critique | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

22Sep 2011

Demo Reel Someday â€“ The Music of the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So now we come to the Demo reel of Someday. If Someday had been chosen over “God help the Outcast” the animation would have looked have followed this. It’s pretty the some as “God Help the Outcast” and it’s sung by Heidi Mollenhaur.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So the story goes that Alan Menken wrote “God Help the Outcast” for the “Esmeralda Prayer” sequence. The director felt that they wanted a song with more energy for this part because they felt Outcast was to quiet. Menken then wrote “Someday” which is a bigger number. However untimely the Directors felt it was too big a number to be sung in Notre Dame of Paris and they went with “God help the Outcast”. Now if you read my review of “God help the Outcast” you’d know I have some problems with song as I find to be on the condescending side. It bothers me that Directors opted for Outcast over Someday by claiming it was more humble. Example what more humble saying your at loss words or trying to relate to Mary? I find Someday far humbler.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

It also bothers me that they claimed “Someday” was too big for Notre Dame. In “God Help the Outcast” Parishioner sing loudly and Esmeralda does belt a little bit towards the end of “God Help the Outcast”. So why was “God Help the Outcast” chosen over “Someday”? The reason I think is untimely “God Help the Outcast” reflects Quasimodo more. Esmeralda maybe singing about Gypsies but the song heavy eludes back to Quasimodo. And this film never wants you to forget Quasimodo, ever. In “Someday” she says the phase “Out There” but other than that Quasimodo is really reflected back. So since the film can’t seem to go 5 minutes without Quasimodo the songs is about Outcasts and not the world as a whole.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

A Picture from the demo reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Should they have gone with “Someday” over “God help the Outcast” for Esmeralda’s Prayer? Hard to say, while I like Someday better “God help the Outcast” has more Drama and tension to it plus it refers back to the source material; The 1939 version of Hunchback of Notre Dame, so if nothing else Film Buffs can better catch Disney ripping off another movie which what Disney loves to do.

Esmeralda Demo Reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time – Let’s look at the songs that time forgot; The Deleted Songs of Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda As Long as there's Moon Demo Reel Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

01Sep 2011

Some additional observations from God Help the Outcast

by jess

So as I was working on my God Help the Outcast I noticed things that didn’t fit into song content so I’m posting them now. (Beware I run off on a bit of a tangent)

Quasimodo listening to Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo watching to Esmeralda during God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

I once agian suspect that the Disney Production team didn’t read the book (well maybe a few did), I say this because in the book Quasimodo is deaf but here in the Disney movie Quasimodo has such a amazing hearing. He can hear a soft ballad in the sanctuary all the way in the bell tower. I don’t think it was necessary to have Quasimodo listening in on Esmeralda. They did it to include Quaismodo since he had not been in the movie for 5 whole minutes. I mean it also worked to get Esmeralda and Quasimodo to reunite and to give them a chance to bond but they couldn’t have thought up another way.

Frollo’s Female Doppelganger singing a line in God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Judge Claude Frollo

The Lady who asks for love. Frollo’s twin sister? Could be. Frollo has no back story so he could have a sister. My guess is since they look so much a like and look to be the some age, they’re twins. What else is Frollo hiding in his past? I want back stories, Disney. It’s interesting to learn what pushes a character to doing less than wholesome things. Like;

Ursula Disney The Little Mermaid

Why was Ursula exiled? Many speculate that Ursula is Triton sister but maybe Triton pulled a coup d’Ã©tat and stole the kingdom from the octopus people. That makes sense but it would make Triton look bad. Really Disney don’t say that Urusala once lived in the palace and was exiled if your not going to into why she was exiled.

Gaston Disney Beauty and the Beast

Why did Gaston like Belle? I mean sure she’s pretty and Gaston is a shallow idiot but she didn’t feed his ego and that’s what he needs. He is governed by outward appearances, but where did this superficiality come from? His upbringing?

Jafar Disney Aladdin

Why was Jafar so stupid? He sent years searching for the Cave of Wonders so he could get the lamp so he get three wishes and the when that plans fails his bird tells him to marry the princess. However, Jafar had military control over the city-state and a mind control ring. My goodness, is Jafar one stupid idiot, it would have taken his less time and energy to pull a coup d’Ã©tat and I’m sure the people of Agrabah wouldn’t have notice a shift in power. The Sultan seems more interested in toys than his people. My guess is Jafar was drop repeatedly as a baby and that him more than a little dense.

