I was hoping to post the Phoebus installment of “Let’s get Superficial” today since I won’t be able do it this weekend, however it’s been delayed and it’s not ready yet. But since I’m trying to update more often (two-three times a week), I’ve made this for fun;
Find the differences and leave a comment with the answers. There are 6 differences in total. There are not meant to be too hard or too challenging, just fun. I’ll post the original picture next time. So have fun. ^_^
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Esmeralda is the most divergent character in the Disney version from the book in both looks and personality. I already talked about her personality, now let’s look at her looks.
The Disney Esmeralda looks 100% a traveler*. She has a darker complexion, dark hair, and light green eyes (with no glint). Her eyes also do not change color pending on how much light is in the space, which kind of makes them look witchy. She keeps her hair pulled back which it creates volume. This bigger hair makes her look older. When her hair is down she looks younger. Her hair also has a slight curl. Though in the middle of the epic running away from Frollo, her hair looks straight but that could just be inconsistencies in animation or the wind, take your pick. But it does look straight. However it also fair to point out that this voluminous hairstyle was on trend in the late 90s.
Her age is very vague. Most of the Disney characters have a rough age range or they just say how old they are like Ariel and Jasmine. With this shift in Disney heroines being somewhat more independent and less dreamy, they appear to be older than the typical “Disney princess” (except Tiana, I would say she is like a compromise between the archetypal Princess and the confident independent heroine of the late 90s).
The question is how old is Disney’s Esmeralda? With the age inflation that Disney implements, I’d say she most likely 22 at the youngest, which is “old” for a Disney heroine. The long and short of it is, Esmeralda is meant to be older like “she’s been around.” This is not my phasing, watch the commentary, it’s the scene where Esmeralda is helping Quasimodo from the pillory. To listen to the commentary, The DVD.
One reason why this version made her older could have been to help establish her relationship with Quasimodo as more maternal, more like a big sister than romantic. This could have made her pairing with Phoebus appear more palatable for the audience, though given a lot of bad-faith internet discourse it didn’t really work that way.
Against the original novel by Victor Hugo, Esmeralda’s looks are very different. Esmeralda is never described in graphic detail but she’s described as very beautiful frequently by many characters. Disney Esmeralda is meant to be beautiful certainly but she is never called beautiful in the movie. The closest mention to her looks is Clopin saying she’s “The Finest Girl is France.”
Esmeralda in the book is not genetically a full traveler*. Her mother is a French women and while her Father could have been a traveler, it is never actually mentioned who was her father.
Esmeralda has a golden skin tone, black hair and black eyes. Part of Esmeralda’s charm in the book is her innocence and her total unawareness of her own beauty. Disney’s Esmeralda is the complete and utter opposite; she knows her appeal, exploits it and given that quote by the director Kirk Wise that I mention earlier, I’m not sure how innocent is in the movie. So it safe to say that Disney did not use Hugo for even a basis of Esmeralda’s design.
Looking at the concept art, Esmeralda started off looking more youthful and somehow along the way she lost the youthful look. My guess the vocal inspiration turned the tables on the character design. Alas Demi’s Moore doesn’t sound youthful, at least not when the film was recording the voices. For More Concept Art of Hunchback
It’s actually not Disney’s fault that Esmeralda’s looks/acts sexy whereas Hugo’s Esmeralda did not. The fault lies in the film history of Hunchback movies.
Esmeralda has long been depicted as sexy or at least no stranger to feminine charms. Esmeralda has also been depicted by actresses who are more known for their sex appeal. Such actresses have been Stacia Napierkowska, Theda Bara, Gina Lollobrigida and Salma Hayak. Also Disney models their characters after the voice actor playing them, so with the choice of Demi Moore it was inevitable that Disney Esmeralda was going to be sexy and follow the line of sexy Esmeraldas.
In a featurette of the movie, Moore said she could see herself in Esmeralda’s animation. While Disney took their cues from the 1939 version, I think Esmeralda’s look was based somewhat on Gina Lollobrigida’s Esmeralda as well as Demi Moore (maybe, I can’t really tell, I haven’t seen a ton of Moore’s films discern her mannerism and/or acting style in Esmeralda’s animation.)
