So we’ve looked deeper into the characters of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame now let’s look at them on a shallower level. Of course I mean looks.
Looks are always important with a Hunchback adaptation as you have the extreme beauty and the extreme ugly in the characters. I mention looks briefly in the character analysis but I’m going to a step further is reviewing looks now. So Let’s Get Superficial!!!
Next Time – First up (naturally) is Quasimodo.
Not that I’m trying push my humble little Hunchback wares but I wanted to share some new shirts with you good people. Not sure I’ll continue doing the “what would would X do” but we’ll see. Quasimodo, Frollo, and Esmeralda are the trifecta characters anyway. The what would shirts are based on the book. I hope these shirts at least cracks a smile, or two. Edited 3/1/12 I added a Gringoire shirt and a Cartoon Rendering of Quasimodo, because who does want to wear a picture of Quasimodo on their person….
So I found this video a while ago. It a video of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to “why is the Rum gone”. There two videos like this on youtube but I find this video more fun, plus ye olde heretic is in this one ^_~ so I thought I’d share
video starts at 0:20 Enjoy
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
A Memorable Character who has no affect on the plot is The Old Heretic (voiced by Gary Trousdale one of directors who as did non-baas for Djali). The guy who yells “I’m Free’ after getting out of some form of confinement but then immediately gets into a new one and then proclaim “Dang it” because they can’t use the word Damn.
The Old Heretic is free Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic falling Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic railing against the cruel hand of fate Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So why I’m I bothering with this character. Well, he’s funny, he’s a running gag done well. You see him twice, it the same joke but it’s funny. And though the film goes out of it’s way to do this joke, it feel natural and not forced. Mainly because of control freak Frollo it’s believable that an old guy would be locked away in a cage for X number of years. But odd that a stock would left open during a festival.
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic looks likes Jafar from Aladdin in his disguise (this make four cameos by other Disney characters, others are Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Carpet (Aladdin), Pumbaa (The Lion King) and the Baker (Beauty and the Beast) . Maybe the Jafar Disguise is the default look for Disney’s prisoners. If Disney made a version of the Count of Monet Cristo, Abbe Faria would probably look like Jafar/Old Heretic too.
Jafar in Disguise Disney Aladdin
Belle, Carpet, and Pumbaa
Baker Figurine Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Baker Disney Beauty and the Beast
Little is known about the Old Heretic. We have no idea why he is a heretic or even how old he is. You don’t even learn that he is supposed to be a heretic. One thing that we do know is this; he has a Confinement Destiny*. He just a gag no more no less. But in the scope of a running gag it’s enjoyable.
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
*This is a lame joke relating to Ananke (very simply it means Death Destiny). Ananke plays a big part in the novel and I’m making up another type of destiny, it’s a lame joke, I have a Lame Joke Destiny ^_~.
Next Time – It’s a surprise ^_^
Quaismodo and Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The main characters of Disney’s Hunchback don’t give us much indication of how “normal” people of Paris conduct themselves. Quasimodo is a forced shut-in, Frollo essentially King, Esmeralda and Clopin are outcasts, and Phoebus, well he just comes off too perfect to really be associated with “normal people”. So which characters represent as Frollo put it “the common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd”? That would be the two guards that are seen throughout the movie. They are credited as the Brutish Guard (voiced by Corey Burton) and the Oafish Guard (voiced Bill Fagerbakke aka Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants ). I’m just going to call them as Brute and Oaf.
Esmeralda, Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf shooing away nobody Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
We first see Brute and Oaf harassing Esmeralda because she’s a Gypsy and judging by all the gold in her hat, she is probably better paid then them. Anyway they try to assert their authority but then became submissive when Phoebus out ranks them. They are quite stupid, they shoo away people to show Phoebus to the Palace of Justice, but when viewed from behind you can hear them still shooing people but there is no there. These guy are all talk and no action, Djali can take them with very little effort.
