The character design in the Jetlag version the Hunchback on Notre Dame is just as lazy and uninspired as the songs and the rest of the execution on this movie.

Esmeralda, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

Madoka Ayukawa from Kimagure Orange Road

However she looks at lot like Madoka Ayukawa from Kimagure Orange Road, a Japanese anime from the 1980s. It actually get a bit detracting because she is the only character in this that has an anime look. It maybe because she is a gypsy and they wanted her to look distinct but the difference of animation style looks more sloppy than stylistic.

Quasimodo, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 gives an evil smile Jetlag version Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 from the Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 Jetlag version Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Face

What did Peter Panda say to Quasimodo to shock him so?

Quasimodo's Tea Party picture image

Quasimodo’s Tea Party

Picture is from the finale of the first season of South Park

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 picture image

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 image picture

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" Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

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

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.

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

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 Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Phoebus share the longest kiss in a Disney movie

Esmeralda twirling, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag picture image

Esmeralda twirling, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag

The second song in the Jetlag version is called “Queen of my Heart.” This song is played over Quasimodo’s fantasy of Esmeralda. I suspect that the reason why the song is not sung by Quasimodo himself is either the song was written independently from the animation or they just didn’t want to bother with lip sync. But how is the song? Is it better than “Pity Not Quasimodo“? Well yeah, it’s better than “Pity Not Quasimodo” but it’s still a sappy and stupid song made worse by the visuals.

Esmeralda swaying, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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  picture image

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 picture image

Mad Monster Party

Mad Monster Party was made by Rankin/Bass production a.k.a the people who made Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, as well as several other holiday stop-motion movies. Mad Monster Party came out in 1967 and was the fourth film they made.

Quasimodo Mad Monster Party picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 image picture

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 )

Hotel Transylvania picture image

Hotel Transylvania

I haven’t seen Hotel Transylvania yet so feel free to call me out on anything I get wrong. I had mentioned in another post that Quasimodo was a chef which parodies his being French rather than his role as a monster because let’s face it, Quasimodo is not a monster, he’s deformed, not a monster. Calling him a monster was just a marketing gimmick by Universal Studios. Remember Lon Chaney’s first big role was Quasimodo and was Universal’s first major film. The 1923 version started the monster trend. Putting Quasimodo in the league with Dracula, Frankenstein, and werewolves is moronic. I’m really surprised that the Phantom wasn’t shoehorned in the movie. Oh wait, a cave is shaped like the Phantom’s face so he was. Kudos movie.

Quasimodo in Hotel Transylvania picture image

Quasimodo in Hotel Transylvania

However my annoyance with the movie’s representation of Quasimodo goes a step further, Quasimodo is an antagonist. What? Huh? Quasimodo is a bad guy? Well that’s certainly a new spin on the character. I mean he did throw someone off a building in a fit of rage but is that enough to turn him into more are less a villain? Consider that Quasimodo is hardly ever depicted as anything but a kind soul. But wait there is more.

Quasimodo & Esmeralda from Hotel Transylvania Game picture image

Quasimodo & Esmeralda from Hotel Transylvania Game

Quasimodo has a side-kick rat named…. wait for it……..Esmeralda. What? Esmeralda is a rat? What? The Beautiful and Graceful Esmeralda is a rat? I can’t process this. So let me get this right Hotel Transylvania, Quasimodo is a chef and has a rat?  Maybe she is a pretty rat? Oh, I get it, they’ re knocking-off of Ratatouille. So Quasimodo wasn’t funny enough on his own merits so Sony Pictures had to reference a Pixar movie all while knocking-off classic monster movies? Or maybe because the writers had no idea how to included Quasimodo in the movie but they had to as The Hunchback started the Monster movie trend so they just made him the chef. And since there is nothing in Quasimodo’s characterization in this representation of him in this film they named the rat Esneralda to link him to movie even though it makes no sense to call the rat Esmeralda. He also has Gargoyle minions which is a reference to the Disney movie.

Not-Quasimodo Wilson, Jonathan the Human and Adam Sandler Hotel Transylvania picture image

Not-Quasimodo Wilson, Jonathan the Human and Adam Sandler Hotel Transylvania

One more thing, why is Quasimodo’s last name in this move “Wilson”? Why not give him some goofy French name, would have made more sense that “Wilson”. Or maybe there referencing something, that seems to film’s raison d’etre. I mean even the title is reference to the song Hotel California, because they both have the word “Hotel” and end in “nia.” It’s supposed to clever or something.

Art of Quasimodo, Esmeralda the Rat and  Jonathan by Pete Oswald Hotel Transylvania picture image

Art of Quasimodo, Esmeralda the Rat and Jonathan by Pete Oswald Hotel Transylvania

This isn’t Quasimodo and there isn’t enough of him to be a proper reference to any version of Quasimodo. It’s pretty clear that the writers knew of Quasimodo from the Chaney version and the Disney version but not enough to make a decent connection to the character’s legacy.

I have since writing the post seen the movie, you can read that post HERE