*Since 2021 the blog has been using the words Travelers or Nomads to convey the group of people that Esmeralda is associated with while trying to be respectful. You can read that post here. I do tend to favor the travelers usage.
Next Time Phoebus
Judge Claude Frollo
As I mention in my Character analysis of Frollo, he is of the elegant Disney Villain variety. Other Villains include but are not limited to, Jafar, Yzma and Doctor Facilier. Frollo is thin and tall, (perfect super model body). He has a very angler face and a hook nose. Like many of the characters he has small eyes. Oddly enough he has grey hair but black eyebrows which are thin. Thin eyebrow makes one look older and fuller brow make one look younger. So Disney Frollo is old, and considering he looked old in the back story, he’s probably clocks in at 60 or so.
Frollo and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
Judge Claude Frollo
He wears a long black robe with purple and red elements. As I also mentioned in my 1939 costume post, long black slabs of fabric look very unapproachable and it’s like a giant arrow that says” I’m a bad guy”. The first time you see Frollo, you know this be the villain. Of Course a big black scary horse helps, plus he arrests people for no reason. However his clothes assert his evil.
Frollo and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
So how does Disney Frollo compare with Frollo in the book? Well in the book Frollo’s face is described as austere, calm and sombre. He’s bald with a few gray hair that form a natural tonsure. He has a broad forehead that is furrowed with wrinkles and deep-set eyes. His eyes are the only thing expressive about him. Frollo is also 35 in the book. Which is supposed to be old but the idea is that he’s not too old, just old to shallow 16 year-old. Disney Frollo’s does has an austere look but Disney didn’t base Frollo’ s design off the book. They based it off of Sir Cedric Hardwicke’s look. They have the same dower look that gives way to insane bat-shit crazy looks. They have the same framing locks which is impossible not to notice. Disney’s Frollo is just older and balder, though he’s only balding. But it doesn’t take a genius to see where Disney got their inspiration from. Disney Frollo is almost an exact copy of Hardwicke’s Frollo.
Lemud Illustration of Frollo
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
Jehan Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next up Esmeralda the “pretty” one
Esmeralda singing "God Help the Outcast" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo’s Reveal
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In an effort to get the audience of Quasimodo’s side, Directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale gave Quasimodo a gentle disposition made compete with a kind look. He has big, friendly doe eyes, a full head of red hair and wears a green tunic. Two of the more uglier factors are his big stub nose and his teeth (large teeth in the front of his mouth). I mean for Disney he’s ugly but for Quasimodo he’s adorable. I think Disney was afraid of making Quasimodo too ugly and risk scaring people off of seeing the movie.
Quasimodo gazing at Esmeralda
Quasimodo
Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
It’s also interesting to mention (and I’ll be mentioning this again) that for many characters in the movie there is not glint in the eyes. Many of the characters their eyes are just small black pupils, exception would be Esmeralda who has green irises, black pupils, and no glint. Quasimodo is one of the few who does has a sparkle in the eyes (other are Djali (though inconsistent) and the little girl who gave Quasimodo a hug, who doesn’t have it till the final even though you see her at the beginning.) Maybe this glint is indicative of innocence, an inconsistencies, or playing favorites? I dunno. I can understand why Quasimodo would have it but for Djali and little girl (only at the end) to have it and no one else, I sense a deeper reasoning here. I’m going with innocence.
Quasimodo shine in the eye Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Little Girl Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So how does Disney Quasimodo compare with book Quasimodo?
Oh not at all. I said Quasimodo is adorable here. In the book he is not, not at all. Quasimodo is described by Victor Hugo as having a horse-shoe mouth, a small left eye with bushy red eyebrow, a right eye that’s completely hidden by a monstrous wart, uneven broken teeth with gaps that project out like tusks, callous lips, and forked chin. He was also described ” a giant who had been broken and badly put together again. Disney’s Quasimodo looks like to extent but everything about is soft and round. His mouth is normal. His eyes are both visible despite the protrusion, His hair isn’t bushy in the slightest, it’s smooth and straight and he eyebrows are slightly think but not bushy. His teeth are uneven but not like tucks. He doesn’t have callous lip or a forked chin (he hardy has either).
Illustration of Quasimodo
Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Same character and yet no comparison.
