Some of my Favorite Posts of 2025

Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame image picture
Clopin Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

All in all, thanks to reviewing Season One and Two of Netflix’s Wednesday I did post more consistently in 2025 than in 2024. Though thanks to my Disney marathon at the end of 2024 I didn’t really increase my total amount by too much. I posted 44 times in 2024 and 46 (including this post) this year. 

To close out the year I’m going to highlight some of my personal posts in 2025.

While I do like all my posts these are ones I just wanted to  highlight there are 12 or so  because I’m weak.

Read More →

A few weeks ago images hit the Internet of Disney Heroines that were render to look “Real Life”by  Jirka Väätäinen . One of the renderings was of Esmeralda,

Esmeralda Real Life Rendering by Jirka Väätäinen Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda Real Life Rendering by Jirka Väätäinen Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

Kajol as Anajali from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Kajol as Anajali from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

In my very humble opinion I think she is one of the prettiest of the rendering. I think she looks a bit like Kajol, a Bollywood actress, and I have a soft spot for Bollywood.

Be sure to visit  Jirka Väätäinen’s Blog  http://jirkavinse.wordpress.com/ to see more rendering of the Disney’s Heroine/Princesses

One of the “selling” point of the sequel is the return of main characters with their original voice actors. Try and guess which pictures are from the sequel, I  bet you’ll be shocked.

 

Quasimodo in new threads Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo in new threads Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo's Reveal Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quasimodo – In this movie Quasimodo wants to be in love. He meets new character Madeline and tries to convince her that he’s awesome. It works because she’s has low self-esteem.

 

Clopin Evil Smile Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney picture image

Clopin Evil Smile Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clopin– Clopin is in this movie, though he does very little. He’s once again the Master of Ceremonies for the Le Jour d’Amour and that’s it.

 

Esmeralda Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Esmeralda– She’s a wife, mother, dancer, and fortune-teller. She retains her sassiness but other than that she doesn’t do that much. Oh and she wears shoes now.

 

Phoebus getting hit with a ball Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Phoebus getting hit with a ball Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame cross eyes picture image

Phoebus cross-eyed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoebus– He’s a father and Captain of the Guards. He doesn’t trust the circus people and he’s makes kind of a jerk out of himself.

 

Gargoyles  Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney  picture image

Gargoyles Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney

Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gargoyles – They don’t do that much and don’t contribute that much to the importances of the plot and yet still they are still annoying.  However they have one decent joke.

 

Djali  Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney  picture image

Djali Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Djali's reaction to Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djali– Djali is still awesome

 

Achilles and his Filly Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney picture image

Achilles and his Filly Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney

Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achilles– Achilles somehow learned how to count, I guess he’s not the dimwit any more and he gets a girlfriend. Thank you movie for making single people feel bad with your random coupling of  horses

 

So  yeah the main characters from the first film are there but other than Quasimodo they do not do that much. They’re really just side characters, just there as a selling point so you’ll watch thinking you’ll see your favorite return but no it’s mostly Quasimodo and the New Characters.

 

Next Time – New characters starting with Quasimodo’s main squeeze Madeline

Madeline Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame sequel II picture image

Madeline Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame sequel

Remember in Hunchback when we learned not to judge people? Well the Sequel’s plot is completely different it about how beauty is on the inside. The movie illustrates this with a bell that is jewel encrusted on the inside. Clearly the sequel was made by idiots for idiots.

Clopin and Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Clopin and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sad Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sad Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

So basically the movie starts as Quasimodo and Clopin are setting up for a Valentine knock-off called Jour d’amour (Day of Love). The centerpiece of the festival is a bell called La Fidèle. La Fidèle is the jewel encrusted bell on the inside (let the stupidness of that process). As the bell rings people declare their love by shouting their lovers’ name for everyone to hear. However Quasimodo is feeling sad that he doesn’t have a hot girlfriend. Quasmodo’s friends; Esmeralda, Phoebus, and their personality deficient son Zephyr, encourage Quasimodo that one day someone while see his inner beauty and find it attractive because Esmeralds did not.

Circus Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Circus Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just then, the Circus de Anachronism erm.. Sarousch comes to town as part of the Festive. What a festival about love has to with the circus? Hell if I know. After Sarousch makes with an introduction which is ruin by his assistant being MIA, we’re introduced to his assistant Madeline. Madeline is pretty and that is Sarousch wants her to do but Madeline has a lofty ambition; Tightrope walking, however she has low self-esteem because she’s is pretty. Anyway Sarousch has a special job for her, he wants her to seduce the bell-ringer so he can steal the La Fidèle so he can be rich.