But Frollo had a job, control and perhaps an deep emotional connection with a women who prays for love. I have to wonder if Frollo is so tightly wound and his sister wants love, what was their family dynamic like growing up? Assuming that she is his sister, but she looks too much like Frollo for it be coincidental where as the rest of crowds look generic.

Who do you think that lady in Notre Dame is? Think she could be important or just some extra that looks like Frollo and nothing more? Opinions, Thoughts, Anything!

19Aug 2011

The Music of the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame “Out There”

by jess

http://youtu.be/7DCALg2levk

Frollo and Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Out There is for all intended purposes is a solo but its prelude is duet between Frollo and Quasimodo. Frollo sings about how awful the world is as a means for controlling Quasimodo. When Frollo departs the scene, the mood of the song changes into Quasimodo singing about a yearning to venture beyond the tower and go flocking with the normal people.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Ariel Disney The Little Mermaid

There is no good way to say it, Out There is a knock off of “Part of your World” from the Little Mermaid. Lots of Disney characters sing this “wanting more” type of song but Out There and Part of that World express the some thought. And it’s interesting that they both point to a direction; up for Ariel and down for Quasimodo and they both mention a desire for the sun and to be with “the people”. They also kind of look alike, red hair and they both wear green.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So how is the song on a music level? Got say, the song it’s self is pretty typical Disney fare. It’s one of the typical songs you’ll hear in a Disney movie, the dreamer’s song. It’s usually the main character singing about wanting something more. This song is just Quasimodo singing about even if just one day he wants to apart of the people. The music is fine, it’s nice and symphomatic. The lyrics are very repetitive: he wants to be to live a day with the regular people, I get. Quasimodo does come off naive to think that just because people live “out there” this qualifies them as normal and he also insinuates that it’s a gift for them to be normal despite the whole issue with gypsies who have to live in catacombs to avoid Frollo’s genocide tendencies.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The singing is where this song fails for me. Hulce’s vibrato has too much of a wobble for me. I think this fast vibrato is meant to give Quasimodo an innocence and naivety but it too much wobble. The wobbly vibrato ruins Hulce’s performance for me and do think he a decent enough singer otherwise.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo singing "Out There" Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

The best part of the song in the movie is the visuals. I remember the first time I saw it, the part where Quasimodo slid down the buttress was my favorite visual, I thought it looked fun, of course as a kid I thought it was a water slide and not a support structure. I really enjoy Quasimodo interacting with the Notre Dame, he may be dreaming on being on terra firma but Notre Dame is like his private playground.

Belle, Carpet, Pumbaa Disney Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King

Belle, Carpet, and Pumbaa

Frollo in the Square during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Satellite Dish during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

There are a few things that appear in the song that many viewers don’t seem to notice. The first are cameos, which people do notice. The Cameos are Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Pumba (The Lion King) and Carpet (Aladdin). Two other things, is Frollo can be seen in the square as Quasimodo is looking down and a satillite dish can be seen on a house in the bird’s view of Paris or La Cite in this case.

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So the song is by no means in the top tier of the songs in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, it by no means is it the worst. It’s just a VERY typical formulaic Disney song.

Next Time –Topsy Turvy

Clopin during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

10Aug 2011

The Voice Acting of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Ah, the voice acting in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. Some of it’s great, some it is just ok and some of the casting is off, which seems to weaken the believability of the characters. This is more or less in the order of rank, as I see it or hear it.. yeah.. I know lame joke.

Tony Jay

The highlight of the voices in the movie is Tony Jay’s rendition of Judge Claude Frollo. Jay’s cold sounding baritone mixed with his british accent makes for the perfect bad guy voice. He gives Frollo’s voice an air calm control that at any second could explode into fevered anger. Also his voice is seductive, you can believe this guy is a charmer and yet he speaks with command and authority. Jay’s voice helps make Frollo a more interesting character.

Jay had been a veteran Disney voice actor and voice actor in general. He’s been in a number of Disney related films and television shows as well many other non disney films, television and recordings of broadway shows. On his IMDB page he has 150 credits but I think he most known for Frollo mainly because Frollo is a horrible person and his voice accentuates brilliantly.

