Made by LittleKuriboh
Wishbone’s main premise is that there are two stories being told at the same time. One story is the classic tale and the other story is what Wishbone’s owner and his friends are experiencing. The classic story told by Wishbone parallels the owner’s and friends’ story.
Nathaniel doesn’t get picked for a team, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
In this episode “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame” the story that Hunchback parallels is that Wishbone’s owner, Joe (Jordan Wall) and his friends, David (Adam Springfield) and Sam (Christie Abbott) are playing hockey with a bunch of other kids. After a good play made by these three pals the kids decide to play a real game and break-up into teams. Joe is a team leader as well as the token bully, Damont (Joe Dufffield). Tensions arise when they’re down to the last pick, Nathaniel (Justin Reese). Damont, who is short a player refuses to take him because he can’t skate very well. Damont tries to push Joe to take him but Joe doesn’t want to. Sam offers to sit out so Nathaniel can play but Joe doesn’t want her to as she part of the core team. In the end, Nathaniel says he will sit out but loses his balance and falls. Naturally, Damont’s team laughs at him.
Nathaniel (Justin Reese) falls, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The public humiliation of this underdog reminds Wishbone of Quasimodo. And this where the parallel comes in but wait there is more.
Sam (Christie Abbott) and Nathaniel (Justin Reese), Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Sam, being the nice pretty girl she is, decides to teach Nathaniel how to skate so he can be better friends with the other guys. Sam spending all her time with Nathaniel makes Joe and David upset. This promotes Wishbone to check in on Sam. Sam and Nathaniel are at her house after another skating lesson. Nathaniel feels he is not getting any better but Sam tells him not to get discourage. The two then bond over how both of their parents are divorced. Sam shows Nathaniel a keepsake that her parents gave her that reminds herself that her family did have good times together.
Nathaniel saves Sam’s Keepsake, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Just then, Wishbone comes into the room on Sam’s skateboard (there was a sub-plot about Wishbone trying to figure out human’s fascination with wheels). Nathaniel gets up from his seat in a rush hitting Sam’s hand causing her treasured keepsake to go flying to its doom upon the floor. But before the keepsake hits the floor Nathaniel launches himself forward and saves it. This also reminds Wishbone of how Quasimodo saved Esmeralda from the gallows.
Sam (Christie Abbott) thanks Wishbone, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Sam thanks Wishbone for helping her figure out how Nathaniel is going to get on the guys’ good side. Wishbone is confused but takes the thanks.
Sam (Christie Abbott) with Joe (Jordon Wall) and David (Adam Springfield) , Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Sam and Nathaniel return to the gym for another hockey game and she tells everyone that Nathaniel is now a great hockey player. The other kids are dubious especially Joe and David. Joe and David are still upset with her for abandoning them for Nathaniel. However they work it out but Joe still protests Nathaniel playing as he think he is clumsy but Sam retorts that appearances can be deceiving.
Nathaniel (Justin Reese) catches the ball, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
So Nathaniel plays goalie for Joe’s team against Damont’s team. Nathaniel turns out to be a great goalie and wins the respect of everyone including Damont.
Nathaniel (Justin Reese) with Damont (Joe Dufffield), Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
This story works well when paired next “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” The show definitely go for one angle of the story which is the underdog but for a children’s show that works and it does teach kids a lesson about understanding and acceptances. The dark destiny, social inequality and religion angles would have been much harder to work into a Wishbone narrative.
Next Wishbone Article – A look at how they told the Hunchback
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
It’s quite silly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i32U71mQwEI
This was composed by me using the Azalea Doll Goddess Marker. It’s an attempt at creating Esmeralda’s Red Dress.
Esmeralda’s Red Dress created with Goddess Maker, Azaleas Dolls
Visit http://www.azaleasdolls.com/ to create your own looks.
Hafsia Herzi
A really good option for an actress to play Esmeralda would be Hafsia Herzi. Herzi is a French actress of Algerian and Tunsia decent.
Hafsia Herzi
She defiantly has a good look for Esmeralda but more than that she is a very good young actress. She bring a lot of depth, maturity and subtly to her roles. She also has one trait that an actress playing Esmeralda should have; she has a natural sensuality. I think she could either bring a new facet to the character or pull off Esmeralda persoanlity in the book while still being likable.
Hafsia Herzi as Rym in The Secret of the Grain
She has also played some one named Esmeralda one before in The Source. And she performed a memorable Belly Dance in The Secret of the Grain
Hafsia Herzi
Personally, I think she is a really good choice to depict La Esmeralda but what do you think would Hafsia Herzi make a good Esmeralda or do have another choice for the role?
Esmeralda using the Barnes and Noble Book for see into the Future
Today we’ll look into the novel of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to gain an insight into your future.
“But usually all insults were unheeded by both priest and ringer. Quasimodo was too deaf and Claude too great a dreamer to hear them”
The way is clear, don’t listen to ideal prattle today it could get in the way of your dreams.
Wishbone
Wishbone was show on PBS that ran from 1995 to 1998. It starred a Jack Russell terrier named Wishbone who drew parallels between the events of his owner, Joe and his friend to classic literature. The show would have to stories happening on would the events of Joe and his friends and the other would the classic story where Wishbone would play the lead role. Since the show was 30 minutes and there was two stories occurring the classic story would be very abridged. However it didn’t shy away from the sadder material. The show won a lot of awards including four Emmys.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Wishbone
Only a handful of the episode were released for home use and one episode was Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Next Wishbone Article – The Plot of The Hunchdog
Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Garou as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris
A question that comes up a lot is about Quasimodo’s hair. Why does he have red hair? I recently saw this asked on http://notredamedeparisfans.tumblr.com/. Quasimodo in both Notre Dame de Paris and Disney version is depicted as having red hair. Other version also have him with red hair. And the answer is very simple, it’s in the original novel. Quasimodo has red hair in the book. In Book 1 chapter 5 entitled “Quasimodo” It says “…..A huge head, bristling with red hair….” as part of Quasimodo description. It’s on page 50 for those who have the Barnes Nobel version.
Quasimodo’s Reveal Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
So why did Hugo pick red for Quasimodo’s hair color? Well the reason could be that there was a medieval belief that red hair marked a beastly sexual desire and moral degeneration. Or it makes him more of a social outcast than if he had a blond, black or brown hair.
Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo from the 1982 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Though why Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris sometimes has red hair is a different question. I mean I the first person cast had black hair (Noa), Helene Segera has brown but against the red light looks reddish. Then when Julie Zenatti was cast she got the red hair as well as France D’Amour. Since then of the more than a few other opted for red hair.
Frances d’Amour as Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris
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
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
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
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 
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.
Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) dances, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
The 1956 version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Ending of the 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
But the movie is plagued by bad execution on almost everything. The actors seem to be not into it, the script boring, the music is nonexistent, the camera work in a sea of flat angles, it lacks directional style, the set are fake looking , etc.
Frollo (Alain Cuny) and Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
This is a seems to be a problem with Hunchback movie. Either you get a movie that is really good but way off from the book OR you get something that is really close to the book but the execution sucks. I think this film has a fair regard with some Hunchback fans because of its accuracies but give them a well executed movie that is also accurate to the book and this version fade from memory.
Anaykh craved on the wall, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next Time – we’re going to look at the Wishbone version
Wishbone as Quasimodo