Quasimodo doll wants to go new jersey hunchback notre dame picture image

Help The Hunchblog go see the Musical

So in honor of the blog’s 100oth, I have a few little announcements to make.

Announcement #1,

Since I don’t live super very away from New Jersey, I would like to try and go to the Hunchback Musical at the Papermills Playhouse in New Jersey. However since I’m primarily a blogger by trade I don’t have the funds to go on my own so I’m trying to crowd fund it.

If you would like to be a wonderful person and help me and the blog out to go to this musical, here is the link to donate, http://www.gofundme.com/h0h4z4     .

Anything you can give towards this is very much appreciated.

Announcement #2,

November is Nation Novel Writing Month (http://nanowrimo.org) and I’m trying participating. I’m writing a novel based on what I know which is me and blogging and ripping part Disney movies. Basically I’m parodying myself, the blog and online reviewing and I’m having such fun doing it.

I’m hoping publish it at some point. Also speaking of Hunchblog related book I’m planning on writing one using blog posts from the 1939 version and greatly expanding on it in a much more in-depth way.

Announcement #3,

This isn’t quite a formal announcement but I’m considering signing up for Patreon for the blog which offer special content to patrons but I’m a little apprehend about it.   It takes a lot for to sign up for things like that. Gofundme took some effort to go for. I

Thank you guys so much for your support and interested in the blog, I really appreciate it. And I hope for another 1000 posts and thehunchblog’s birthday is in another month so that is exciting.

 

This is Hunchback of Notre Dame by The Frantic Elevators. It’s not my type song at all.  But it’s interesting and there is no denying that it’s about the  Hunchback.

The time has come to ask a very, very serious question, If the Hunchback Characters were whales what species would they be?

 

 

Humpback Whale picture image

Humpback Whale

Quasimodo – Humpback Whale (naturally)

 

Beluga Whale picture image

Beluga Whale

Esmeralda – Beluga Whale (They are just so pretty)

 

Right Whale picture image

Right Whale

Frollo – Right Whale (Sometimes called a Black Whale)

 

Gray Whale picture image

Gray Whale

Gringoire – Gray Whale

 

Narwhal picture image

Narwhal

Phoebus – Narwhal

 

Blue Whale picture image

Blue Whale

Clopin – Blue Whale

 

True Beaked Whale by Bill Curtsinger picture image

True Beaked Whale by Bill Curtsinger

Fleur-de-Lys – True Beaked Whale

 

Sei Whale by Peter Duley picture image

Sei Whale by Peter Duley

Jehan – Sei Whale

 

Bowhead Whale picture image

Bowhead Whale

Sister Gudule – Bowhead Whale (This spices can live so long that some remember Whaling, so the have a good memory)

 

Dwarf Sperm Whale by Robert Pitman picture image

Dwarf Sperm Whale by Robert Pitman

Djali – Dwarf Sperm Whale

 

I was reading an article on Moviefone about Movie monsters and love. The article looks at The Beast,  King Kong, The Phantom, The Wolf Man, Teen Wolf, Gill-Man, Swamp Thing, Shrek, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the Twilight boys and of course  Disney’s Quasimodo.

Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The write-up on Quasimodo and Esmeralda is basically the same old complaints with zero on incite to what the movie was trying to do.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The articles implies that Esmeralda is not in love with Quasimodo because he is ugly. I think that if Quasimodo was in fact good-looking or normal looking but had the same personally she still would not be in love him. She treats him like a child. She supports, him and wants him to succeed but while she like his kindness she doesn’t find it a turn on. Esmeralda seems to like confidence,  dry wit and kindness. Quasi doesn’t have have the first two traits at all.

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame sun god picture image apollo

Phoebus explaining his name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Article also calls Phoebus vain? What? How do you figure? Is it because he say’s his name mean “Sun God?” Because he sounded more self-mocking than egoistical.

Esmeralda, Phoebus, and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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

But I find it amazing that the general public are so quick to bring up the fact that Esmeralda does not fall in love with Quasimodo. The movie does several things which I have mentioned over and over (read here) to get the audience on the couple’s side. They share their first scene together, the have the snarky Disney couple trope, they have the same personality, they treat each like people not angels or devils, their animals have the same coloration. What else can this movie do? Did Quasimodo have to marry them? Because he did that but it was cut from the movie. He did join their hands and looks happy for them.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

I don’t want to say this movie is subtle but when it comes to getting that Esmeralda and Phoebus are perfect for each other, people either are in denial or really do just perceive Esmeralda as shallow when she doesn’t actually do anything really shallow  except fall in love with a guy that is like herself. But perhaps the main reason for people’s general denial of acceptance of this couple is because many people can relate to the protagonist and in him getting the girl  it gives us the viewers hope that we too can reach our goals.

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

However I will point that Quasimodo’s main goal was to be accepted by society which he was in the end. His mission from the start was to spend a day outside without fear not to fall in love. One could make the point that his goal changed when he met Esmeralda but it really just seemed that his attachment got twisted into love by the gargoyles and an overall love of love. He was never really in love with Esmeralda he was in love with a perception of her based on that it was his time talking  to a  female and she was nice to him. His affection for her was not a deep love it was a strong friendship.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

I’m sorry to rant like this but it just so annoying that people complain about this so much.