Tony Jay was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting.

Paul Kandel

Paul Kandel voiced Clopin and is a Broadway performer. He’s probably the best singer in the film (the crescendo at the end of Bells of Notre Dame gets me every single time) and that’s probably why he ended up with the most songs in the movie. In fact Clopin sings more than he actually speaks. Kandel gives Clopin a sense of fun and whimsy but he also gives him a flair for the dramatics which is a boon for the introductory scene since it’s not funny.

David Ogden Stiers

David Ogden Stiers voiced the Archdeacon. Stiers like Jay is a veteran voice actor and has been in many major Disney movies. He’s also primarily a television actor. Stiers runs the gambit of tones with the Archdeacon’s voice; tenderness, command, authority, concern and a little amusement (the Archdeacon sounded a little amused when he thinking about Esmeralda’s merry chase). Just because the Archdeacon is by all account a glorified extra Stiers’ voice helps makes the character more interesting.

Kevin Kline

Kevin Kline voiced Phoebus. Kline does well as Phoebus but I think he falls short of Jay and Kandel because I mean really, Phoebus isn’t a hard role to play. Phoebus has a dry wit but so Kline, I mean Kline is practically playing himself. I give Kline credit, he made Phoebus funnier than probably was originally intended which makes him more interesting as character. Because without the humor would Phoebus have been memorable? My guess is no. Kline is also partly responsible for Achilles’ name. He insistent that horse have a name, so they gave the Phoebus’ horse a name at Kline’s insistent.

Fun Fact about Kline’s process – to get into the character of playing a knight, Kline held a sword in hand during recording sessions. He even ruined some recordings because he would hit the microphone (accidently, I’m sure.)

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander voiced Hugo. As much as I dislike the gargoyles, I think the voice acting is fine. Jason Alexander is best known as George Costanza on Seinfeld. George is uptight and neurotic, the total opposite of Hugo. Hugo is fun-loving and laid back. I think Alexander does very well in the role. But again, is a fun-loving partier a demanding role? No, not really.

Charles Kimbrough

Charles Kimbrough voiced Victor. Kimbrough has been in many types of media; film, TV and voice acting. Kimbrough does well enough as the prim, more serious-minded Victor, but it’s hard to lay out Victor’s personality compare to Hugo and Laverne. So it’s hard to identify how well Kimbrough did as Victor.

Mary Wickes

Mary Wickes voiced Laverne. Later in Wickes’ career she played cranky old ladies. Two of the movies I remember her in were Little Women (Aunt March) and Sister Act (Sister Mary Lazarus), both characters are tell-it-like-it-is, cranky old ladies much like Laverne. So while she does well in the role she definitely playing her type of role.

Jane Withers

I want to mention Jane Withers briefly. Mary Wickes died as the film was being recorded and so Jane Withers stepped in to finish the recording and took over the role of Laverne. There are some lines where Wickes started and Withers finished, which is testament to Withers; acting to able to sound almost identical to Wickes.

Tom Hulce

Tom Hulce voiced of Quasimodo. Tom Hulce is most known for his role in Amadeus Mozart. I do not find any fault with Hulce’s acting, I think he does a good job giving Quasimodo tenderness, gentleness and a bit of pitiable emo-ness. I also think Hulce does well exhibiting both Quasimodo’s natural disposition and in contrast to his attitude when he’s with Frollo. So Why is Hulce’s performance second to the last on this Blog post? Well that is because I wonder what the directors were smoking in making Quasimodo a school boy that’s gentle and sweet. Quasimodo is suppose to be gentle but only to Esmeralda. He’s not suppose have a school boy. I can understand why Disney did this and I understand why Hulce’s voice is good for this type of role but just because I can understand it doesn’t mean I have to condone it. Honestly they made Quasimodo into a Disney Princess. Hulce has a clear voice which is a commonality to the Disney Princess trope. Think about, Quasimodo is a Disney princess, he just a male and not very pretty.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore voiced of Esmeralda. Like Quasimodo, I think casting was way off. I get that they wanted something different. The directors liked Moore’s husky and rough tone of voice and they liked that she also had a tenderness to it, but Moore ages the character. It’s weird looking at the concept art, how youthful Esmeralda started and how mature she looks/acts in the movie. I understand that the decision to cast Moore was intentional and as part the process of animation is that Esmeralda took on Moore’s looks and mannerism but I don’t think the pay off was good in the long run. I think Esmeralda is too much like Moore and effectively Moore was playing herself (or at the most her type-cast role) so she didn’t exactly have to exert her acting prowess. Also I think Moore got the role due to sex appeal and popularity. And point Deductions for being the only one of the cast not able to sing her character’s song, though if can’t sing than she can’t sing, but they could have just had Heidi Mollenhauer do the role in it enitety, she is an singer/actress after all. They fact they they didn’t just mean that Moore was cast for her popularity and appeal.