 

Madeline and Quasimodo laugh about Dumb Topic Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline and Quasimodo laugh about Dumb Topics

Smitten Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Smitten Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracles Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracles Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quasimodo in new threads Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo in new threads Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline goes to Notre Dame and meets Quasimodo. Quasimodo hides but they share some laughs about some very stupid things. Quasimodo becomes smitten with her when she notices the gargoyles. However it all goes to hell when Madeline sees Quasimodo and runs off. Quasimodo is sad but then sings a dumb song about Miracles (which is more about nature) and he becomes hopeful and goes to the circus complete with some new duds.

 

 

Sarousch in his griddle Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch in his griddle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the circus Madeline tries to tell Sarousch that she doesn’t want anything to with the plan but Sarousch guilts her in to as he didn’t turn her in after she stole from him when she was six. Sarousch and Madeline then perform an illusion where they make an elephant disappear as Sarousch’s goons steal from the crowd.

 

Quasimodo and Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo and Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline and Quasimodo laugh about Dumb Topic Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline and Quasimodo laugh about Dumb Topic again

Madeline and Quasimodo in the rain Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline and Quasimodo in the rain Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the trick Madeline stalks Quasimodo as he tells Zephyr that they’ll always be friends by means of another stupid song. Madeline finds this attractive and approaches Quasimodo. After some more laughing over more stupid things Quasimodo takes her to some of his favorite places in Paris.  The date consists of botched souffle, rosemary and a  creepy tower. They get caught in the rain and go back to Notre Dame to warm up and bond more.

 

Meanwhile Phoebus get swarmed with citizens complaining about a rash of thefts. Phoebus deduces that that the circus is behind it.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Esmeralda and Phoebus Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Esmeralda and Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Phoebus getting hit with a ball Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Phoebus getting hit with a ball Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day Quasimodo seeks out Esmeralda as he not feeling well because he’s in love but Phoebus comes in and makes a jerk out himself and accuses the circus people for the robbery (which they are). Esmeralda is upset at him and Quasimodo defends Madeline. Phoebus then says that maybe she’s using Quasimodo. Quasimodo then demands Phoebus to find proof.

Sarousch, Madeline and Goons Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch, Madeline and Goons Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Phoebus and Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Phoebus and Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch autographs a ball for Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch autographs a ball for Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madeline then refuses to help Sarousch any further with his plan but then he threatens Quasimodo so she agrees to lead Quasimodo away from Notre Dame so Sarousch can steal the bell. Phoebus then encounters Sarousch about the thefts and Sarousch blames it all on Madeline. As Sarousch goes to Notre Dame Zephyr follows him because he wants to join the circus.

Sarousch sees La Fidèle Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch sees La Fidèle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

So Sarousch steals the bell with the some technique he used in his vanishing elephant tricks (which makes no sense because they need a tunnel to pull of the trick and they’re in a bell tower of a cathedral), the gargoyles prove ineffectual and Zephyr follows Sarousch.

 

 

 

Quasimodo mad while Madeline gets arrested Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo mad while Madeline gets arrested Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Quasimodo cries Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Quasimodo cries Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile Quasimodo invites Madeline to go to the festival with him but she sort of declines as she hasn’t been honest. As she about to tell him, they hear a bell ringing and Quasimodo rushs back to the cathedral with Madeline in toe. When they get there some priest guy informs everyone that La Fidèle is gone.  Quasimodo then blames Madeline for using him and Phoebus arrests her. Quasimodo starts to cry but hears the gargoyles and goes to them. Laverne tells him that Zephyr went after Sarousch.

 

Sarousch meanwhile in the sewer erm catacombs and discovers Djali and Zephyr. Djali escapes while Zephyr in his infinite wisdom tells Sarousch who is Daddy is. Esmeralda and Quasimodo tell Phoebus about Zephyr and Madeline tells them that Sarousch took the bell underground. Phoebus agrees to go into the catacombs but takes Madeline along.

 

Sarousch kidnapping Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch kidnapping Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline saving Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline saving Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch being arrested Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch being arrested Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

So yeah, Phoebus encounters Sarousch, Sarousch uses Zephyr as levrage to get away but Madeline uses her tightrope walking to save Zephyr and Sarousch is arrested. La Fidèle is returned, they have their stupid festivel, Quasimodo gets his first kiss, and yada yada yada Quasimodo gets a himself a girlfriend.  Gag.