In the concept art for Quasimodo ranges all other the place. Sometime he look scary (the way he should look) and sometimes almost handsome ( he just needs a haircut, and eyebrow plucking). For More Concept Art of Hunchback
A Monstrous version of Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The closest to movie version Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Jockish looking Quasimodo Concept Art Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo in the scope of things is just deformed, not ugly. There are ugly people in the crowds in the movie and they don’t have the crutch of deformties for an excuse. I mean Frollo is no looker himself.
Next Character up – Frollo
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
So we’ve looked deeper into the characters of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame now let’s look at them on a shallower level. Of course I mean looks.
Looks are always important with a Hunchback adaptation as you have the extreme beauty and the extreme ugly in the characters. I mention looks briefly in the character analysis but I’m going to a step further is reviewing looks now. So Let’s Get Superficial!!!
Next Time – First up (naturally) is Quasimodo.
So I found this video a while ago. It a video of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to “why is the Rum gone”. There two videos like this on youtube but I find this video more fun, plus ye olde heretic is in this one ^_~ so I thought I’d share
video starts at 0:20 Enjoy
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
A Memorable Character who has no affect on the plot is The Old Heretic (voiced by Gary Trousdale one of directors who as did non-baas for Djali). The guy who yells “I’m Free’ after getting out of some form of confinement but then immediately gets into a new one and then proclaim “Dang it” because they can’t use the word Damn.
The Old Heretic is free Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic falling Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic railing against the cruel hand of fate Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So why I’m I bothering with this character. Well, he’s funny, he’s a running gag done well. You see him twice, it the same joke but it’s funny. And though the film goes out of it’s way to do this joke, it feel natural and not forced. Mainly because of control freak Frollo it’s believable that an old guy would be locked away in a cage for X number of years. But odd that a stock would left open during a festival.
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic looks likes Jafar from Aladdin in his disguise (this make four cameos by other Disney characters, others are Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Carpet (Aladdin), Pumbaa (The Lion King) and the Baker (Beauty and the Beast) . Maybe the Jafar Disguise is the default look for Disney’s prisoners. If Disney made a version of the Count of Monet Cristo, Abbe Faria would probably look like Jafar/Old Heretic too.
Jafar in Disguise Disney Aladdin
Belle, Carpet, and Pumbaa
Baker Figurine Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Baker Disney Beauty and the Beast
Little is known about the Old Heretic. We have no idea why he is a heretic or even how old he is. You don’t even learn that he is supposed to be a heretic. One thing that we do know is this; he has a Confinement Destiny*. He just a gag no more no less. But in the scope of a running gag it’s enjoyable.
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
*This is a lame joke relating to Ananke (very simply it means Death Destiny). Ananke plays a big part in the novel and I’m making up another type of destiny, it’s a lame joke, I have a Lame Joke Destiny ^_~.
Next Time – It’s a surprise ^_^
Quaismodo and Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The main characters of Disney’s Hunchback don’t give us much indication of how “normal” people of Paris conduct themselves. Quasimodo is a forced shut-in, Frollo essentially King, Esmeralda and Clopin are outcasts, and Phoebus, well he just comes off too perfect to really be associated with “normal people”. So which characters represent as Frollo put it “the common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd”? That would be the two guards that are seen throughout the movie. They are credited as the Brutish Guard (voiced by Corey Burton) and the Oafish Guard (voiced Bill Fagerbakke aka Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants ). I’m just going to call them as Brute and Oaf.
Esmeralda, Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf shooing away nobody Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
We first see Brute and Oaf harassing Esmeralda because she’s a Gypsy and judging by all the gold in her hat, she is probably better paid then them. Anyway they try to assert their authority but then became submissive when Phoebus out ranks them. They are quite stupid, they shoo away people to show Phoebus to the Palace of Justice, but when viewed from behind you can hear them still shooing people but there is no there. These guy are all talk and no action, Djali can take them with very little effort.
Brute and Oaf up to no good Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf trying to crowd surf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf are the main cause for the getting the plot moving. Yes, it’s all them. If wasn’t for them, Quaismodo would have been King of Fools without incident and Frollo would just have been mad at him. But because Oaf throw a tomato (where did he even get that) it sets the chain of events into motion. The Crowd throws food at Quasimodo then ties him down, Frollo refuses to help, Esmeralda helps Quasimodo, Frollo gets mad at her, she defies him and hello chase scene and obsession. Thank you Oaf and Brute for being common, vulgar, weak, and licentious and getting the plot in motion.
