendall W. Kunz

    /s/ Bruce R. Kennedy                Director
--------------------------------
  Bruce R. Kennedy

                                        Director
--------------------------------
Kenneth A. Williams

                                        Director
--------------------------------
   Barry L. Rowan
</TABLE>






                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT NO.      DESCRIPTION
  -----------      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>
     4.1           Amendment dated April 15, 1999 to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option
                   Plan.

     5.1           Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of shares to be issued.

    23.1           Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1).

    23.2           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public
                   accountants for the Company.

    23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

    24.1           Power of Attorney (Included in the signature page to this Registration
                   Statement).
</TABLE>




                                      -4-
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "EDGAR FORM S-8 FOR ARIS CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9920}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ARIS CORP/", "cik": "0001037186", "assigned-sic": "7370", "irs-number": "911497147", "state-of-incorporation": "WA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-93831", "film-number": "99783465"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2229 112TH AVENUE NE", "city": "BELLEVUE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98004-2936", "phone": "4253722747"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2229 112TH AVENUE NE", "city": "BELLEVUE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98004-2936"}}
1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 30, 1999.
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                      -------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      -------------------------------------

                                ARIS CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
WASHINGTON                                                    91-1497147
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or                  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
                  Organization)
-----------------------------------------------
                              2229 112TH AVENUE NE
                         BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004-2936
                                 (425) 372-2747
   (Address and Telephone Number of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                     ARIS CORPORATION 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                               TIMOTHY J. CARROLL
                              2229 112TH AVENUE NE
                         BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004-2936
                                 (425) 372-2747
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
                 -----------------------------------------------

                                   COPIES TO:
                           CHRISTOPHER J. BARRY, ESQ.
                             MATTHEW W. RUNKEL, ESQ.
                              DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
                                1420 FIFTH AVENUE
                            SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101
                            TELEPHONE: (206) 903-8800
                            FACSIMILE: (206) 903-8820
                 -----------------------------------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==========================================================================================================================
                                                            PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM          AMOUNT OF
   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO     AMOUNT TO BE   OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING        REGISTRATION
               BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)        SHARE(2)               PRICE(2)                FEE(2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Options and Common Stock,             225,000           $11.0625              $ 2,489,063             $ 657.11
  without par value
==========================================================================================================================
(1)      In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
                  of 1933, this registration statement also covers an
                  indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold
                  pursuant to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan
                  described herein that may be necessary to adjust the number of
                  shares reserved for issuance pursuant to such Plan as the
                  result of any future stock split, stock dividend or similar
                  adjustment of the outstanding Common Stock of the Registrant.

         (2)      Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration
                  fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities
                  Act of 1933, as amended. The price per share and aggregate
                  offering price are based upon an estimated price per share of
                  $11.0625 based on the average of the high ($10.875) and low
                  ($11.25) sales prices for the Registrant's Common Stock on
                  December 29, 1999, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

                 -----------------------------------------------
2

                           INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

         Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose of registering an
additional 225,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to the Registrant's 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan"). The
Registration Statement on Form S-8 previously filed with the Commission relating
to the Option Plan (File No. 333-40923) is incorporated by reference herein and
the opinions and consents listed below are annexed hereto.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

         The following is a complete list of Exhibits filed as part of this
Registration Statement and which are incorporated herein:
EXHIBIT NO.      DESCRIPTION
  -----------      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1           Amendment dated April 15, 1999 to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option
                   Plan.
     5.1           Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of shares to be issued.
    23.1           Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1).
    23.2           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public
                   accountants for the Company.
    23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.
    24.1           Power of Attorney (Included in the signature page to this Registration
                   Statement).
-2-
3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Seattle, State of Washington, on the 29th day of
December 1999.

                                       ARIS CORPORATION

                                       By:  /s/ Paul Y. Song
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul Y. Song
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes
and appoints Paul Y. Song and Timothy J. Carroll, or either of them, with full
power of substitution and full power to act without the other, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his name, place and stead and to
execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each
capacity stated below, and to file, any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments with the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated below on the 29th day of December, 1999.
SIGNATURE                                           TITLE
     ---------                                           -----
/s/ Paul Y. Song                  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
--------------------------------        (Principal Executive Officer)
    Paul Y. Song

   /s/ Timothy J. Carroll               Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
--------------------------------        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 Timothy J. Carroll

    /s/ Kendall W. Kunz                 Senior Vice President and Director
--------------------------------
  Kendall W. Kunz

    /s/ Bruce R. Kennedy                Director
--------------------------------
  Bruce R. Kennedy

                                        Director
--------------------------------
Kenneth A. Williams

                                        Director
--------------------------------
   Barry L. Rowan
-3-
4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO.      DESCRIPTION
  -----------      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1           Amendment dated April 15, 1999 to the ARIS Corporation 1997 Stock Option
                   Plan.

     5.1           Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of shares to be issued.

    23.1           Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1).

    23.2           Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public
                   accountants for the Company.

    23.3           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

    24.1           Power of Attorney (Included in the signature page to this Registration
                   Statement).
-4-