Disney started releasing Direct to video(DVD) movies in 1994 with The Return of Jafar
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
A handful of the film are decent but many are just crap including the March 19 2002 release of the sequel of The Hunchback of Notre Dame 
If you haven’t figured out it I think this movie is crap.
Next Time – The Crapastic Plot
Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Cast Poster of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
All in all Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame is good movie. Is it the best Hunchback adaptation? No, but it’s far from the worst. It’s kind of the worst of best and best of worst. I think when it comes down to it to fully appreciate this movie, just forget everything you know about the original novel. They are two different stories. The best thing about the Disney version is at least it introduced people to the story and gets people to want to read even if it just to find how divergent Disney is from Victor Hugo.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Xed out Gargoyles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Another good point is Frollo, who is one the best Disney villain. The worst part are those horrible, insipid gargoyles. They were not funny and they were weak. But at least they are worst part that is associated with Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. I mean it’s not like they did one of those Direct to DVD sequels with Hunchback. They gave the movie some dignity.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Damn. they did! Well it is Disney after all….
Next Time – Hunchback of Notre Dame II; The Quest for More Money or as my computer labels it “Tambourine”
A Screenshot of the the Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
In Victor Hugo’s original book
Frollo looking up at Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda and Quasimodo looking over teh edge of Notre Dame
Disney’s representation of Notre Dame of Paris in very much in opposition to the book. In the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame
Molten Lead over Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
My guess is original text had an attack of Notre Dame where Quasimodo defends it and Esmeralda from misidentified attackers and pours molten lead out the gutters and Disney really wanted to do that shot and that’s why they had to do it. But Notre Dame’s status in the story got lost among the 18 story writers. That’s right, 18 people worked on the story, there are not even 18 characters. It’s a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen. I think ultimately that the 18 writer are to blame for all the differences to characters and to plot and for making an important point of the book the role of Notre Dame from sanctuary to prison.
Next Time – Disney and the other movies associated with Hunchback
Reverse King Kong Shot Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Given how every facet of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus and Esmeralda Happy Ending Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Good Guys lives. Yeah, this isn’t a big differences. Most film adaptations let the leads live. It is interesting that Esmeralda is really only spared because she is sentence to burn instead of hanging. If she had hanged the scene would have been less dramtic. So another minor difference is all the fire imagery including Esmeralda on the stake. Also in letting the character live it takes away the theme of “Ananke” (simply meaning Death Destiny) Ananke is the word that book is based off of. However it’s only been features in like two adaptations and beside this movie is about how we “not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within” no wait that’s Beauty and the Beast…. no it’s the same in Hunchback of the Notre Dame. Stupid Disney morals ruining their movies.
Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris
Phoebus explaining his name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Another minor difference is the lack of Gringoire. Gringoire in the book was a cowardly poet who runs off with Djali. He also acts like a story teller and the voice of author. In Disney, Gringoire is divided between Clopin and Phoebus. It’s a minor difference because when it comes to cutting characters out Gringoire is seldom cut. Phoebus is the one to get diminished over Gringoire.
Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda about to burn Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus cross-eyed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
There is just so many differences between Disney and the book that to write these posts has been mind boggling. I could just have an entire blog about the differences and it would probably last a good long time. Because let’s face Disney didn’t re-tell Hugo’s story they retold the 1939 version
Next Time -Disney’s Norte Dame Prison or Sanctuary?
Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
In all seriousness Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame
The biggest difference is the Characters;
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
In making Frollo a judge and not a priest we loss his turmoil which makes Frollo an interesting and complex character. I really don’t care as much about his lust and obsession for Esmeralda just because he hate Gypsies. Also in the book, his obsession occurs slowly. He sees her and is instantly taken by her youthful beauty. After that he begins stalking her and by kidnapping her he forces the the plot to take action. In the Disney movie, Quasimodo doesn’t have the some loyalty and Frollo abuses him by telling him he’s a monster and keeps him locked in the tower. In the book Frollo did no such thing and Quasimodo could leave Notre Dame if he wished.
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo in the Disney movie is very much like Ariel. He wants to live with the normal people. He is very naive, kind and gentle. In the book, Quasimodo is kind and loyal to those who have been kind to him i.e Frollo and Esmeralda. However, Quasimodo is also angry and doesn’t really like people. He would never want to leave Notre Dame as Notre Dame is his universe. He loves Notre Dame so much that he is very much a part of it and his lovers are bells. The relationship between Quasimodo and Notre Dame is destroyed in the Disney version as Notre Dame is not so much a sanctuary but a prison. Also in the movie Disney he briefly mentions the bell but you don’t get the sense that he loves the bells. I also don’t see this Quasimodo killing Frollo in fit of rage or lying down next to Esmeralda to die.
Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda is the polar opposition between Disney movie and the book. In the book she is at least part French and is young, beautiful, naive, shallow, childish and kind of dumb. In the Disney movie, while she is beautiful, she has none of the other traits, though the youth is debatable. She is confident and is in control of her sexual appeal. In the Disney version she is a full Gypsy and we are never given any sense of her backstory. In the book she was unaware of her beauty and she lacks any worldliness. This naivety is what gets her into trouble in the book and ultimately is what kills her and not a passion for social justice.
Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus in the book is a jerk who is kind of dumb and just wants to sleep with pretty girls. Also he is two-timing cheat, who despite being engaged he tries sleeps with every good-looking girl he can. In the Disney version is he is noble, moral and likes to crack bad jokes. Not like book Phoebus at all.
