Tag Archives: Hunchback Of Nowhere

The Hunchback, a.k.a Quasimodo, in the Courage the Cowardly Dog episode The Hunchback of Nowhere is presented as ugly but kind. Such a twist! But there is a few differences that this version gives to Quasimodo other than a kind yet ugly misfit.

In the Disney vein, he has red hair and wears green. He doesn’t have a wart protrusion over his eye instead his eye bulges out from the socket and curves upwards which is very cartoony. His other eye is big and purple. He has greenish skin, a huge nose and for some reason he has a scar. He is also rather lumpy which makes the hunch looks unified with the rest of his form.

Unlike every other single version of the hunchback, this is one is not haunting Notre Dame, instead he is looking for shelter. Not even companionship he just wants a place to spend the night not outside. Got to wonder why he’s not at Notre Dame?

But does the absence of Notre Dame makes this depiction not Quasimodo? No, even though he is never refereed to as Quasimodo and there is no Notre Dame as a signifier there are other things that signify him as Quasimodo. First, being kind hunchback is enough but the show does other things like he plays bells. A Kind Hunchback who plays bells, that pretty much says Quasimodo. He also swings on a trapeze in barn for some reason. So we have a kind hunchback that plays bells and swings on ropes, if that doesn’t “Hello, I’m Quasimodo” I don’t really know what would.

For a ten minute runtime he also a dynamic character. He goes from being quiet and letting people, mainly Eustace, make him feel bad to standing up to Eustace on Courages’ behalf.

Frankly, it’s a short and sweet version of Quasimodo. I like that this Quasimodo isn’t hung up on finding love or even lasting acceptances and friends. The popping eye, green skin and scar are weird stylistic choices to his design but they are not awful or distracting.

Next Time – Nods to the original Source

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