The Hunchback and the Tone

by

Let’s talk about Tone!

Tone is how a movie feels. Is it serious? Funny? Scary? Or sappy as hell? Typically a film should establish its tone in the first 5 minutes or so.

Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame gets a lot of criticism for having a confused tone.  It does have fart jokes mixed into a story that features Lust, Murder, Corruption and Genocide. But is the tone actually confused? No, the film presents the tone in the first five minutes, it’s an animated drama with bursts of levity mixed with darker elements.

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

In the first five minutes we’re are introduced to Clopin, who while singing “The Bells of Notre Dame” is performing a puppet show and making jokes to children. So while Bells of Notre Dame does have some dark imagery, the humor was already established in the core narrative before the darker notes were introduced.

 

Also, it’s is important to think about the gradation of tone throughout the film. The film doesn’t go from farts joke to Frollo’s insane lust. The movie allows the tone build up to either a dark place or silly tone and then back again.

 

Frollo burns the Mill, Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo burns the Mill, Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

For example, Frollo goes into his more severe method for hunting Esmeralda following Hellfire, this includes his burning the miller’s house and the attempt to kill Phoebus. These scenes with their darker tone shift when the film moves back to Quasimodo and the gargoyles.

Victor and Laverne worried, Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Victor and Laverne worried, Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

If the tone was confused the gargoyles would have make fart-like jokes following this shift in focuses of characters but instead they worry about Esmeralda and from there the jokes get progressively lighter and sillier, up till “a guy like you” ends. This shows the film  has a handle of the different tones in its narrative.

 

Perhaps my years of watching Bollywood and anime has allowed me to see that multiple tones can coexist in a drama-driven story as long of the tone has gradations to its tonal shifts.

Preview of Made of Stone in English

by

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1gzM9SO9yU

 

 

 

Sexy, Naughty, Disney

by

Esmeralda is featured in this video.

It’s a fun video.

Fight Club + Disney and Non Disney Movies

by

Esmeralda as Marla Singer…. Perfect!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqeDAI_Wb0s

Annie Leibovitz and the Hunchback

by

World Renowned Photographer, Annie Leibovitz, has taken many photographs for Disney using celebrity as iconic Disney Characters. To date she has done;

Rachel Weisz as Snow White from Snow White, by Annie Leibovitz, picture image

Rachel Weisz as Snow White from Snow White, by Annie Leibovitz

– Taylor Swift as Rapunzel from Tangled
– Julie Andrews as the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio with Abigail Breslin as an “Apprentice Fairy”
– Whoopi Goldberg as the Genie from Aladdin
– Jennifer Lopez as Jasmine and Marc Anthony as Aladdin from Aladdin
– Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella from Cinderella
– Julianne Moore as Ariel from The Little Mermaid
– Queen Latifah as Ursula from The Little Mermaid
– Jessica Biel as Pocahontas from Pocahontas
– Tina Fey as Tinkerbell, Giselle Bündchen as Wendy, and Mikhail Baryshnikov as Peter Pan from Peter Pan
– Russell Brand as Captain Hook from Peter Pan
– Olivia Wilde as the Evil Queen and Alec Bladwin as the Magic Mirror from Snow White
– Rachel Weisz as Snow White from Snow White
– Penelope Cruz as Belle and Jeff Bridges as the Beast from Beauty and the Beast
– Roger Federer as King Arthur from the Sword in the Stone
РBeyonc̩ Knowles as Alice, Lyle Lovett as the march Hare, and Oliver Platt as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland
– David Beckham as Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty
– Jack Black as Phineas, Will Ferrel as Ezra and Jason Segal as Gus from the Haunted Mansion Ride

First off a few things that irritate me. First, The Haunted Mansion? Really? You people have 38 movies you haven’t touch yet and you do a ride? Second, two from Peter Pan and a cop-out of Pinocchio? Third, the Stone and the Stone one is way off, did they even watch the movie? Because I don’t think they did. Also I have say a lot of these don’t care for a lot of these images. They look too fake, the celebrities look awkward a lot of the time and the CG work is meh-ish. Also does any one else think it’s odd that based on this series that Snow White, Ariel and Peter Pan are older than Evil Queen, Ursula and Captain Hook?  Just a thought.