Brute and Oaf up to no good Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf trying to crowd surf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf are the main cause for the getting the plot moving. Yes, it’s all them. If wasn’t for them, Quaismodo would have been King of Fools without incident and Frollo would just have been mad at him. But because Oaf throw a tomato (where did he even get that) it sets the chain of events into motion. The Crowd throws food at Quasimodo then ties him down, Frollo refuses to help, Esmeralda helps Quasimodo, Frollo gets mad at her, she defies him and hello chase scene and obsession. Thank you Oaf and Brute for being common, vulgar, weak, and licentious and getting the plot in motion.
Djali takes out Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute with Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So Brute and Oaf represent the common people, they promote distrust in authority figures for Esmeralda, cause the plot to take off but that not it. They also provide some humor. Brute provides Achilles with a sit and oaf provides some amusement being an oaf and all. Plus Oaf’s voice sounds comedic (Patrick from Spongebob). But don’t count on them in a pinch – storming a certain cathedral – they’re no help at all.
Brute and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Oaf and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Basically Brute and Oaf are glorified extras but they do something for the plot unlike some glorified extras that are memroable but do nothing for the plot, just add humor.
Next Time- a memorable old chap who “enjoys” a running gag (well not really).
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So a little bit more on Achilles and Djali— yeah there is more, go fig….
Djali and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Djali and Achilles rock as sidekicks, adding humor and charm to the movie. However as I was working on analyzing Djali and Achilles I noticed that their function in the movie goes deeper than just being awesome and fun sidekicks. The key element into this function is that both of the have the same coloration. They’re both white and gray, but they’re gray in the same places. Their muzzle, legs, tails, and hair. I think this maybe overlooked by many viewers because Djali and Achilles only appear on screen once together and Djali dancing so it’s hard to make that connection.
Djali and Achilles Same look Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So what does it matter that Djali and Achilles look alike? Well I think this is one more way that the production tries to reinforce Esmeralda and Phoebus as “the” couple. It’s not enough that they see each other first, that they have the same personality, that they are pretty much counterparts in every way but now they animals links them together. It’s pretty funny that the movie works this hard to tell its’ audience that Phoebus and Esmeralda are made for each other and some viewers still malign Esmeralda for being shallow because she fell in love with Phoebus instead of Quasimodo.
Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next Time – Memorable/Important Side Characters
First to bat The Archdeacon of Notre Dame…..mmmmm I wonder if his offical title is the same as Frollo’s in the novel????
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
If Achilles gets one of the most concentrated laughs in the movie, then Djali gets more laughs spread out through the movie. Djali is a mascot type of character for the film like other cute animal Disney side-kicks. The up side is that Djali was not created for the film but came out the source material.
Djali is Esmeralda’s pet goat. Djali helps her make money and reminds of her not to leave money when she about to run off.
Part of Djali’s function is to be Esmeralda’s double. In the book this meant that Djali was dainty, pretty, and talented with gilded hooves and horn and was white.
In the Disney movie Djali is grayish white with black hooves and an earring. The earring is meant to link Djali and Esmeralda. Like the book, I think Disney’s Djali is also a double for Esmeralda. In DVD commentary, they discussed that the reason why they cast Demi Moore as Esmeralda is because they wanted the heroine to have a rougher quality to the the voice, that sounded like (and I’m quoting this from commentary, I’m not making this up) like “she had been around.” Not saying that I think Djali has been “around” but Djali is not the dainty, delicate goat she is in the book. So I think Disney’s version fits Esmeralda’s aesthetic more in this movie.
Djali also has another functions than being Esmeralda’s better half. Djali is her security system.
Djali is distrustful of anyone Esmeralda meets (Phoebus and Quasimodo included). Djali also bleats when someone is approaching them (Frollo or guards).
Djali also aids Esmeralda in her old beggar disguise. This enables her to go undetected by Frollo and the stupid guards .
Djali also kicks ass in a fight. More than a few times Djali springs into action
So what makes Djali a great character? Djali provides levity without hindering the movie (like Achilles). Djali reacts to things in the movie and does not inject the movie with randomness to try to make a joke like the Gargoyles.
Another aspect of Djali that is charming which is a good attribute for a mascot character. All of Djali emotions and thoughts are always showed on his (her) face.
