Clopin | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

10Aug 2011

The Voice Acting of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Ah, the voice acting in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. Some of it’s great, some it is just ok and some of the casting is off, which seems to weaken the believability of the characters. This is more or less in the order of rank, as I see it or hear it.. yeah.. I know lame joke.

Tony Jay

The highlight of the voices in the movie is Tony Jay’s rendition of Judge Claude Frollo. Jay’s cold sounding baritone mixed with his british accent makes for the perfect bad guy voice. He gives Frollo’s voice an air calm control that at any second could explode into fevered anger. Also his voice is seductive, you can believe this guy is a charmer and yet he speaks with command and authority. Jay’s voice helps make Frollo a more interesting character.

Jay had been a veteran Disney voice actor and voice actor in general. He’s been in a number of Disney related films and television shows as well many other non disney films, television and recordings of broadway shows. On his IMDB page he has 150 credits but I think he most known for Frollo mainly because Frollo is a horrible person and his voice accentuates brilliantly.

Tony Jay was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting.

Paul Kandel

Paul Kandel voiced Clopin and is a Broadway performer. He’s probably the best singer in the film (the crescendo at the end of Bells of Notre Dame gets me every single time) and that’s probably why he ended up with the most songs in the movie. In fact Clopin sings more than he actually speaks. Kandel gives Clopin a sense of fun and whimsy but he also gives him a flair for the dramatics which is a boon for the introductory scene since it’s not funny.

David Ogden Stiers

David Ogden Stiers voiced the Archdeacon. Stiers like Jay is a veteran voice actor and has been in many major Disney movies. He’s also primarily a television actor. Stiers runs the gambit of tones with the Archdeacon’s voice; tenderness, command, authority, concern and a little amusement (the Archdeacon sounded a little amused when he thinking about Esmeralda’s merry chase). Just because the Archdeacon is by all account a glorified extra Stiers’ voice helps makes the character more interesting.

Kevin Kline

Kevin Kline voiced Phoebus. Kline does well as Phoebus but I think he falls short of Jay and Kandel because I mean really, Phoebus isn’t a hard role to play. Phoebus has a dry wit but so Kline, I mean Kline is practically playing himself. I give Kline credit, he made Phoebus funnier than probably was originally intended which makes him more interesting as character. Because without the humor would Phoebus have been memorable? My guess is no. Kline is also partly responsible for Achilles’ name. He insistent that horse have a name, so they gave the Phoebus’ horse a name at Kline’s insistent.

Fun Fact about Kline’s process – to get into the character of playing a knight, Kline held a sword in hand during recording sessions. He even ruined some recordings because he would hit the microphone (accidently, I’m sure.)

Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander voiced Hugo. As much as I dislike the gargoyles, I think the voice acting is fine. Jason Alexander is best known as George Costanza on Seinfeld. George is uptight and neurotic, the total opposite of Hugo. Hugo is fun-loving and laid back. I think Alexander does very well in the role. But again, is a fun-loving partier a demanding role? No, not really.

Charles Kimbrough

Charles Kimbrough voiced Victor. Kimbrough has been in many types of media; film, TV and voice acting. Kimbrough does well enough as the prim, more serious-minded Victor, but it’s hard to lay out Victor’s personality compare to Hugo and Laverne. So it’s hard to identify how well Kimbrough did as Victor.

Mary Wickes

Mary Wickes voiced Laverne. Later in Wickes’ career she played cranky old ladies. Two of the movies I remember her in were Little Women (Aunt March) and Sister Act (Sister Mary Lazarus), both characters are tell-it-like-it-is, cranky old ladies much like Laverne. So while she does well in the role she definitely playing her type of role.

Jane Withers

I want to mention Jane Withers briefly. Mary Wickes died as the film was being recorded and so Jane Withers stepped in to finish the recording and took over the role of Laverne. There are some lines where Wickes started and Withers finished, which is testament to Withers; acting to able to sound almost identical to Wickes.