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin in the book in the leader of the Court of Miracles, not the Gypsies. The Leader of the Gypsy in the book was the Duke of Egypt. Typically, the leader of the Court of Miracles and the Leader of the Gypsy get fused into one which is Clopin. That’s a minor issue. Compared to Frollo, Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Phoebus; Disney Clopin’s differences are not so bad. He tells stories like Gringoiore (a character in book) and is the leader of the Court of Miracles; he’s two characters in one, or three.
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Djali in the Disney movie is a pretty minor character who doesn’t do anything other than add some charm and humor. In the book however Djali is pretty essential to the plot. Djali is the prime evidence for why Esmeralda is convicted of being a witch. Goats were considered to be representational of the devil and the tricks innocence tricks Djali performed like spelling and telling the time were thought to be the work of witchcraft by the judges in the book. Of course, since the plot veers so far the book it doesn’t really matter. Djali’s main function in the movie is a cute sidekick who sells toys to children
The Gargoyles do not count, they’re not in the book.
Gargoyles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
It really does seems like someone early in production took the cliff notes of Hugo’s book, throw them into a blender, strained, added water and poured out the Disney Plot. Then that got re-written by those people who didn’t read. And the differences in the characters in proof that.
Next time – Minor Differences,
Hey It’s a Youtube Poop Video by Dinner Warrior. I confess I like Frollo and Gaston as a Comic Duo
(Via Dinner Warrior’s Description)
Transcription (spoiler warning):
Narrator: There’s no intro.
Frollo: You know I have head lice.
Gaston: That’s nothing, I have ticks.
Le Fou: Every guy here loves you Gaston.
Gaston: No shit, this is a gay bar and every last inch of me’s waxed… not!
Frollo: Shall we review your alphabet today?
Gaston: I can’t read.
LeFou: Gaston, you fail at life.
Frollo: Then tell me Maria, why I see her dancing there… what? Why the hell is Lady Gaga in my fireplace?
Le Fou: Gosh that girl disturbs me Gaston.
Gaston: I know, me too.
Ratcliffe: The ladies of court will friend me on twitter when they see how I glitter.
Frollo: Eat my tacos. I have fish tacos, beef tacos, chicken tacos. I have it all! Made with real meat, real cheese, real corn.
Gaston: Hello Frollo, I’ll have four-dozen tacos and a large pepsi and for dessert I’ll have jello.
Frollo: It’s yours.
Tomo: I’m a taco. AHHH!
Frollo: I’ll find her. I’ll find Hellen if I have to burn down all of Troy!
Gaston: Iliad.
Frollo: I am a fish.
Gaston: Manatee.
Ratcliffe: Cheep-cheep!
Gaston: Every last inch of Waxonator’s covered with memes.
Osaka: Well, see ya!
The Differences post is coming…..soon
Where do you begin to discuss the differences between Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame and Victor Hugo’s original novel Notre Dame de Paris? I guess it easier to discuss the similarities. They both take place in Paris, there is a hunchback who is the bell ringer of Notre Dame and a pretty gypsy girl and the main characters are attractive to her. She has a goat and is dancers. There names are the same (Quasimodo, Claude Frollo, Esmeralda, Djali, Phoebus, and Clopin) and that’s pretty much it.
Good Night everybody.
Cast Poster of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hunchback of Notre Dame Character Illustration by Francois Joseph Aime De Lemud
No Seriously next time we’ll go through the major differences.
Click here to buy the Disney Movie Poster
Frollo singing Hellfire Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire Disney
As I end discussing the music I want to say ONE thing, in Hunchback of Notre Dame, when the songs differ from the standard Disney format of song-type, the songs were great and when the songs was very formulaic it was bad. I think Disney needs to pull away from the ridgely formulaic movies and be a little more experimental. I realize the Hunchback wasn’t a great success for them but that’s because they took a book that a) is a piece of literature with a bittersweet ending and b) they muttled the plot so it both be “dark” but also for kids.
Tangled Promotion Poster Disney
Snow Queen Concept Art Disney
I know Disney recently has been trying new things, Tangled 
Night on Bald Mountain Disney Fantasia
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
In conclusion Disney, you love Night on Bald Mountain, you love Hellfire, just make a dark movie and don’t market it for kids who know maybe that’s the shot in the arm your company needs; making a good film that people want to watch, and the people like Dark.
Next Time – It’s Fan Art Friday Can I get a Yay?
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Let’s us now concluded the musical portion of Hunchback with probably the strongest aspect of it; Alan Menken’s Score
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo = Out There
So while the songs are pretty hit and miss, the score is strong. My Favorite track is defiantly Sanctuary!
Next time a slight Rant and Plea to Disney
Notre Dame de Paris 2012 Tour
Cast confirmed: Matt Laurent will be Quasimodo, Robert Marien will be Frollo, and Myriam Brousseau will be the understudy for Fleur-De-Lys and Esmeralda. Rehearsals will start this October in Paris before heading to China where they’ll start touring with Notre-Dame in 2012 and 2013 for 8 to 9 month in English. Robert Marien will also be the vocal supervisor and Gilles Maheu will be the director.
Source: http://masterclassamontreal.com/2011/09/23/trois-quebecois-en-asie-avec-notre-dame-de-paris/
I’ll post my reactions on this later