But anyway getting to my point, Hunchback. Annie Leibovitz hasn’t done a Hunchback one as of yet. But if she does which Hunchback characters would you like to see represented? And who would you like representing them?

Personally they should have two, one of Frollo in the Hellfire Scene  and the other Quasimodo and Esmeralda. Since this whole series is based more on who is popular and fits the character in more of a brand way I don’t know who for Esmeralda or Frollo but Peter Dinklage comes to mind for Quasimodo. I think there is some pull for Angelina Jolie for Esmeralda and she could work but she could easily be another character? Like Maleficent. Anyway your thoughts?

“Honest” Poster

by

Recently so-call Honest Posters of some Disney movies have come out. They were made by Christine Gritmon and Nick Nadel from TheFW. The Poster were of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

This is the Hunchback one,

 

"Honest" Hunchback of Notre Dame Poster picture image

“Honest” Hunchback of Notre Dame Poster

Gah……… where do I start? Because I have a few issues with this.

First here is the write-up on it “Different take: This poster highlights how Esmeralda chooses the handsome but insincere soldier, Phoebus, over the crippled Quasimodo. The phrase emphasizes how Esmeralda chooses the handsome but insincere soldier, Phoebus, over the crippled ‘nice guy’ Quasimodo.”

How was Phoebus insincere? What does Phoebus do that warrants that adjective? Besides Phoebus may have a saratic personality but I guess saving a family doesn’t qualify him as “Nice guy”? But why do people still bring this up over and over? Esmeralda picking Phoebus over Quasimodo. Why can’t they deal with a protagonist not getting the girl? Why is Esmeralda considered some prize that Quasimodo is entitled to base on the fact that he is the protagonist? I get that is this meant to be funny but this comes back to the Esmeralda not picking Quasimodo because he both ugly and nice. When the point is she treats me more like a brother than a romantic interest. Quasimodo as anything but a friend never enters her mind.  This line of thinking that Esmeralda is shallow because she didn’t reciprocate Quasimodo’s half baked crushed is sexist. Shame on you.

Making of the Disney Version

by

The making of the Disney version of Hunchback. It was a special feature on the DVD.

(I think Disney thought the Gargoyles were going to go over better)

Disney Cosplay Variations

by

Disney characters Cosplay  is a major presence at Fan Conventions (Anime, Gaming, Video Game, Comic etc). Groups of with these classic characters are big attention grabber but a group can deviate from it the characters traditional to make their both fun and a stand-out.

Here are some Ideas of what you can  do to jazz up any Disney Princess/Heroine group. Some have been done before and some haven’t.

– Princesses to Extreme

Yaya Han as Mulan

Yaya Han as Mulan

Basically, you take basic design of the Disney Princesses & Heroines  dresses and make them even more opulent. You can use beading, fancy fabric anything you want to push it in to super ultra fancy.

– Bollywood
Rework the  costumes into a chiffon sari. Don’t forget the bangles, tika and lots of kohl.

– Steampunk
Put a Victorian spin of the costumes and then add a leather corset and googles.

– Zombies

Zombie Disney Princesses

Zombie Disney Princesses

Shred the costumes, add blood and ghoulish make up.

– Hipster

Hipster Jasmine, Ariel, Alice and Snow White ComicCon2012

Hipster Jasmine, Ariel, Alice and Snow White ComicCon2012

Modernize the costumes, add big black framed glasses and a clever phase about how you were ahead of the mainstream or just cooler in general.

– Can Can

Can-Can dancers’ costume are all about the skirt that is covered with colorful ruffles on the inside. It’s a costume that is both fun and sexy.
– FFX-2 Dress Sphere

Disney in Final Fantasy X-2 Dress Sphere inspired costume

Disney in Final Fantasy X-2 Dress Sphere inspired costume

The Dress Sphere was the Battle System in Final Fanatsy X-2. Basically the main characters change their clothes and they have a different set of abilities. The group was based of Fan-art by  Skirtzzz but given the variety of Disney Characters and Dress spheres the options are endless. What would a songstress Esmeralda look like?

