Deeper look at the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame Characters part 7: Animals – Achilles

Next – Achilles and Djali

So where the Gargoyles fail to add levity, Djali and Achilles succeeded and they don’t even speak. Let’s start with Achilles. Why? Because we see Achilles first, his name is comes first and there less to say about him

 

Achilles is Phoebus‘ war horse. According to the DVD commentary, the directors jokingly said that Achilles is Phillippe’s (Beauty and the Beast) dimwitted cousin. Both Disney horses were animated by Russ Edmonds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achilles being a war horse takes excellent direction, he sits on command regardless of who he might sit on. But fear not Achilles never crushes anyone to death, just for comedy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achilles is mosly white and he adds to Phoebus’ perfect knightly look, but he also has grey legs, snout, mane and tail. Mmmm his look is awfully similar to another character…..

 

 

 

 

 

One thing that is not commonly know about Achilles is that he hates Frollo’s horse, Snowball ( not sure if it Snowball 1 or 2).

 

 

The command regarding Achilles to sit, according to the commentary was the big laugh during the trailers. Achilles may not have done much and may have been relegate to an accessory but he almost as much laughs than the supposed comic relief even with his limited screen time. If wasn’t for the Gargoyles’ dress/tress line I think the Sit gag would have been the big laugh of the film and that’s only because grown-up heard tress and kids heard dress, so it’s two jokes.

 

 

Fun Fact- Achilles name was chosen just so they good do the “Achilles Heel” joke.

 

 

 

Next Time Djali -Hooray