Shout Outs/Kudos to:

Gary Trousdale

-Shout out/Kudos to Gary Trousdale voice of Djali (that not a bleat) and the Old Heretic.

Corey Burton

Bill Fagerbakke

-Shout out/Kudos to Corey Burton and Bill Fagerbakke, Brutish and Oafish Guards these two made those characters hilarious.

Agree or Disagree, I’d love to know your opinions

Next Time- Going to Start Looking Music/Songs, starting off with beginning “The Bells of Notre Dame”

09Aug 2011

Letâ€™s get Superficial â€“ The looks of the Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

What can we say about Disney’s Archdeacon in terms of looks? Well he’s old, he has white hair, he has long bushy sideburns and eyebrows. He has a square-ish face with a bulbous nose. He’s not much of a looker.

Archdeacon Stopped Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Much like the 1939 version his duds look modern and not medieval. I give Disney a little credit this vestments look less modern than the 1939 version, but not enough to praise Disney for their astute costume research.

Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Archdeacon is also ages during the film. When we first see him in the flashback, his hair is just grayish black. In the DVD commentary, the directors made a point of mentioning how Frollo looked 20 years younger in the flashback, and in a subtle was he does a little bit but you can really see it with the Archdeacon’s look. Mainly because Frollo goes from ashen gray to gray whereas the Archdeacon goes from grayish black to white. Not sure who is older, Frollo or the Archdeacon, my guess would be the Archdeacon.

David Ogden Stiers, voice of the Archdeacon

Cogsworth from Disney Beauty and the Beast

The Archdeacon also bares a striking resemblance to his Voice Actor David Ogden Stiers. It’s part of Disney’s process to record the voice actors during their recodring session and infuse the voice actore into character’s animation and character design. This would mean that the Archdeacon and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast look-alike

Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame Smile picture image

Archdeacon smiling oddly Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

That’s pretty much it, he’s not in the movie for long and he only kind of a main characters so I think his looks are more functional than indicative of personality. But he does make a creepy smile. Expressions are one thing Disney excels at. (I don’t know, I find that smile really odd, maybe it’s the half closed eyes and the downward tilt of his head and the upward eyebrow.)

Well that’s it, we’re done with the character analysis of Disney (Hooray!)

Next Time – Voice Acting….

05Aug 2011

Letâ€™s get Superficial â€“ The looks of Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

I’ve already mention Clopin’s over all look in his character analysis.

so to re-cap

“Clopin has looks very similar to Kuzco from the Emperor’s New Groove. Has a long pointy long face, straight long black hair, pointy nose, and thin. Clopin is older and has a few age lines, balding (a little bit) a beard, bushy eye brows and some missing teeth. Clopin gets two costumes, a performance look and a casual look. Unlike Esmeralda he is seen more in this performance outfit. It Harlequin that is purple and yellow with bells on his neck piece, a purple mask, and long back gloves. He has wears a purple hat with a big yellow feather. The hat is akin to the one that Thomas Mitchell wore in the 1939 version. Clopin casual costume looks similar to this performance garb but it all purple and less festive. He also wears the same hat. Like Esmeralda and Djali, Clopin also wears a single golden hoop earring. He cosplays (costume play) as Frollo. He also makes awesome expressions.”

Clopin noticing Quasimodo during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Kuzco The Emperor's new Groove Disney picture image

Kuzco from The Emperor's new Groove Disney

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin’s look is kinda a model look of certain Disney characters. Much like how Disney villains can fall into two basic groups, thin and big, the good guys have their models too. For instance the fathers in Disney movies are usually dumpy old men.