– Mermaids

Rework the Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes into mermaids like Ariel. Tails would match skirts, So, for explain, Esmeralda would have a purple skirt (if based on her normal look) and a white top. But how would you add her corset? There is a lot of creativity  with the details with this idea.

– Warriors

Instead of dainty and pretty costume toughen up the Disney Princesses & Heroines into ass-kicking ladies.

– Superheroes

Superhero Disney Princesses by Heykannaya

Superhero Disney Princesses by Heykannaya

Like the Warriors idea the Disney Princesses & Heroines would be more Kick ass looking but with capes and masks.

– Sexy

Sexy Disney Princesses

Sexy Disney Princesses

Shorten the hems and drop the neckline and you can sex up the Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes.

– Haute Couture

Designer Disney Princess Cosplay Collection by Street Angel

Designer Disney Princess Cosplay Collection by Street Angel

Instead of big poofy gowns rework the costume is sleek and elegant fashion inspired creations. http://street-angel.deviantart.com/art/Designer-Disney-Princess-Cosplay-Collection-335017438
– Gender benders

Tinkerbell in more boyish clothes

Tinkerbell in more boyish clothes

Rework the Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes into male-ish costumes.

– Magic Girls/ Sailor Scouts

Manon Yapari did a Fan-art of the Disney Princesses & Heroines as Sailor Scouts (from Sailor Moon), this would be an attention grabber at any Anime Con but you could take the classic Magic Girl Costume tropes and apply them to Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes.

–Wedding

Rework the Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes into wedding gowns. I know Disney has  dolls of the Disney Princesses in wedding gowns but pending of you own style you can make an amazing gown for the princesses and/or the heroines What would Esmeralda wedding gown look like?
– Ballerinas

Rework the Disney Princesses & Heroines costumes into Ballerinas.  You can design wo get a pancake tutu, a classic or a bell. This would a great group for those who can stand on pointe or just fans of ballet.

If you do any of these ideas with or without Esmeralda send them to me ^^.

Hellfire in Greek

by

The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Review

by
The Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

One of the best companion pieces to the Disney version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame is The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney Miniature).

Concept art of Quasimodo saving Esmeralda from the Art of the Hunchback , picture image

Concept art of Quasimodo saving Esmeralda from the Art of the Hunchback

It’s for all intended purpose thisis an art book. It has tons of concept art, production stills, sketches, illustrations from the novel, and art by Victor Hugo. (Hugo’s own art work is gorgeous). However the major flaw with it is its size. It’s tiny for something that is an art book. Here’s a picture of it compare to my Final Fantasy IX art book (I had this book for a while).

Size comparison of The Art of the Hunchback of Notre to The Art of Final Fantasy IX picture image

Size comparison of The Art of the Hunchback of Notre to The Art of Final Fantasy IX

The Hunchback art book is 5.6 inches by 4.3 inches compare to the art Final Fantasy IX which is 11.8 inches by 9.3 inches. However I think this isn’t suppose to be a true art book as much a more in depth look behind movie’s creation.

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The book has a ton of information about the background on the book, characters and a lot of how the movie art plays with light and shadows. It’s a very interesting read although Stephen Rebello does make one big generalization. In the Quasimodo chapter page 57, he writes ” Victor Hugo probably never imagined his malformed, melancholy creation breaking forth into song.” Hugo himself wrote a libretto for Louise Bertin’s opera La Esmeralda . Making Hugo the first person to adapt the novel. Considering Hugo wrote Quasimodo an aria, I think it’s safe to say that he did imagine him breaking out into song. On a side note, that aria  was only piece people liked from the opera. You can listen to it here

Concept Art of Quasimodo from the Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, picture image

Concept Art of Quasimodo from the Art of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Anyway despite that generalization it is well researched and an interesting read with lots of great artwork. I would highly recommend it for fans of the Disney movie.