Madeline and Quasimodo kiss Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Madeline and Quasimodo kiss Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Zephyr sums up the movie "yuck" Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Zephyr sums up the movie "yuck" Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Time – The old Characters

Esmeralda Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Beauty and the Beast Concept Art Disney
Beauty and the Beast Concept Art Disney
La Belle et la Bete picture image
La Belle et la Bete

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So as I’ve mentioned several times Disney takes older movies and re-makes them with their saccharine Disney stamp. Aladdin  is based off of the Thief of Baghdad 1924 and1940 and The Thief And The Cobbler. Beauty and the Beast based  is off of La Belle et La Bete, though Belle is based off of Hepburn’s portayle of Jo from Little Women . And Be Our Guest uses Gustav Mahler’s “Symphonie 3 First Movement” for the melody.  

And of course Disney is based Hunchback off of the 1939 version of Hunchback of Notre Dame with slight hints made to the Lon Chaney version in 1923. However Disney will never admit to doing this instead they do the opposite. In the DVD audio commentary, Directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise  and Producer Don Hahn basically criticize the 1939 version and the 1923 version. They claim that these two movies have made Quasimodo into a monster.  While Lon Chaney’s version is consider to be horror, it is not, Chaney is not the horrific monster that commentary paints him as. And as Charles Laughton’s Quasimodo well Disney’s Quasimodo is far more monstrous.

 

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Reverse King Kong Shot Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Reverse King Kong Shot Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

It makes me more than a little angry that Disney uses these sources but in an commentary they debase them and then they discuss other movies that they took inspiration from Like King Kong and Singin’ in the Rain . They also mention Minster Toad’s Wide Ride and Fantasia  in relation to “Hellfire.” It’s just annoying the way the directors and producer go on about how the brought a sense of humanity to Quasimodo that the old Hollywood failed to do.

(Hi 2026 version of me here. I don’t why I was so done on movie reference and inspiration here. All I can blame it on was my inflexibility for adaptations being more like the book and/or just being in my “mean angry critic” phase. But I hear that making people mad on the internet gets more attention so I’ll just leave my commentary.)

Next Time – Conclusions

Phoebus, Quasimodo, Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus, Quasimodo, Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

A rant and an admission of fault

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Given how every facet of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame is different from the original novel, there aren’t that many minor differences. However there a few;

 

A Happy Ending

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus and Esmeralda Happy Ending Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Phoebus and Esmeralda Happy Ending Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Good Guys lives.

Yeah, this isn’t a big differences. Most film adaptations let the leads live. It is interesting that Esmeralda is really only spared because she is sentence to burn instead of hanging. If she had hanged  the scene would have been less dramtic. So another minor difference is all the fire imagery including Esmeralda on the stake.

Also in letting the character live it takes away the theme of “Ananke” (simply meaning Death Destiny) Ananke is the word that book is based off of. However it’s only been features in like two adaptations and beside this movie is about how we  “not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within” no wait that’s Beauty and the Beast…. no it’s the same in Hunchback of the Notre Dame. Stupid Disney morals ruining their movies.

(2026 edit many versions skip Ananke, it shouldn’t be a point against it. If anyting it shoud be a point against version who introduce the concept and do nothing with it. So no Disney having a happy ending isn’t a bad thing it’s just a difference and many version have the characters live. )

Gringoire is Clopin and Phoebus

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris picture image
Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris
Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame sun god picture image apollo
Phoebus explaining his name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 Another minor difference is the lack of Gringoire.

Gringoire in the book was a cowardly poet who runs off with Djali. He also acts like a story teller and the voice of author. In Disney, Gringoire is divided between Clopin and Phoebus.  It’s a minor difference because when it comes to cutting characters out Gringoire is seldom cut from other version. Phoebus is the one to get diminished over Gringoire.

 

More Thoughts plus I was Wrong*

Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda about to burn Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Esmeralda about to burn Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame cross eyes picture image
Phoebus cross-eyed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

There is just so many differences between Disney and the book that to write these posts has been mind boggling. I could just have an entire blog about the differences and  it would probably last a good long time.

Because let’s face Disney didn’t re-tell Hugo’s story they retold the 1939 version. Then they got 18 people to collaborate on the story who may not have even seen the Charles Laughton version or read the book. This is why Esmeralda is impressed with Quasimodo’s space and not with Phoebus’ name (in the book she loved his name,) why Quasimodo builds models instead ringing his bells, and why Frollo is more obsessed with fire than Esmeralda. 

If you read the book and then watch the Disney you would know that this movie has very little in common with book. The only things that are correct are names and the settings*. That’s it but in regards to the setting Disney may have got the place right but Notre Dame role in this movie is very much twisted.