Human Lumiere and Babette Disney Beauty and the Beast

Clopin at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The point I’m getting at is Clopin is reminiscent to the look of other characters like him; the larger-than life sidekick. Typically this character is not human, Sebastian, Lumiere ( through is human spends the bulk of the movie as a candlestick), Genie, Timon, Mushu etc, etc . However take a look at Lumiere as human, and you can see the resembles to Clopin. Lumiere has a long face, pionty nose, and thin. Of course Clopin is a little more rough around the edges but Lumiere works in a castle and Clopin is a busker. But they are both entertainer, (what was Lumiere’s job exactly?)

Clopin with Frollo Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Human Lumiere Disney Beauty and the Beast

One could say that Kuzco as man character doesn’t fall into this catgeory and Clopin similarity to Lumiere is a considence. I would that Kuzco is pretty over the top and spend most of his time as Llama so I think he can fit into the category and he a slight exception.

Clopin Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

So Clopin’s look follows a grand tradition of Disney character design which places character into convientional models which aids them in their quest for more money, by making the same old stuff. Actually Disney can you go back to the same old stuff, I miss it.

Concept Art of Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

And for no reason Clopin’s Concept Art.

Next Time – I suppose logically it would be the Gargoyles (Shudders)

Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

02Aug 2011

Let’s get Superficial“ The looks of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

page contains affiliate links

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Phoebus asking for Esmeralda’s name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is the dashing and handsome captain of the guard. Due to this namesake, Phoebus (Apollo) he has a very yellow look, gold armor, blond hair and a beard. He has a bit of a Roman look. His beard, with cape his hair style, aquiline nose are all more Roman than late medieval. Oddly enough, Phoebus’ only describe featured in the book is his mustache which is in the “Burgundian Style.” Phoebus is first Disney guy to get facial hair, so kudos to Disney for at least taking something from the book as a basis. Well one could argue that in the 23 version and the 39 version Phoebus had a mustache, so who knows what Disney was going off of, besides the production crew. At least they went there and gave him some form of facial hair The important this is that Phoebus should be handsome, he can be a jerk, a hero or a gloried extra but he must be a pretty boy, and Disney at least did that.

Phoebus concept art isn’t much different than how he appears in the movie. However he looks like John Smith from Pocahontas. For More Concept Art of Hunchback

Concept Art of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Concept Art of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

John Smith Disney Pocahontas picture image — John Smith Disney Pocahontas

I mean, It’s John Smith with a beard.

Disney Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame armor picture image — Phoebus’ armor Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus wears the most useless armor ever, honestly I don’t know why he bothers with it, maybe the gold makes him feels special or pretty but clearly it’s just for show. Djali hits him in the gut and inflicts some pain but when a candelabra hits him the face he shakes it off. He gets shot with an arrow through back (and yet it almost got his heart) and he nearly drowns in it. Frankly he’s better off without it.

Djali in gut Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Djali in gut Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image after getting hit by Djali — Phoebus after getting hit by Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image hit in the face by Esmeralda — Phoebus being hit by Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image hit by arrow — Phoebus being hit by an arrow Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus’ look is pretty generic looking considering the rest of the characters. He’s conventially handsome with a slight roman look mix with a little John Smith through for good measure. The result is a tad on the boring which is why his look didn’t change much from the concept art.

Phoebus noticing Esmeralda "Disgusting Display" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Phoebus noticing Esmeralda’s “Disgusting Display”

Phoebus and the Map Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time – Clopin

26Jul 2011

Let’s get Superficial, The Looks of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

page contains affiliate links

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda is the most divergent character in the Disney version from the book in both looks and personality. I already talked about her personality, now let’s look at her looks.

The Disney Esmeralda looks 100% a traveler*. She has a darker complexion, dark hair, and light green eyes (with no glint). Her eyes also do not change color pending on how much light is in the space, which kind of makes them look witchy. She keeps her hair pulled back which it creates volume. This bigger hair makes her look older. When her hair is down she looks younger. Her hair also has a slight curl. Though in the middle of the epic running away from Frollo, her hair looks straight but that could just be inconsistencies in animation or the wind, take your pick. But it does look straight. However it also fair to point out that this voluminous hairstyle was on trend in the late 90s.