Djali takes out Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute with Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So Brute and Oaf represent the common people, they promote distrust in authority figures for Esmeralda, cause the plot to take off but that not it. They also provide some humor. Brute provides Achilles with a sit and oaf provides some amusement being an oaf and all. Plus Oaf’s voice sounds comedic (Patrick from Spongebob). But don’t count on them in a pinch – storming a certain cathedral – they’re no help at all.
Brute and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Oaf and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Basically Brute and Oaf are glorified extras but they do something for the plot unlike some glorified extras that are memroable but do nothing for the plot, just add humor.
Next Time- a memorable old chap who “enjoys” a running gag (well not really).
The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Another Minor/major Characters is Quasimodo’s nameless mother (voiced by Mary Kay Bergman). She’s not in the film long but she’s quite important.
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Very little is know about her other than she’s a Gypsy, she wants to live in Paris, and she tries to keep Quasimodo away from Frollo. In trying to protect Quasimodo from Frollo she brought them together. Frollo then uses her as a way to manipulate Quasimodo in to remaining loyal to him. Frollo would tell Quasimodo that his “heartless” mother abandoned him as a baby. This keeps Quasimodo grateful and loyal to Frollo. It’s not till Frollo tries to kill Quasimodo that Frollo tells him the truth.
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo’s mother raises a lot of question . We know she’s a gypsy and she’s a mother, but Quasimodo looks (coloration wise) nothing like her. Was she his biological mother or she did adopt him? Or maybe (like in the sequel) boy-children look like their fathers and nothing like their mothers? And would that mean that the man with Quasimodo’s mother was not her husband/lover? My guess given her looks and her interaction with the Gypsy guy is that he was her husband and that they did adopt Quasimodo.
Frollo killing Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother's Death Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Murder of Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Disney used the death of Quasimodo’s mother to reinforce the point that they read the book. Quasimodo’s mother dies the same way Esmeralda’s mother does in the novel. Spoiler’s— Esmeralda’s mother, Sister Gudule (Paquette Guybertaut a.k.a La Chantefleurie) dies trying to save Esmeralda from the gallows and is push to the pavement, hits her end and dies. In the book Sister Gudule prayed for 15 years to have her child returned to her if only for an instant, classic case of be careful what you wish for. She and Esmeralda were reunited for only a few hours.
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
So Quasimodo’s mother is a very important element to the story as she helps establishes Frollo and Quasimodo relationship and she reinforces it by Frollo being a lying and manipulate jerk (but he’s the best Disney villain so kudos to you Frollo on every terrible thing you do).
Next Time; Those guards, you know the ones
Esmeralda dealing with soldiers Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
If it wasn’t for the the Archdeacon of Notre Dame (voiced by David Ogden Stiers) the movie would have ended with Frollo throwing baby Quasimodo into to the well of most certain Doom. After Frollo killed Quasimodo’s mother, (because he didn’t know how people hold babies), the Archdeacon used fear to manipulate Frollo into making amends for murdering somebody outside the cathedral. The Archedeacon basically says that Notre Dame saw what he did so make amends and raise the child. Frollo in fear for his soul decided to take care of Quasimodo so long as Quasimodo lives in Notre Dame.
Frollo killing Quasimodo's Mother
The Murder of Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo seeing Quasimodo for the 1st time Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Well Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Eyes Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Sees all Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon is in control in Notre Dame and has sway over Frollo but only in Notre Dame that is till Frollo goes batshit crazy pushes him down the stair towards the end.
Archdeacon and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Fall Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon is also the voice of reason and tries to help Esmeralda by sticking up for her and giving her advice(caution). He also tries to help before she is almost burned (he pops his head out of the cathedral but is stopped).
Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Stopped Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon doesn’t do lot in the film but he is a big part of the Frollo and Quaismodo’s relationship which is a major plot point, so for him it quality over quantity. If he’s in a scene, you know there is damn good reason for it.
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Disney version is the last time that the role of Frollo (the lusty guy ) and the Archdeacon role have been separtated into two different characters. Will it be the last time? On ne sais jamais (one never knows)
Next Time – Quasimodo’s Mother
Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