 (*2026 – Again I was being harsh, no excuse the 2011 version of me, I’m remorse for my lack of inflexibility on book to movie adaptation decisions when I wrote I reviews this movie. The Disney version is a adaptation that is suitable for a general audience they had to make changes. However I do think the concept of three men’s different perspectives of one woman, which is the crux of the novel, is handle well by this movie. Possibly better than the 1939 version.)

Next Time -Disney’s Norte Dame Prison or Sanctuary?

Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The Biggest Difference is the Characters

In all seriousness Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame really only has the basic premise of the original novel. All the characters differ in attitudes and back storys. The way the story unfolds and comes to its conclusion is different because of the characters.

Frollo

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image
Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

 

In making Frollo a judge and not a priest we loss his turmoil which makes Frollo an interesting and complex character.

I really don’t care as much about his lust and obsession for Esmeralda just because he hate the Romani people. Also in the book, his obsession occurs slowly. He sees her and is instantly taken by her youthful beauty. After that he begins stalking her and by kidnapping her he forces the the plot to take action.

In the Disney movie, Quasimodo doesn’t have the some loyalty and Frollo abuses him by telling him he’s a monster and keeps him locked in the tower. In the book Frollo did no such thing and Quasimodo could leave Notre Dame if he wished.

 

Quasimodo

Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo in the Disney movie is very much like Ariel. He wants to live with the normal people. He is very naive, kind and gentle.

In the book, Quasimodo is kind and loyal to those who have been kind to him  i.e Frollo and Esmeralda. However, Quasimodo is also angry and doesn’t really like people. He would never want to leave Notre Dame as Notre Dame is his universe. He loves Notre Dame so much that he is very much  a part of it and his lovers are bells. The relationship between Quasimodo and Notre Dame is destroyed in the Disney version as Notre Dame is not so much a sanctuary but a prison.

Also in the movie Disney he briefly mentions the bells but you don’t get the sense that he loves the bells. I also don’t see this Quasimodo killing Frollo in fit of rage or lying down next to Esmeralda to die.

 

Esmeralda

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture image
Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Esmeralda is the polar opposition between Disney movie and the book.

In the book she is at least part French and is young, beautiful, naive, shallow and, childish.

In the Disney movie, while she is beautiful, she has none of the other traits, though the youth is debatable.  She is confident and is in control of her sexual appeal. In the Disney version she is a full Romani and we are never given any sense of her backstory. 

In the book she was unaware of her beauty and she lacks any worldliness. This naivety is what gets her into trouble in the book and ultimately is what kills her and not a passion for social justice.

 

Phoebus

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus in the book is a jerk who is kind of dumb and just wants to sleep with pretty girls.

Also he is two-timing cheat, who despite being engaged he tries sleeps with every good-looking girl he can.  

In the Disney version is he is noble, moral and likes to crack bad jokes.  Not like book Phoebus at all.

Clopin

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin in the book in the leader of the Court of Miracles, not the Romani. The Leader of the Romani in the book was the Duke of Egypt. Typically, the leader of the Court of Miracles and the Leader of the Romani get fused into one which is Clopin. That’s a minor issue. Compared to Frollo, Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Phoebus; Disney Clopin’s differences are not so bad. He tells stories like Gringoire (a character in book) and is the leader of the Court of Miracles; he’s two characters in one, or three.

 

Djali

 

Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Djali in the Disney movie is a pretty minor character who doesn’t do anything other than add some charm and humor.

In the book however Djali is pretty essential to the plot. Djali is the prime evidence for why Esmeralda is convicted of being a witch. Goats were considered to be representational of the devil and the tricks innocence tricks Djali performed like spelling and telling the time were thought to be the work of witchcraft by the judges in the book.

Of course, since the plot veers so far the book it doesn’t really matter. Djali’s main function in the movie is a cute sidekick who sells toys to children. To be honest while Djali lose plot relevance I still love Disney Djali.

 

The Gargoyles

The Gargoyles do not count, they’re not in the book.

 

Xed Gargoyles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame image picture
Xed out Gargoyles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

It really does seems like someone early in production took the cliff notes of Hugo’s book, throw them into a blender, strained, added water and poured out the Disney Plot. Then that  got re-written by those people who didn’t read. And the differences in the characters in proof that.

(2026 edit – Kind of mean but the inspiration for the movie was based on a graphic novel by Classics Illustrated. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was Volume #18 publish in March 1944.