Her age is very vague. Most of the Disney characters have a rough age range or they just say how old they are like Ariel and Jasmine. With this shift in Disney heroines being somewhat more independent and less dreamy, they appear to be older than the typical “Disney princess” (except Tiana, I would say she is like a compromise between the archetypal Princess and the confident independent heroine of the late 90s).

The question is how old is Disney’s Esmeralda? With the age inflation that Disney implements, I’d say she most likely 22 at the youngest, which is “old” for a Disney heroine. The long and short of it is, Esmeralda is meant to be older like “she’s been around.” This is not my phasing, watch the commentary, it’s the scene where Esmeralda is helping Quasimodo from the pillory. To listen to the commentary, The DVD.

One reason why this version made her older could have been to help establish her relationship with Quasimodo as more maternal, more like a big sister than romantic. This could have made her pairing with Phoebus appear more palatable for the audience, though given a lot of bad-faith internet discourse it didn’t really work that way.

19th Century Illustration of Esmeralda with Djali

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture Image — Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Against the original novel by Victor Hugo, Esmeralda’s looks are very different. Esmeralda is never described in graphic detail but she’s described as very beautiful frequently by many characters. Disney Esmeralda is meant to be beautiful certainly but she is never called beautiful in the movie. The closest mention to her looks is Clopin saying she’s “The Finest Girl is France.”

Esmeralda Illustration Image picture — 19th century Illustration of Esmeralda

Esmeralda in the book is not genetically a full traveler*. Her mother is a French women and while her Father could have been a traveler, it is never actually mentioned who was her father.

Esmeralda has a golden skin tone, black hair and black eyes. Part of Esmeralda’s charm in the book is her innocence and her total unawareness of her own beauty. Disney’s Esmeralda is the complete and utter opposite; she knows her appeal, exploits it and given that quote by the director Kirk Wise that I mention earlier, I’m not sure how innocent is in the movie. So it safe to say that Disney did not use Hugo for even a basis of Esmeralda’s design.

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image — Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Looking at the concept art, Esmeralda started off looking more youthful and somehow along the way she lost the youthful look. My guess the vocal inspiration turned the tables on the character design. Alas Demi’s Moore doesn’t sound youthful, at least not when the film was recording the voices. For More Concept Art of Hunchback

Esmeralda and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Esmeralda giving Frollo a peck on the nose Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

It’s actually not Disney’s fault that Esmeralda’s looks/acts sexy whereas Hugo’s Esmeralda did not. The fault lies in the film history of Hunchback movies.

Esmeralda has long been depicted as sexy or at least no stranger to feminine charms. Esmeralda has also been depicted by actresses who are more known for their sex appeal. Such actresses have been Stacia Napierkowska, Theda Bara, Gina Lollobrigida and Salma Hayak. Also Disney models their characters after the voice actor playing them, so with the choice of Demi Moore it was inevitable that Disney Esmeralda was going to be sexy and follow the line of sexy Esmeraldas.

In a featurette of the movie, Moore said she could see herself in Esmeralda’s animation. While Disney took their cues from the 1939 version, I think Esmeralda’s look was based somewhat on Gina Lollobrigida’s Esmeralda as well as Demi Moore (maybe, I can’t really tell, I haven’t seen a ton of Moore’s films discern her mannerism and/or acting style in Esmeralda’s animation.)

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image red dress — Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956 image picture — Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956

*Since 2021 the blog has been using the words Travelers or Nomads to convey the group of people that Esmeralda is associated with while trying to be respectful. You can read that post here. I do tend to favor the travelers usage.

Next Time Phoebus

21Jul 2011

Letâ€™s get Superficial â€“ The looks of Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Judge Claude Frollo

As I mention in my Character analysis of Frollo, he is of the elegant Disney Villain variety. Other Villains include but are not limited to, Jafar, Yzma and Doctor Facilier. Frollo is thin and tall, (perfect super model body). He has a very angler face and a hook nose. Like many of the characters he has small eyes. Oddly enough he has grey hair but black eyebrows which are thin. Thin eyebrow makes one look older and fuller brow make one look younger. So Disney Frollo is old, and considering he looked old in the back story, he’s probably clocks in at 60 or so.

