So a little bit more on Achilles and Djali— yeah there is more, go fig….

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Djali and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

Djali and Achilles Same look Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

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 Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

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 picture image

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 and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Achilles with Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phillippe from Beauty and the Beast Disney  picture image

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.

Achilles and Phoebus Sit command Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Sit command Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles the Set up Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Achilles the Set up Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles' Butt Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Achilles' Butt Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

Achilles Sitting Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

Frollo's nose is long and he wears a tress/dress Disney Hunhcback of Notre Dame

 

Achilles Heeling Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

Disney Djali from Hunchback of Notre Dame