Djali started off in the Disney movie as a minor character but do to the animation done by Ron Husband (Commentary, got love them) the executives demanded more Djali and so the screen time was double.
Djali is called a “him” throughout the movie and Hugo has a thing for Djali (Hugo being gay is a sensitive issue with Disney). My guess is this is a case of male pronoun default. Djali’s sex mattered in the book because Hugo(the author) wanted to communicate that Djali is Esmeralda’s double, so Djali is a female goat. In the Disney’s version, it doesn’t really matter so the default male pronouns are used. (Remember this movie came out in 1996)
Next time – a little bit more on Achilles and Djali (there is something more alike about these two)
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 and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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 with Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phillippe from Beauty and the Beast Disney
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.
Sit command Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles the Set up Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles' Butt Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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…..
Achilles and Snowball Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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).
Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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.
Frollo's nose is long and he wears a tress/dress Disney Hunhcback of Notre Dame
Achilles Heeling Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Fun Fact- Achilles name was chosen just so they good do the “Achilles Heel” joke.
Next Time Djali -Hooray
Disney Djali from Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Gargoyles – Victor, Hugo and Laverne.
The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
The Gargoyles are the most annoying characters in this movie. They’re the comic relief but they fail at it (ok there are some funny bits but they’re few and very far between).
Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hugo (voiced by Jason Alexander), the short piggish one, is a load mouth and the most annoying. He also has a thing for Djali.
Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor (voiced Charles Kimbrough) is the tall prissy serious one. He is the least interesting.
Laverne Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Laverne (voiced by Mary Wickes/ Jame Withers) is the old one who tells it like is. She is probably the most of tolerable of the gargoyles.
Victor and Hugo were named for Victor Hugo the author, the writers thought they were being clever and they really wanted to prove they had read the book. Laverne was named after Laverne Andrews, one of The Andrew Sisters. They each have their own personalities and at least they balance each other out.
Hugo and Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Laverne and the birds Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor, Hugo and Laverne at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Theory goes that the Gargoyles are aspects of Quasimodo’s imagination because he is a forced shut-in who is desperate to be love. However the Director people who thought they were being all smart and junk by trying to deep and profound, forgot (actually they didn’t forget they’re just inconsistent) that Djali interacted with Hugo and they fought to defend Notre Dame. Quasimodo’s main squeeze also saw the Gargoyles in the Sequel {shudders at the thought of the sequel shudders}. So let’s say that the directors are right and their theory that the Gargoyles are imaginary holds water; does this mean Quasimodo imagines Djali seeing Hugo? Does his means when Quasimodo is crowned King of Fools he imagines the Gargoyles cheering him on? Does he imagines the Gargoyles the throwing stuff off off Notre Dame and the soldiers getting hurt especially when Quasimodo is occupied? Does this mean that Quasimodo is the source the pop culture anachronisms? And if the Gargoyles are Quasimodo’s imagination does this mean that after Quasimodo made some real life friends and was accepted by the people the Gargoyles would cease to be? Because they’re still around in the {shudders} sequel {shudders}. If Quasimodo lives in his head this much does this mean Quasimodo in the book is more functional? Plus he must be contently winded from lugging three stone statues around the place, then again made that’s why he can lift up Phoebus in full armor one handed. Personally I think that the Gargoyles are Pan’s Labyrinthesque beings; only those who are innocent and pure can see them, hence why Quasimodo and Djali can see them but they can some effect on the actual world. Though in the German Musical, Der Glockner van Notre Dame, they are imaginary (and they have different names).
Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame
Victor, Hugo and Laverne draw pictures Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hugo in drag as Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So why are the sidekicks Gargoyles in the first place? Well the oh so smartie directors said in the commentary that Quasimodo speaks to the Gargoyles in the book. They also claim that Quasimodo has long conversations (plural) with the Gargoyles. Looking over the book, I found that he was fond of a ‘grotesque personages sculptured on the wall’, and to this he says “why wasn’t I made of stone like you” (book 9 chapter 4 Earthenware and Crystal). I’m not sure what version of the novel they read where Quasimodo had long conversations with Gargoyles (1939 version? In the 1939 version Quasimodo utters this line to a gargoyle). If they were going to base a sidekick character off of objects that Quasimodo had a relationship with, it should have been the bells. They could’ve a sassy bell named Patti (Patti the Bell (Patti LaBelle) bad joke) that would have much better than the Gargoyles.