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame with Phoebus Disney

Frollo and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Judge Claude Frollo

He wears a long black robe with purple and red elements. As I also mentioned in my 1939 costume post, long black slabs of fabric look very unapproachable and it’s like a giant arrow that says” I’m a bad guy”. The first time you see Frollo, you know this be the villain. Of Course a big black scary horse helps, plus he arrests people for no reason. However his clothes assert his evil.

Frollo and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney

Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

So how does Disney Frollo compare with Frollo in the book? Well in the book Frollo’s face is described as austere, calm and sombre. He’s bald with a few gray hair that form a natural tonsure. He has a broad forehead that is furrowed with wrinkles and deep-set eyes. His eyes are the only thing expressive about him. Frollo is also 35 in the book. Which is supposed to be old but the idea is that he’s not too old, just old to shallow 16 year-old. Disney Frollo’s does has an austere look but Disney didn’t base Frollo’ s design off the book. They based it off of Sir Cedric Hardwicke’s look. They have the same dower look that gives way to insane bat-shit crazy looks. They have the same framing locks which is impossible not to notice. Disney’s Frollo is just older and balder, though he’s only balding. But it doesn’t take a genius to see where Disney got their inspiration from. Disney Frollo is almost an exact copy of Hardwicke’s Frollo.

Lemud Illustration of Frollo

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Jehan Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next up Esmeralda the “pretty” one

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame singing "God Help the Outcast"

Esmeralda singing "God Help the Outcast" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

19Jul 2011

Let’s get Superficial – The looks of Quasimodo from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo’s Reveal

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In an effort to get the audience of Quasimodo’s side, Directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale gave Quasimodo a gentle disposition made compete with a kind look. He has big, friendly doe eyes, a full head of red hair and wears a green tunic. Two of the more uglier factors are his big stub nose and his teeth (large teeth in the front of his mouth). I mean for Disney he’s ugly but for Quasimodo he’s adorable. I think Disney was afraid of making Quasimodo too ugly and risk scaring people off of seeing the movie.

Quasimodo gazing at Esmeralda

Quasimodo

Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

It’s also interesting to mention (and I’ll be mentioning this again) that for many characters in the movie there is not glint in the eyes. Many of the characters their eyes are just small black pupils, exception would be Esmeralda who has green irises, black pupils, and no glint. Quasimodo is one of the few who does has a sparkle in the eyes (other are Djali (though inconsistent) and the little girl who gave Quasimodo a hug, who doesn’t have it till the final even though you see her at the beginning.) Maybe this glint is indicative of innocence, an inconsistencies, or playing favorites? I dunno. I can understand why Quasimodo would have it but for Djali and little girl (only at the end) to have it and no one else, I sense a deeper reasoning here. I’m going with innocence.

Quasimodo shine in the eye Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Little Girl Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So how does Disney Quasimodo compare with book Quasimodo?

Oh not at all. I said Quasimodo is adorable here. In the book he is not, not at all. Quasimodo is described by Victor Hugo as having a horse-shoe mouth, a small left eye with bushy red eyebrow, a right eye that’s completely hidden by a monstrous wart, uneven broken teeth with gaps that project out like tusks, callous lips, and forked chin. He was also described ” a giant who had been broken and badly put together again. Disney’s Quasimodo looks like to extent but everything about is soft and round. His mouth is normal. His eyes are both visible despite the protrusion, His hair isn’t bushy in the slightest, it’s smooth and straight and he eyebrows are slightly think but not bushy. His teeth are uneven but not like tucks. He doesn’t have callous lip or a forked chin (he hardy has either).

Quasimodo Illustrtion Francois flameng picture image

Illustration of Quasimodo

Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Same character and yet no comparison.

In the concept art for Quasimodo ranges all other the place. Sometime he look scary (the way he should look) and sometimes almost handsome ( he just needs a haircut, and eyebrow plucking). For More Concept Art of Hunchback

Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

A Monstrous version of Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The closest to movie version Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Jockish looking Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo in the scope of things is just deformed, not ugly. There are ugly people in the crowds in the movie and they don’t have the crutch of deformties for an excuse. I mean Frollo is no looker himself.

Next Character up – Frollo

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

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Let’s get Superficial – The looks of Quasimodo from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

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