The production was up-front about the graphic novel adaptation of the book as the inspiration for this movie. There is also enough similarities between the Disney version and the 1939 to draw a conclusion that it was also used an inspiration for the Disney movie. Especially since in the 1039 version Quasimodo does say his iconic line “Why wasn’t made of stone like three” to a gargoyles which inspiraed a gargoyles as characters in this movie. So I do think the book wasn’t reference all that much HOWEVER “Hellfire” does have a lyric that is pretty much a line from the book so at the very least Stephen Schwartz read the book.)

 

Next time – Minor Differences,

 

Where do you begin to discuss  the differences between Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame and Victor Hugo’s original novel Notre Dame de Paris?

I guess it easier to discuss the similarities. They both take place in Paris, there is a hunchback who is the bell ringer of Notre Dame and a pretty gypsy girl and the main characters are attractive to her. She has a goat and is dancers. There names are the same (Quasimodo, Claude Frollo, Esmeralda, Djali, Phoebus, and Clopin) and  that’s pretty much it.

Good Night everybody.

Cast Poster of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hunchback of Notre Dame Character Illustration by Francois Joseph Aime De Lemud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2026 edit- I mean yes. The Disney version is very divergent from the source as are many of the adaptations of the novel into other medium form are.

However credit where credit is due an aspect of the novel that the Disney version gets right is perceptive of three men on one woman. Which of those perceptive is healthy and which is toxic. This version nails that part of the novel.

I’d also add that Disney Quasimodo’s attitude towards Esmeralda shifts from being school crush which idealize her to accepting her own feelings towards for Phoebus and still choosing to save her life is very healthy. That should be more discussed than “Quasimodo not getting the girl.”

 

No Seriously next time we’ll go through the major differences.

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Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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I had said in my 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame review on setting, that movies shouldn’t take too much from Notre Dame’s structure as it’s changed a lot from its state from the time the story takes place to when Victor Hugo wrote the book to when Disney created the film.

Frollo and Notre Dame Bells Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Frollo stares at Notre Dame during the Bells of Notre Dame FDisney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Satellite Dish during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Satellite Dish during Out There Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

First Disney makes  Notre Dame much taller than it actually is. It’s a flaw but it not something to rage over. It’s just kind of laughable large. It’s done from drama and grandeur.

Another flaw that can be over looked is the all the exterior sculptures on the Cathedral are shown as plain, natural-colored stone. At the time the story is set, they were polychromatic – painted in colors. Again  it can be overlooked because Notre Dame’s current look is so iconic that it would have looked strange to audience to have colors associated with the exterior. I can also overlook the square in front of Notre Dame also that wouldn’t have been there in 1400 but you can forgive it since it’s what the audience knows.

The aspects of the depiction that I have a hard time overlooking is the how the sanctuary is depicted. In the scheme of Hunchback cartoons and movies it’s very accurate, there are some terrible representations of Notre Dame but the way it’s set up in the film is problematic. The Sanctuary is show once in the film during “God Help the Outcast”

 

Quasimodo watching to Esmeralda during God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo watching to Esmeralda during God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Looking at Notre Dame’s set up and structure Notre Dame seems both bigger and smaller. Esmeralda strolls though the layout a a very leisurely pace yet the Cathedral seems more expansive than it is. She also isn’t impeded by the structure. At about at the 2:00 minute mark of the song, Esmeralda is seen walking in the side aisles and to her left there are columns. Then in the very next shot, Esmeralda is against a Fresco, with no columns in the shot. Which means Esmeralda needed to veer to another side of the column but she did not.

So I guess the columns magically go away for a better shot. Also if her head in level with the fresco how tall is she? Because her height is really inconsistent and she’s bare foot and those Frescos are pretty high off the ground. Then this could be inconsistency. But do make the inside of the Church not in proper proportion.

Quasimodo during Out There with anachronism Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image
Quasimodo during Out There with anachronism Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

So getting back to what I said at the beginning of this about being careful not to copy Notre Dame in it current state to much is that after Victor Hugo wrote Notre Dame de Paris, the cathedral when though a massive changes. The statues that can be seen in Out There towards the end when Quasimodo talks “Ordinary Men” where add after the novel was written in 1831.

The statues are 12 apostles that adorned the spire. I don’t think I would mind this but Quasimodo motions to the statues as an examples of “ordinary men” The 12 Apostles are ordinary men Disney? Really? The fact the Disney used the statues as more than just Background but a visual aid is where I find fault.

Next Time – Major Differences between Disney and the Book

Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image
Quasimodo Illustrtion Francois flameng