Hugo plays poker Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame
Gargoyles make an Amadeus reference Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So what do the Gargoyles do in the film? They’re Quasimodo’s friends and guardians. They make [try] funny quips. They also make pop culture references. Disney has a habit of doing this. They started with the Genie in Aladdin. With the Genie it makes a level of sense because Genies are a supernatural beings, but in Hunchback this doesn’t work as well. The Gargoyles are part of Notre Dame, so how can they have inferences to the future? I don’t care that they magically – they’re part of an ancient building, they should be funny without making stupid references, Djali doesn’t resort it. Plus if they’re in fact imaginary, this means Quasimodo is the one doing it, so it makes even less sense. The only thing that the Gargoyles do well is they get Quasimodo off his ass and encourage him. But they also build Quasimodo’s expectations up too high. They convince him that Esmeralda is in love with him, which leads to some of Quasimodo’s emoness when she doesn’t reciprocate.
Victor and Laverne's drawing of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hugo draws Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor, Hugo and Laverne trying to liberate Quasimodo in emo-mode Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So the point of the Gargoyles is to provide levity but they just distract from the movie. Disney boasts the Hunchback as being their darkest movie but the Gargoyles hinder it. Plus the movie has some good levity already, Phoebus, Esmeralda, Clopin, Djali, Achilles, those stupid bumbling guards, the old heretic, the torturer guy etc, they all provide good comedy while keeping the flow of the movie and without making references. Disney really could have done better in the sidekick department for Quasimodo.
Speaking of Sidekicks next time – Achilles and Djali
Disney Djali eating wooden a figurine
Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next Character – Clopin – The Story Teller plus that Large life character who gets the big Musical Numbers
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin (voiced by Paul Kandel) is the Leader of The Court of Miracles, Master of Ceremonies and Story Teller of the film. He accomplishes all this with only about 8 minutes of screen/voice time in the movie. Amazing! Clopin also gets three song which means he sings the most songs in the film and each song is big and over the top. Despite his limited screen time Clopin exhibits a lot of personality. He’s fun loving, mischievous diplomatic, funny, and somewhat nice. He also has a puppet version of himself (he also has one of Frollo. Makes you think who else does Clopin have puppets of?)
Clopin Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Isn’t it Cute???
Examples of Clopin varoius roles: Master of Ceremonies The Court of Miracles, and Story Teller.
Clopin presenting Quasimodo as the "King of Fools" Disney Hunchback Notre Dame
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin with Frollo Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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 from The Emperor's new Groove Disney
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin cosplaying as Frollo while tormenting Phoebus and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin cosplaying as Frollo overruling his puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin with Esmeralda Disney Hunchback Notre Dame
Clopin and Esmeralda have some connection to each other independent of being Gypsies and living in the Court of Miracles. Since Esmeralda performs with him in the Feast of Fool and she has some sway in the Court she must have some significant connection to Clopin. Since we’re given no back story for these two it’s impossible to know for certain. He either raised her, they’re related, or Esmeralda is just well liked in the Court of Miracles. I wish there was an answer but I guess this would have taken too much focus off of Quasimodo.
Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Like Phoebus, Clopin moonlights for the role of Gringoire. Gringoire in the book is a poet so in various versions Gringoire is a story teller, or the voice for the audience. Clopin fills this role, he tells the back story of Quasimodo and Frollo and reprises the theme of the film at the end.
Given his limited screen time there is not a ton that can be said for him as a character but he one of the most enjoyable characters in the film. He should have gotten more screen time!
Clopin Disney Hunchback Notre Dame
Clopin, Phoebus,and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin noticing Quasimodo during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next up
The Gargoyles (shutters)
The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
Hey People in internet land, make your opinions known (to me)! Who is your favorite character from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame? I’ll go first, I like Djali and Clopin. Now it’s your turn, don’ t be shy, I’d love to know. And you don’t like anyone well then say so ^_^.
