Send some holiday cheer with Quasimodo this year with these delightful greeting card.
Hunchback Quasimodo-Turkey hand wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving or if you don’t celebrate it a happy 3rd Thursday in November.
Quasimodo the Hunchback Turkey hand Drawing
The character design in the Jetlag version the Hunchback on Notre Dame
Esmeralda, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda is probably the most designed character in this version. I think that the designers tried most with her relative the other characters. However the designers are guilty of putting her red and they made her look too sexy. They put her in a strapless corset and a long red skirt with a slit that goes all the way up her leg. Her clothes are just wrong for the time period. But at least she is pretty.
Madoka Ayukawa from Kimagure Orange Road
However she looks at lot like Madoka Ayukawa from Kimagure Orange Road
Quasimodo, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo looks a little more normal that he normally depicted. He has the hunch, a closed eye and a large protrusion over said eye. But he doesn’t read as ugly or deformed as he does in other versions. This one of the few times that he doesn’t have red hair instead he has black hair. The black hair reads more boring but that’s okay because Quasimodo’s look is boring in this version.
Frollo, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
As I said in the voice acting post, Frollo sounds like Gargamel from the Smurfs and he kind looks like him too. Frollo has more hair though. Frollo has a tonsure which is a nice trait but it’s not gray at all which was a major trait of Frollo’s in the book. He look oldish and austere but not in the some capacity as the book or in the Disney movie. Like Quasimodo his character design is just boring.
Gringoire, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Gringoire’s character design wins the award of the most boring design. His design is like ambien, it’s sleep inducing. Most of the extras have more interesting designs.
Phoebus and Esmeralda, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus in this version has a mustache and looks fairy believable as a late medieval soldier. But for some reason he has reddish-pink-brown hair, which looks really silly. Phoebus typically has blond hair to reference his name sake. His hair color in this version seems out of place.
The Duke of Egypt, Jetlag Version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Duke of Egypt looks like a monster. Why does he look like a monster? I have no clue. His design baffles me. If he was the villain I could understand it but he is hardly a side character. So why does he have pointy elf ears, upturn fangs and a general monster look. My guess is he was a left over design from another project and they just went with it. Because while his design is at least interesting it doesn’t fit in to the context of this movie or his “character” (he doesn’t have much one).
Fleur de Lys, Jetlag Version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Fleur de Lys looks old. For some reason she has white hair and a receding hairline. She at least has a henin headdress (the pointy princess hats) so at least they got something right from the period. Her look is cold and austere which is in contrast to Esmeralda’s but Fleur de lys is suppose to look old? Why does this movie has some aversion to blond hair. Blond hair on her would have look worlds better.
Next Jetlag Article – Animation
Phoebus Face
What did Peter Panda say to Quasimodo to shock him so?
Quasimodo’s Tea Party
Picture is from the finale of the first season of South Park
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- Richard Charest as Gringoire, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Ian Carlyle as Clopin, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Dancers, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Elicia MacKenzie as Fleur de Lys & Yvan Pedneault as Phobus, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Matt Laurent as Quasimodo, World Tour Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- The Death of Esmeralda (Alessandra Ferrari), World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- World Tour Cast of Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
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- Former Russian Esmeralda, Svetlana Sveikova at the Notre Dame de Paris Premier at Crocus City
This just the beginning and I wasn’t even done with the Asian Tour pictures -_-
Question; Why did Esmeralda choose Phoebus?
This question get asked a lot and it’s directed to the Disney movie. A lot people resent Esmeralda for picking Phoebus after all Quasimodo did for her. They resent her despite the fact that movie tries very, very hard to convince the audience that Esmeralda and Phoebus are the perfect couple.
Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
When a film tries to present a future couple to the audience it is always done at the start of the film by showing the couple interacting in someway. This is almost always the case unless it is important to the development of the character to break it off with the person the are supposed to be with. Titanic is a good example of this. In Disney’s Hunchback the only scene that does not have either Frollo or Quasimodo is when Esmeralda and Phoebus meet. Now this may seem trivial but remember that the movie’s theme is “what makes a monster and what makes man” and every scene but this one and most of their time in the church reinforces that theme.
Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next, Esmeralda and Phoebus have almost identical personalities. They’re both witty, friendly, selfless and very self righteous. Frollo is very self righteous and somewhat witty and Quasimodo is friendly and somewhat selfless, he kind of has to overcome some self pity first.
Quasimodo’s figurines from “Heaven’s Light”
Another tactic the movie uses to try to get the audience of the couple’s side is the contrast of how Quasimodo, Frollo and Phoebus view Esmeralda. Frollo views Esmeralda as demon-witch sent from hell to ensnare him in hellish fire whereas Quasimodo views her a s heavenly-angel sent from high above to love him. These point of views are made crystal clear by their songs “Heaven’s Light” and “Hellfire.” Now Phoebus on the other hand doesn’t view her as an angel or demon, he views as a human and treats her as such.
Phoebus being hit by Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
However the most conniving thing the movie does to try to showcase that Esmeralda belongs with Phoebus and not Quasimodo is how she interacts with them. With Quasimodo, she treats with a lot of kindness and compassion. Not to mention she treats him like a child. Esmeralda never expressed any romantic interest in him. The peck on the cheek was to convince him let her stay in his life because she was on the side of the outcasts. She liked him as a friend nothing more. With Phoebus, she was coquettish, witty, snarky, and romantic. All most all Disney couples start off snarky without each other, it’s a troupe.
Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The inability to accept Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple isn’t really do with how much Quasimodo helped Esmeralda because she helped him too it is more to do with acceptations and hopefully optimism. First, it is very rare that a protagonist doesn’t end up with the leading lady. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one the few Disney movies where this happens. And there is the fact that Quasimodo is an underdog and the audience wants him to succeed and get the girl but it was disheartening when he doesn’t even though Quasimodo accepted the relationship and was happy for them.
And if the protagonist is cool with this than the audience should acceptance it as well.
Esmeralda and Phoebus share the longest kiss in a Disney movie
Esmeralda twirling, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The second song in the Jetlag
Esmeralda swaying, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Let’s start with some positives, because there are a few. First off, despite the visuals which are bad, the quality of animation (in parts) are the best in the film. They have clean lines and there is a decent flow to the movements, however that is also an issue that I will get into in bit.
Esmeralda dancing with Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The song while it’s sappy, it’s also heartfelt and self-actualized. Unlike the Disney version where Quasimodo doesn’t really have a doubt that Esmeralda could love him, here he does and is afraid that she’ll leave or may not even be real. Also the song stresses her kindness as well as beauty but doesn’t elevate her to an Angel, it keeps her human.
Eye Zoom through Esmeralda’s eye to Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Those are the positives and now the negatives. First off when this song begins Quasimodo stares up in the flame of a candle and the camera zooms into it and the fantasy/song starts. Ummmmm, hmmmm what other Hunchback of Notre Dame song has a guy starring into a fire and fantasizes about Esmeralda? Hmmmm let me think………. Oh! I know, Hellfire, Frollo’s villain song from the Disney movie where he calls Esmeralda a witch, blames her for the lust he feels, and plots to kill her while damning her soul. Why are they ripping-off Hellfire with this sappy ballad for Quasimodo’s love of Esmeralda? It’s the total opposite tone of Hellfire. I guess the candles links Quasimodo and Esmerada as an editing transition but it a stupid choice. Having him stare into the moon would have been better and easier to animate since this movie is lazy with animation anyway.
Esmeralda prancing, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Which brings me to my next point, the animation in this song. Now I said that the animation in this song was the best in the movie which is true but too bad the animators knew this because they repeat animation over and over and over again. Despite the sweet tone of the song it gets comical. The repeat animation is clearly just to pad the animation out for 2:42 minutes.
Esmeralda and her tambourine, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The dancing is also really awkward. All she really does is leap and spin around. She does so other moves like hits her tambourine against her breasts. What? I don’t get why she does this? She also at the end of the song she makes bats appear. Now I know they are supposed to be birds, which on its’ own makes no sense but they look like bats.