On 2/12/12 Lindsay Ellis (Nostalgia Chick) released a list of the Top Ten Hottest Animated guy. The list was compiled with a survey she conducted on her Facebook page and Twitter with women writing in their top pick of the Hottest animated guy from 1995-2002. And the character that came at number 10 was Disney’s Frollo.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Now Ellis suggested that women prefer character to physical appearance. And these characters are usually “projects”, men women can change. And with the case of Frollo he is the most sexual overt Disney character and yet very put off by it, making him relatable and yet torture. But given the fact that he kills people he is also a bad boy. And the mere fact that people generally think that if Frollo could fulfill his sexual desire this would cure him of his obsession and genocidal tendencies, which wouldn’t happen but this adds to the sexual fantasy.

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame groping Esmeralda Disney picture image

Frollo groping Esmeralda

 

Now given that Frollo was the villain and villains are never meant to be attractive it’s interesting to mention that Frollo was the only villain to make this list. Maybe this is because of the Disney villains, he’s the most interesting and has the most characterization.

 

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo gazing at Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo gazing at Esmeralda

I do have to wonder if Disney had handle Phoebus’ character differently would be have made the list? Phoebus could have easily been a bad boy who gets reformed, I mean he did in the book. And given that women aren’t has put off by looks, if Quasimodo was more tormented could he have made the list? My guess, Phoebus yes but Quaismodo no. Disney would have never, never made him tortured, Quasimodo was suppose to  be gentle, kind and innocence which are majors turns off. But it’s also might help that Frollo that he was in a power position, he can burned all of Paris and meets no opposition from anyone, except justice freaks Phoebus and Esmeralda.

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

Would I have sited Disney Frollo as one the “Hottest Animated Guys”? Gotta say no, I wouldn’t, I like him as a character but I don’t find him “Hot”  at all.

Not that anyone at Thatguy needs me to drive traffic to them but here is the link to the video, you can find out who else is one the list and who is #1

In the Spirit of Valentine’s Day I want to pick Fan-Art that was romantic in nature but then I saw this;

Notre Dame Pick Up Lines by Samahatter

Notre Dame Pick Up Lines by Samahatter

It was so silly and on point that I had to post it this week. Art by SamaHatter. I also like the mixing of the Hunchback sources as inspiration for how the guys look also I love the cute style.

In 2010, I saw the first few episodes of an anime called Blessings of the Campanella (Shukufuku no Campanella). I confess, I watch it mainly because of the word “Campanella” which can mean either a Free Standing Bell Tower like the Tower of Piza or Little Bell. So  I was surpise by the Hunchback of Notre Dame reference which many people have overlooked. (Looked though the comments no one mentioned it)

Meet Agnes Boulange.

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella

 

Agnes is a street performer who performs more or less in front of a Cathedral that looks identical to Notre Dame de Paris.

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella

Notre Dame de Paris depicted in Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Notre Dame de Paris depicted in Shukufuku no Campanella

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a street performer Agnes makes automatic puppets (automata) dance.  She even has a special puppet that can speak and takes money (Djali’s counterpart). This puppet is called Tango and it’s one of the few automata puppets that can speak (spoiler; there are like two).

Agnes with her dancing automata puppets Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes with her dancing automata puppets Shukufuku no Campanella

Agnes and Tango Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes and Tango Shukufuku no Campanella

Tango, Agnes' speaking automata puppet Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Tango, Agnes' speaking automata puppet Shukufuku no Campanella

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the sake clarification. Hunchback’s leading lady, Esmerlada, is a street performer who dances for the people outside of Notre Dame de Paris but for those who don’t know her birth name is Agnes. So to have a woman named Agnes performing infront of a building that is clearly Notre Dame de Paris is a clear reference to Victor Hugo’s book. The special peforming “animal” is  just a special bonus. Plus like goats, cats are associated with witches,  but I think it’s just meant to be a cute animal in the anime.

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes Boulange from Shukufuku no Campanella

Esmeralda Illustration Image picture

19th century Illustration of Esmeralda

 

 

 

 

 

I also want to mention that within the context of the anime, the world is a Fantasy which takes place in a city called Ert’Aria and the characters’ name do not follow a cultural scheme. One’s name is English in origins, another Italian. Agnes is the french one.

The anime itself is not very good. It’s a Fantasy-Harem (one male and several females) but if you’re curious or just want to see the reference for yourself you can watch the first episode on youtube with Japanese subtitles. Watch Here

Oddly, it is not available on DVD (at least in the States) however if you’re interested in either the audio CDs or the video game.

 

Agnes performing with Tango and the dancing automata puppets Shukufuku no Campanella picture image

Agnes performing with Tango and the dancing automata puppets

I was doing some research at work a few days ago on Russian Animation and I found these pictures (which have nothing to do with Russian Animation.) In fact these pictures are concept art by Rowland B. Wilson. Wilson created production art for Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as The Little Mermaid, Tarzan and Hercules.

Enjoy!

Quasimodo by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Djali by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Djali by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gargoyle by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Gargoyle by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Rats by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Rats by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Bats by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Bats by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pigeons by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame pictures image

Pigeons by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Birds by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Birds by Rowland B. Wilson Disney the Hunchback of Notre Dame