Tom Hulce

Tom Hulce voiced of Quasimodo. Tom Hulce is most known for his role in Amadeus Mozart. I do not find any fault with Hulce’s acting, I think he does a good job giving Quasimodo tenderness, gentleness and a bit of pitiable emo-ness. I also think Hulce does well exhibiting both Quasimodo’s natural disposition and in contrast to his attitude when he’s with Frollo. So Why is Hulce’s performance second to the last on this Blog post? Well that is because I wonder what the directors were smoking in making Quasimodo a school boy that’s gentle and sweet. Quasimodo is suppose to be gentle but only to Esmeralda. He’s not suppose have a school boy. I can understand why Disney did this and I understand why Hulce’s voice is good for this type of role but just because I can understand it doesn’t mean I have to condone it. Honestly they made Quasimodo into a Disney Princess. Hulce has a clear voice which is a commonality to the Disney Princess trope. Think about, Quasimodo is a Disney princess, he just a male and not very pretty.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore voiced of Esmeralda. Like Quasimodo, I think casting was way off. I get that they wanted something different. The directors liked Moore’s husky and rough tone of voice and they liked that she also had a tenderness to it, but Moore ages the character. It’s weird looking at the concept art, how youthful Esmeralda started and how mature she looks/acts in the movie. I understand that the decision to cast Moore was intentional and as part the process of animation is that Esmeralda took on Moore’s looks and mannerism but I don’t think the pay off was good in the long run. I think Esmeralda is too much like Moore and effectively Moore was playing herself (or at the most her type-cast role) so she didn’t exactly have to exert her acting prowess. Also I think Moore got the role due to sex appeal and popularity. And point Deductions for being the only one of the cast not able to sing her character’s song, though if can’t sing than she can’t sing, but they could have just had Heidi Mollenhauer do the role in it enitety, she is an singer/actress after all. They fact they they didn’t just mean that Moore was cast for her popularity and appeal.

Shout Outs/Kudos to:

Gary Trousdale

-Shout out/Kudos to Gary Trousdale voice of Djali (that not a bleat) and the Old Heretic.

Corey Burton

Bill Fagerbakke

-Shout out/Kudos to Corey Burton and Bill Fagerbakke, Brutish and Oafish Guards these two made those characters hilarious.

Agree or Disagree, I’d love to know your opinions

Next Time- Going to Start Looking Music/Songs, starting off with beginning “The Bells of Notre Dame”

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05Aug 2011

Letâ€™s get Superficial â€“ The looks of Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

Clopin with Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

I’ve already mention Clopin’s over all look in his character analysis.

so to re-cap

“Clopin has looks very similar to Kuzco from the Emperor’s New Groove. Has a long pointy long face, straight long black hair, pointy nose, and thin. Clopin is older and has a few age lines, balding (a little bit) a beard, bushy eye brows and some missing teeth. Clopin gets two costumes, a performance look and a casual look. Unlike Esmeralda he is seen more in this performance outfit. It Harlequin that is purple and yellow with bells on his neck piece, a purple mask, and long back gloves. He has wears a purple hat with a big yellow feather. The hat is akin to the one that Thomas Mitchell wore in the 1939 version. Clopin casual costume looks similar to this performance garb but it all purple and less festive. He also wears the same hat. Like Esmeralda and Djali, Clopin also wears a single golden hoop earring. He cosplays (costume play) as Frollo. He also makes awesome expressions.”

Clopin noticing Quasimodo during the Feast of Fools Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Kuzco The Emperor's new Groove Disney picture image

Kuzco from The Emperor's new Groove Disney

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin’s look is kinda a model look of certain Disney characters. Much like how Disney villains can fall into two basic groups, thin and big, the good guys have their models too. For instance the fathers in Disney movies are usually dumpy old men.

Human Lumiere and Babette Disney Beauty and the Beast

Clopin at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The point I’m getting at is Clopin is reminiscent to the look of other characters like him; the larger-than life sidekick. Typically this character is not human, Sebastian, Lumiere ( through is human spends the bulk of the movie as a candlestick), Genie, Timon, Mushu etc, etc . However take a look at Lumiere as human, and you can see the resembles to Clopin. Lumiere has a long face, pionty nose, and thin. Of course Clopin is a little more rough around the edges but Lumiere works in a castle and Clopin is a busker. But they are both entertainer, (what was Lumiere’s job exactly?)

Clopin with Frollo Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Human Lumiere Disney Beauty and the Beast

One could say that Kuzco as man character doesn’t fall into this catgeory and Clopin similarity to Lumiere is a considence. I would that Kuzco is pretty over the top and spend most of his time as Llama so I think he can fit into the category and he a slight exception.

Clopin Disney Hunchback Notre Dame

So Clopin’s look follows a grand tradition of Disney character design which places character into convientional models which aids them in their quest for more money, by making the same old stuff. Actually Disney can you go back to the same old stuff, I miss it.

Concept Art of Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

And for no reason Clopin’s Concept Art.

Next Time – I suppose logically it would be the Gargoyles (Shudders)

Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

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02Aug 2011

Let’s get Superficial“ The looks of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

page contains affiliate links

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Phoebus asking for Esmeralda’s name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is the dashing and handsome captain of the guard. Due to this namesake, Phoebus (Apollo) he has a very yellow look, gold armor, blond hair and a beard. He has a bit of a Roman look. His beard, with cape his hair style, aquiline nose are all more Roman than late medieval. Oddly enough, Phoebus’ only describe featured in the book is his mustache which is in the “Burgundian Style.” Phoebus is first Disney guy to get facial hair, so kudos to Disney for at least taking something from the book as a basis. Well one could argue that in the 23 version and the 39 version Phoebus had a mustache, so who knows what Disney was going off of, besides the production crew. At least they went there and gave him some form of facial hair The important this is that Phoebus should be handsome, he can be a jerk, a hero or a gloried extra but he must be a pretty boy, and Disney at least did that.

Phoebus concept art isn’t much different than how he appears in the movie. However he looks like John Smith from Pocahontas. For More Concept Art of Hunchback

Concept Art of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Concept Art of Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

John Smith Disney Pocahontas picture image — John Smith Disney Pocahontas

I mean, It’s John Smith with a beard.

Disney Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame armor picture image — Phoebus’ armor Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus wears the most useless armor ever, honestly I don’t know why he bothers with it, maybe the gold makes him feels special or pretty but clearly it’s just for show. Djali hits him in the gut and inflicts some pain but when a candelabra hits him the face he shakes it off. He gets shot with an arrow through back (and yet it almost got his heart) and he nearly drowns in it. Frankly he’s better off without it.

Djali in gut Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Djali in gut Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image after getting hit by Djali — Phoebus after getting hit by Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image hit in the face by Esmeralda — Phoebus being hit by Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image hit by arrow — Phoebus being hit by an arrow Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus’ look is pretty generic looking considering the rest of the characters. He’s conventially handsome with a slight roman look mix with a little John Smith through for good measure. The result is a tad on the boring which is why his look didn’t change much from the concept art.

Phoebus noticing Esmeralda "Disgusting Display" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Phoebus noticing Esmeralda’s “Disgusting Display”

Phoebus and the Map Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next Time – Clopin

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26Jul 2011

Let’s get Superficial, The Looks of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

page contains affiliate links

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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.

19th Century Illustration of Esmeralda with Djali

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture Image — Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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 Illustration Image picture — 19th century Illustration of Esmeralda

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.

Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image — Concept Art for Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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

Esmeralda and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image — Esmeralda giving Frollo a peck on the nose Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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.)

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image red dress — Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956 image picture — Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956

*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

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15Jul 2011

Fun with the Hunchback cast featuring the Old Heretic

by jess

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

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12Jul 2011

Deeper look at the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame Characters part 8; Minor Characters – Brute and Oaf

by jess

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 nobody Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

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

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21Jun 2011

Deeper look at the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame Characters part 6: The Gargoyles (Hugo, Victor, and Laverne)

by jess

The Gargoyles – Victor, Hugo and Laverne.

The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

The Gargoyles are the most annoying characters in this movie. They’re the comic relief but they fail at it (ok there are some funny bits but they’re few and very far between).

Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hugo (voiced by Jason Alexander), the short piggish one, is a load mouth and the most annoying. He also has a thing for Djali.

Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor (voiced Charles Kimbrough) is the tall prissy serious one. He is the least interesting.

Laverne Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Laverne (voiced by Mary Wickes/ Jame Withers) is the old one who tells it like is. She is probably the most of tolerable of the gargoyles.

Victor and Hugo were named for Victor Hugo the author, the writers thought they were being clever and they really wanted to prove they had read the book. Laverne was named after Laverne Andrews, one of The Andrew Sisters. They each have their own personalities and at least they balance each other out.

Hugo and Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Laverne and the birds Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor, Hugo and Laverne at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Theory goes that the Gargoyles are aspects of Quasimodo’s imagination because he is a forced shut-in who is desperate to be love. However the Director people who thought they were being all smart and junk by trying to deep and profound, forgot (actually they didn’t forget they’re just inconsistent) that Djali interacted with Hugo and they fought to defend Notre Dame. Quasimodo’s main squeeze also saw the Gargoyles in the Sequel {shudders at the thought of the sequel shudders}. So let’s say that the directors are right and their theory that the Gargoyles are imaginary holds water; does this mean Quasimodo imagines Djali seeing Hugo? Does his means when Quasimodo is crowned King of Fools he imagines the Gargoyles cheering him on? Does he imagines the Gargoyles the throwing stuff off off Notre Dame and the soldiers getting hurt especially when Quasimodo is occupied? Does this mean that Quasimodo is the source the pop culture anachronisms? And if the Gargoyles are Quasimodo’s imagination does this mean that after Quasimodo made some real life friends and was accepted by the people the Gargoyles would cease to be? Because they’re still around in the {shudders} sequel {shudders}. If Quasimodo lives in his head this much does this mean Quasimodo in the book is more functional? Plus he must be contently winded from lugging three stone statues around the place, then again made that’s why he can lift up Phoebus in full armor one handed. Personally I think that the Gargoyles are Pan’s Labyrinthesque beings; only those who are innocent and pure can see them, hence why Quasimodo and Djali can see them but they can some effect on the actual world. Though in the German Musical, Der Glockner van Notre Dame, they are imaginary (and they have different names).

Victor, Hugo and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

Victor, Hugo and Laverne draw pictures Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hugo in drag as Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So why are the sidekicks Gargoyles in the first place? Well the oh so smartie directors said in the commentary that Quasimodo speaks to the Gargoyles in the book. They also claim that Quasimodo has long conversations (plural) with the Gargoyles. Looking over the book, I found that he was fond of a â€˜grotesque personages sculptured on the wall’, and to this he says “why wasn’t I made of stone like you” (book 9 chapter 4 Earthenware and Crystal). I’m not sure what version of the novel they read where Quasimodo had long conversations with Gargoyles (1939 version? In the 1939 version Quasimodo utters this line to a gargoyle). If they were going to base a sidekick character off of objects that Quasimodo had a relationship with, it should have been the bells. They could’ve a sassy bell named Patti (Patti the Bell (Patti LaBelle) bad joke) that would have much better than the Gargoyles.

Hugo plays poker Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor and Laverne singing A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

Gargoyles Victor, Hugo and Laverne, make an Amadeus reference Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gargoyles make an Amadeus reference Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So what do the Gargoyles do in the film? They’re Quasimodo’s friends and guardians. They make [try] funny quips. They also make pop culture references. Disney has a habit of doing this. They started with the Genie in Aladdin. With the Genie it makes a level of sense because Genies are a supernatural beings, but in Hunchback this doesn’t work as well. The Gargoyles are part of Notre Dame, so how can they have inferences to the future? I don’t care that they magically – they’re part of an ancient building, they should be funny without making stupid references, Djali doesn’t resort it. Plus if they’re in fact imaginary, this means Quasimodo is the one doing it, so it makes even less sense. The only thing that the Gargoyles do well is they get Quasimodo off his ass and encourage him. But they also build Quasimodo’s expectations up too high. They convince him that Esmeralda is in love with him, which leads to some of Quasimodo’s emoness when she doesn’t reciprocate.

Victor and Laverne's drawing of Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Hugo draws Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor, Hugo and Laverne trying to liberate Quasimodo in emo-mode Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So the point of the Gargoyles is to provide levity but they just distract from the movie. Disney boasts the Hunchback as being their darkest movie but the Gargoyles hinder it. Plus the movie has some good levity already, Phoebus, Esmeralda, Clopin, Djali, Achilles, those stupid bumbling guards, the old heretic, the torturer guy etc, they all provide good comedy while keeping the flow of the movie and without making references. Disney really could have done better in the sidekick department for Quasimodo.

Speaking of Sidekicks next time – Achilles and Djali

Disney Djali eating wooden a figurine

Achilles and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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09Jun 2011

A little tiny Break from Disney with a Video

by jess

So what you may not know about me is that in addition to expressing a geeky fandom on a blog, I also make/edit music videos. Typically I use anime sources (another geeky fandom ^_^). So while I was reviewing the 1939 version I made a little promotional music video using the 39 version. Some of you may have seen it already but for those of you who didn’t,

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07Jun 2011

Deeper look at the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame Characters part 4 Phoebus

by jess

Next Character – Phoebus – Auxiliary Hero?

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Part of Disney’s formula to success for their films of the 90’s are archetypes. You have the hero/heroine, villain, sidekicks both good and evil, some kind of parental figure and some kind of larger than life characters that’s usually one of the side kicks (they’ll usually get the show stopper of the film). Of course these are not set in stone, different characters are given different presidencies. So how does Phoebus fit into the Disney’s archetypes? That’s a good question, he’s not the hero that’s Quasimodo. He’s not the villain, Frollo fits very snugly into that role. He’s not the heroine – wrong sex. He’s not an annoying sidekick- the film already exhausted that one. He could be a villain sidekick as he worked for the villain but those are usually goofy or bumbling if a villain gets one at all and plus he not villainous. He’s kind of parental in the way he encourages Quasimodo but he’s not that archetype either. Mmmmmm, I’m out of archetypes. Well I guess Phoebus is the Auxiliary Hero. He does heroic stuff but all the credit goes to Quaismodo but Phoebus gets the girl. I guess Phoebus gets a better deal “half the work and a girlfriend.” Better luck in the sequel Quasi.

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is a weird character in the realm of the Hunchback adaptions: sometimes he’s the hero, sometimes he’s an asshole, sometimes he just a plot point, sometimes you hardly notice him and sometimes he’s not even there. In this way Phoebus is like Pierre Gringoire. The differences between the two is Gringoire is a coward not a jerk and sometimes he’ll be the story teller. Now for the people who have only seen the Disney film, Gringoire is not in the film but his characterization was split between Clopin and Phoebus.

Phoebus and Achilles

Phoebus and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus noticing Esmeralda "Disgusting Display" Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus noticing Esmeralda's "Disgusting Display"

We’ll get back to thought in a bit but let’s look a Phoebus a little. Phoebus (voiced by Kevin Klein) is a nobel who is a captain in the army. At the start of the film he gets a promotion to Captain of the Judges’ Guards which means he has to “take care” of Gypsies. This evidently wasn’t in the job description because he had no idea what he signed up for and he’s annoyed to come back from the wars to deal with beggars, street performers and fortune tellers. Phoebus has a dry wit, a lot of integrity and morality (He’s the male Esmeralda). He has a very different look than most disney men – he’s older and has facial hair (a first for Disney). He falls for Esmeralda very early in the film when he first sees her dancing and is further interested when he sees her “conflict aversion” skills (the chase scene).

Phoebus executed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus about to be executed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus and Quasimodo warn Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

He saves Esmerlda from Frollo by saying that she claimed sanctuary which she never did. Phoebus proves to be of the hero variety when he stands in opposition of Frollo’s mad man antics. Phoebus is ordered to burn down a house of a family who accused of harboring Gypsies with the family inside. Phoebus doesn’t compile and saves the family. Because Frollo doesn’t take kindly to people not obeying his every little insane whim, Phoebus is to be executed. Esmeralda creates a distraction and Phoebus tries escape on Frollo’s horse but is shot and falls into a river and Esmeralda has to save him agian. Esmeralda takes him to Notre Dame for safety. It’s there where they share the longest Disney kiss (over 30 seconds). After Frollo announces he going to attack the Court of Miracles, Phoebus unwittingly encourages Quasimodo to warn Esmeralda and the rest of the Gypsies. So they find the Court of Miracle and after a brif encourter with the noose, he and Quasimdo warn the Gypsies to leave but Frollo shows up and arrests everyone. So Phoebus is to be executed after Esmeralda but luckily Quasimodo saves Esmeralda and Phoebus escape his cage and rallies the people to fights against Frollo. Phoebus then saves Quasimodo from falling off Notre Dame and happy ending are shared by all (except Frollo).

Captured Phoebus and Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus Rallies the People Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus and Esmeralda Happy Ending Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So Phoebus is a hero but Quaismodo is the focused hero and the film never wants you to forget that. Back to the thought of Phoebus filling in as Gringoire. Gringoire in the book has the best relationship with Esmeralda and that’s why so many of the films place these two together more than the Phoebus/Esmeralda relationship. The rallying of the people and helping Esmeralda are things that Gringoire exhibits. One of the deleted songs from the Disney version called “As Long as there a Moon” and it occurs right after Esmeralda saves Phoebus and Quasimodo from Clopin’s fun. It was supposed to be a love song for Phoebus and Esmeralda and it included a wedding ceremony where they smashed a pitcher. So Phoebus takes on Gringoire in this delated scene. The reason why it was delated is because the directors felt it took the focus off of Quasimodo but it really did throw off the pacing of the film

Phoebus – Hey Frollo’s coming leave now,

Clopin – Ok, but let’s have a wedding first,

Phoebus – Well that’s sensible

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus and Quasimodo Hug Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is a very mallable character that can be used to carter to the whims of the movie. In the Disney film he’s a male Esmeralda (think about it, they’re the same) he does everything Esmeralda does, stand for the same things, gets into the same scrapes as she does and is an agent of Quasimodo’s liberation. In book Phoebus is not that static of character, Phoebus changes in his regard for his fiancee Fleur de Lys. In the Disney movie he has a change, which was defying Frollo’s authority but from the word go he was never keen on Frollo’s politics so it was only matter of time (a day) for that insubordination to occur. Phoebus a fun character and he did prove necessary for the story that Disney was telling.

Next Character – Clopin

Clopin Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Tell me who your favorite character from Disney Hunchback? Just Leave a comment or just leave a comment about any old thing that you want to say about Phoebus or the Hunchback in general. Until Next Time!Follow thehunchblog

31May 2011

Deeper look at the Disneyâ€™s Hunchback of Notre Dame Characters part 3 Esmeralda

by jess

Next Character: Esmeralda; The Heroine

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame dancing

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda is a gypsy dancer who is the subject of the three male main characters’ affections. She’s very beautiful and sensual. In this version Esmeralda is 100% Romani. She has a dark complexion (darker than Jasmine), thick black hair and emerald green eyes (attributive to her name). She wears a white chemise blouse that off shoulder, a blue corset with thin gold stripes, a purple skirt with a darker purple kercheif

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame Dancing

worn at the hip with coin trim. She wears some gold jewelry; bracelets, an anklet and one gold hoop. She were a pink scarf in her hair to keep her hair back. She has a second outfit, that is used as an formal dance costume. It’s red with purple flutter sleeves and a purple sash at the waist. In addition to her normal jewelry she where a bindi and a crown.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda helping Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda is a very different type of Disney Heroine, she’s mature and not a dreaming of new life. She deals with her lot in life and gets by the best she can. To make a income she dances.She also dabbles in fortune telling. She is also in the company or her goat Djali. Djali acts are her security system, warning her of danger and trying to protect her from would be harm. In the Disney version, Djali doesn’t get her into in trouble like in book. Infact Djali helps her get out of trouble by helping her deguise as an old begger man.

Esmeralda demanding Justice Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda’s main motivation is social justice for mainly her own people but also for those on the outskirts of the social order (i.e. Quasimodo). It’s in this way she is the opposition of Frollo and she hates him and defies him every chance she gets. Prior to her defiance she teased/mocked him with her flirtatious dancing during the festival of fools. She also wary of those in power positions. That’s why she didn’t take a shining to Phoebus at first, but his persistent charm and wit won her over (plus saving an innocent family that almost cost him his life didn’t hurt much either).

Esmeralda dealing with soldiers Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame red dress picture image costume

Esmeralda mocks Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda defying Frollo by helping Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Speaking of Phoebus and Esmeralda here is a little point I would like to make. A few people feel that it was shallow of Esmeralda to choose Phoebus over Quasimodo. In movies, couples are usually established early, you can usually tell whose going to end up together. As a I mention in another post Esmeralda and Phoebus only have one scene without either Frollo or Quasimodo and that is where they are both introduced, meaning that their relationship was established before either of them met Frollo or Quasimodo. Also I can’t see Esmeralda and Quaismodo being anything but friends. She treats Quasimodo with kindness and politeness and comes off like an older family member; she really does treat him with kid gloves. There is no passion unlike Esmeralda and Phoebus. The creators wanted a romance between Esmeralda and Phoebus and that what the movie worked towards.

Esmeralda, Phoebus, and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Djali having a little fun Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

As far of Esmeralda’s personality, she’s kind, she has a dry wit and she’s loyal to her friends. She is very resourceful, for example Phoebus owns his life to her make-shift sling shot that saved him from decapitation. She also has a bit of mischievous streak. During the chase after she frees Quasimodo she looks like she is legitimately having fun avoiding arrest while raising some hell. She also uses her feminine charms to get what she wants. She uses it to earn money from dancing but she also gives Quasimodo a peak on the check to get him to allow her to visit him. She is very physically fit; she dances, very agile in a fight (or chase), she can swim underwater, hold her breath long enough to get Phoebus out of his armor and pull up in record time. She also has seems to have some sway in the Court of Miracles as she can stop executions

Esmeralda exerting some power Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

and order the people to leave. She also can seem to refer people to the Court, not sure if that map/cryptic instructions she gave Quasimodo are standrad issue in the Court of Miracles or if she is some high rank there. Not only that but the other Gypsies wouldn’t devalue her location, meaning either they’re loyal to their fellow gypsies or she is respected. She also seems to have a close relationship to Clopin who like in the book is leader in the Court of Miracles. She performs with him and he not put off with her meddling in the hanging of Quaismodo and Phoebus, which Clopin seem to be enjoying. It seems to me that she must hold some power amongst her people or the Court of Miracle is egalitarian.

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame singing "God Help the Outcast" picture image

Esmeralda singing “God Help the Outcast” Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda is not a dynamic character. She remains consistent throughout the movie; she’s mature, self-confident and kind at the beginning and she remains that way thoughout the end. The only aspect about that changes is her feelings towards Phoebus. In defense of static characters, Esmeralda is not a dynamic character in the book either and Disney doesn’t do dynamic characters very often.

Esmeralda and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame grope picture image

Frollo gropes Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda avoiding Frollo’s hunt Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo arresting Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda is not a typical heroine, the scarps she gets into are serious. She’s almost arrested, assaulted in a church, threaten, hunted down by a control-freak mad man, almost burned, nearly dies of asphyxiation and then chased with a six foot sword a top a massive edifice. Makes other Disney heroine’s tribulations look like a child’s play. All she really did to get into all that trouble was being a Gypsy and a defing a powerful public offical; she stayed in trouble because of her beauty and sex appeal.

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image stake

Esmeralda on the stake Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo thinking Esmeralda has died Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda and Quasimodo being threaten Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

I admit it was refreshing to see a different type of heroine when I first saw the movie in 1996 and it’s great that Disney ventured outside the profitable typical Disney heroine. If Hunchback had come out before this shift in heroine Esmeralda could have easily fit into the Disney princess line. Now if your thinking “Esmeralda’s not a princess” well I would say neither is Mulan but let me explain some minor points. The Disney Princess brand isn’t actually about the characters being princesses it’s about how their movies did with girls in a certain age demographics, hence why Esmeralda isn’t in the line up already. But if Esmeralda behaved more like Ariel, Belle, or Jasmine (dreamer wanting more) she may have done better with young girls, though it’s hard to say. I suppose the creators thought Quasimodo fit dreamer model better than Esmeralda and she would do better as an agent of Quasimodo’s liberation from being a focused shut-in. But another point worth mentioning is Esmeralda in the book fits the Disney princess mold very well and she was very well regarded in the Court of Miracles. So making like a princess wouldn’t have been a stretch and she does dream of a different life with regards to Phoebus. I wonder if Disney regrets this since the Disney Princess line was establish in 2001.

Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Phoebus leaving Notre Dame

Next Character –Phoebus

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Tag Archives: Clopin

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