Esmeralda dancing with Phoebus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
One more aspect of the visuals really bothers me. The way the song is presented as Quasimodo’s fantasy so why his fantasy about Esmeralda is her dancing with other men? I mean he doesn’t really know Phoebus and he doesn’t know about Gringoire, so how can he fantasize that Esmeralda dances with both of them? What is Quasimodo subconscious trying to tell him? Or are Phoebus and Gringoire a manifestation of Quasimodo’s fear that she will leave him? I’m going to say no, the movie it not that cerebral. I get why they are here from a story context but it makes no sense in the here because the song is Quasimodo’s fantasy.
Esmeralda dancing with Gringoire, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
So the visual are very problematic but how is the song? Pretty Bad. The predominant instrument is a cheesy electric piano. It’s really hard to get pass the utter cheapness of the electric piano here. As with the first song I’m not a fan of the singer’s thin, breathy, raspy voice. There is something about his voice that is sleep inducing and lifeless. And then there are the lyrics. They’re not terrible but there no good or special, they just meh.
Esmeralda spinning, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
The result of the song is that it just stops the story right it it tracks for a lifeless, sappy, confusing song sequence. If it was good you can forgive it but it’s not good it’s boring. That is the most complementary thing I can say about the end result of this sequence is it was boring. I think a better singer, a better arrangement and better visuals that fit the song this sequence could have been good because it song fits Quasimodo character pretty well.
Esmeralda releases bats, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Watch the video of this song here
Next Jetlag Article – The Ending Song “Love is Everything” {gags}
Ending of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag
Quasimodo walks into a bar, strolls straight up to the barman and says, “I’ll have a whisky please.”
The barman says, “Bells alright?”
Quasimodo replies, “Mind your own business.”
(Bells is a brand of Whisky)
Mad Monster Party
Mad Monster Party 
Quasimodo Mad Monster Party
Now I’m not going to review the whole movie but the basic plot goes like this; Baron Boris Von Frankenstein is planning to retire and invites a slew of monsters (famous movie monsters) to his island to name his successor. There are lots of corny jokes and songs. It’s a cult classic and there is even a Monster convention held in North Carolina that is called “Mad Monster Party” click here for info.
Quasimodo (The Hunchback) Mad Monster Party
Now as you have probably guessed one of the monsters present at the Mad Monster Party is none other that our darling of Paris, Quasimodo or as he is known in this film as The Hunchback. So how does this film represent him? Ummmm he’s there….? Quasimodo does a few things like rings the bells (classic trait), carries the mummy’s tomb around, dances, sleeps and participants in the mob at the end. However with a few exceptions most of the monsters in this movie don’t do much more than that. He provides more of a monster-atmosphere than an impact on the plot.
So I’m not holding it against the film for using Quasimodo in this fashion besides in the scope of monsters, Quasimodo isn’t a monster he a deformed hero. Although I would fault the movie that Quasimodo didn’t actually speak any words of dialogue. Not sure if this reference to the Silent Chaney version or that he is deaf. My guess would be a nod to the silent version as deaf people can speak and Quasimodo lost his hearing at the age of 14* so he knows how to speak.
Quasimodo (Hunchback) Mad Monster Party
So Quasimodo is a non-entity of a character but how does he look? He looks like Quasimodo should look. He has a clear hunch, his smaller eye looks like it really does impair his vision, snub nose, etc. He looks recognizable as Quasimodo unlike his portrayal Hotel Transylvania. He also moves the way you would except Quaismodo to move which is no small feat considering this is a stop-motion puppet. The only thing is why does Quasimodo have pink hair? Did they think we would confuse him for Francesca the hot red hair?
Francesca, Mad Monster Party
Because I don’t think the audience would have. I really can’t think of why they went with pink over red but I guess that was the filmmakers’ grand vision.
The Hunchback’s credit Mad Monster Party
All in all, Mad Monster Party is a fun little romp and I’m glad Quasimodo does get a credited role but still I find it vexing that he’s lump with Monsters, traditional or not it’s affront to his character but at least for the film running length you can forget that.
* (book 4 chapter 3 Immanis Pecoris Custos, Imanior Ipse )
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- Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Candice Parise as Esmeralda & Stephen Webb as Phoebus Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Stephen Webb as Phoebus and a Dancer Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire & Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Robert Marien as Frollo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Lilly-Jane Young as Fluer de Lys & Stephen Webb as Phoebus Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Ian Carlye as Claopin, Candice Parise as Esmeralda & Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
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- Ian Carlye & Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour
