Jasmine – The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

30Sep 2015

Disney and The Bechdel Test

by jess

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

As mentioned before Hunchback versions seldom ever passes The Bechdel Test, including the Disney version read here. But it made me think about the other Disney movies. I was going to go through and look at each movie but I don’t have to because this site did all the work for me, http://disney-blog.com/2011/05/the-bechdel-test-and-disney-films/. But I’m going to offer some analysis.

Disney Princess Line UP with Esmeralda, Megara and Kida

As a refresher, to pass the test a work needs to meet 3 criteria; 1) It has to have at least two named female characters, 2) That talk to each other 3) About something other than a male. Most movies fail the Bechdel test. Also passing or failing does not indicate the quality of a movie. Terrible movie pass and great movies fail.

Aurora and Prince Phillip Sleeping Beauty

So what does this mean for Disney? Well the purpose of the test is show the female presence in a given movie. Interestingly enough the older movies, Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty all pass. Which is valid as at least with Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty there is a decent amount of named female characters. Though movies that don’t have lots of female characters still pass, like 101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Hercules, and even The Emperor’s New Groove, which is a male buddy comedy.

Jasmine

Movies like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are often criticized for passive lead female characters but the most of the characters in the movies are females. So having one strong likable female character doesn’t help the over-all female presence. Like Aladdin fails, hard.

Ariel

I would disagree with The Little Mermaid failing as the site says because Ariel and Ursula had a fairly long conversation about a few topics, I would give it a pass. The Lion King could have passed if Nala and Sarabi had spoken more. I’m a little unsure if Snow White should have gotten the pass, as the Queen has a name but after the fact. Her name isn’t said in the movie. Though to be fair, I haven’t seen Snow White in a very long time.

Elsa and Anna

I do find it interesting that with modern day Disney movies that are Princess that try to aim with boys in mind they do keep a strong female presence. Tiana with her mother, Rapunzel with her “mother” and the sisters of Frozen.

Yzma

I would thought more Disney movies would have failed but it pretty mixed. It’s just really interesting that the older princess movies have a stronger female presence than the Disney movies that have a single “strong” and “Independent” female character.

Follow thehunchblog

19Mar 2014

Disney Cosplay Count

by jess

Disney Princesses/Characters are common choices for costumes but usually one or costume is chosen more than what that character wears in the movie. But let us see which costumes of each character is the most cosplayed. Characters must have at least two costume changes in the movie. I will go through the first 100 cosplay pictures of the character in google images. I will search them by their name and word “cosplay” and in Jane and Anna case, Disney was added. Keep in my mind Google Images change a lot.

Snow white

Snow White

Yellow – 100
Rags – 0

Cinderella

Cinderella
Casual -1
Pink Gown – 0
Ball Gown -99

Aurora

Aurora
Briar Rose -29
Pink Gown -50
Blue Gown -21

Ariel Disney The Little Mermaid

Ariel
Mermaid – 50
Ship wreak – 3
Pink Gown -11
Blue Dress – 36
Wedding – 0

Belle

Belle
Casual -13
Green dress – 0*
Pink – 1
Yellow Gown -86

Jasmine

Jasmine
Casual -93
Disguise -0
Purple Dress -1
Slave – 6
Purple End – 0

Esmeralda as a Disney Princess

Esmeralda
Casual – 84
Red dress -12
Prisoner – 0

Mulan

Mulan
Casual – 15
Gown – 61
Warrior 24

Jane

Jane
Yellow -70
Jungle -2
(all I saw)

Tiana

Tiana
Waitress – 9
Almost there dress -0
Princess costume 1 – 0
Princess costume 2 kiss – 8
Ball Gown -83
Wwdding- 0

Elsa

Elsa
Coronation Gown -16
Snow Queen -84

Anna

Anna
Coronation Gown- 7
Snow Dress – 93
Ending Dress – 0

I’m not surprised by the common costume but some of the numbers are surprising. I thought Belle would have more for her Blue Dress.

*saw 1 under Jane

Follow thehunchblog

05Dec 2013

Aladdin and the King of Thieves: I hate Jasmine’s wedding Dress

by jess

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

As a movie goes, Aladdin and the King of Thieves is fairly not too bad. Is it good? Ummmm, it’s pretty ok. I think it’s better than The Return of Jafar but I find Return of Jafar more entertaining in general.

Thieves singing, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Now I said I wouldn’t harp on Songs and Animations, but there is like one good song in this and animation is not good at all and it’s try to be good and fails. The only song I like is Welcome to the 40 thieves. The other songs annoy me to no end.

Cassim, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

So what is good about it? Well, the story is good, it’s about Aladdin connecting with long lost Dad, Cassim, who is the King of Thieves. Aladdin has to deal with his past and as the movie wraps up as you learn that the two just can’t be a part of each other lives and that works for them. They love each other but they are very different. And I think that is actually a mature sentiment.

I also like how Aladdin questions his capacity to have a family. Never mind, he about to become a royal, it’s the lack of a father that is making him question himself and his future.

Sa’luk, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

However the whole searching for treasure plot was a little silly. Though I like the turtle as the island, very classic mythology right there. Also the bad guy, Sa’luk was lame. I don’t really get his deal or motivation. He just didn’t like Cassim and pretty much wanted to one-up him. That’s kind of lame even for direct-to-video villain. Though I liked that he is so tough that he wrestles sharks, that is pretty bad-ass.

Jasmine and Genie as Mrs Doubtfire, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Then we have the Genie. Oh, Genie. They made a big deal that Robin Williams was back doing the voice of the Genie. And while sometimes the jokes were great, most of the time they were just references for like every movie ever especially Disney movies. It was too much, way too much, I mean he referenced himself as Mrs. Doubtfire. It was grating and not funny and I didn’t like it.

The one joke I did love is when Genie is introduced to Cassim as Aladdin’s father and he start as threatening says that “If you’re Al’s Dad, I want to know one thing. Will it be chicken or the sea-bass.” That joke was set-up too so the pay-off was great.

Jasmine and her ugly wedding gown, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Beside Aladdin, Iago and the new characters, the other characters don’t do that much. Carpet, Abu and the sultan are there. Jasmine gives Aladdin encouragement, gets married and punches people but that’s it.

While I enjoy the punching, I hated her wedding dress. I loath it. It’s stupid. I would say this a small detail but Aladdin and Jasmine wedding is a major plot point. The pointy shoulder and the flowers kill me. I mean she is a princess for crying out loud, why is she wearing this lame dress?

The Hand of Midas Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Here is a bit of plot hole. So the ultimate treasure that Cassim is searching for is The Hand of Midas, which turns things into gold. So when Cassim first gets it, he turns the room gold and every thing becomes gold in the room except for him, Aladdin and the water. Now solid gold is heavy and the island is a living creature, How did the turtle not react this?

Cassim tells Aladdin not to touch the hand or he will turn to gold so he wraps in cloth and sticks into this belt. But we see that hand turns the whole room gold so why didn’t the hand turn Aladdin’s clothes gold? Is it because it’s contiguous? But if that how it works why didn’t Cassim turned to gold when he turned the room gold and the thieves on the boat when that turned to gold? Why are people not turned if the things around them are? Do humans have to touch it directly but things don’t? For that matter why didn’t the the Hand’s wooden staff change? What are the rules to thing? It’s not a small thing but I thought the Hand Midas plot was stupid so I don’t care that much.

Cassim, Iago, Jasmine, Abu, Aladdin, Aladdin and the King of Thieves

If the Return of Jafar kick-started the TV show, the King of Thieves ended it and it was a decent send off to the show. Though Aladdin’s quest for his father was more mature in tone than the show but that’s fine the show had it’s moments of depth. It’s definitely a more ambitious movie and story than Return of Jafar and its high points are really high and but its lows are meh to very low. I liked the bookend ending the first movie starts with the lamp sellers and this one ends with him. On the whole Aladdin and the King of Thieves is a decent not bad movie.

Follow thehunchblog

13Nov 2013

Disney Princesses meets Haute Couture

by jess

I harbor a bit of a love for pretty clothing so when I saw that renowned Fashion Designers made gowns using the Disney Princesses as inspiration, I was excited. But some of these reflect the designers more than the clients, the Disney princesses. So here is my take on them.

Ariel by Marchesa

Ariel’s gown is by Marchesa. I can see Ariel a little bit in this. The top is a call back to her sea-shell bra and the skirt has a fish tail silhouette. I wish the color was a bit more vibrant. Marchesa has a vintage and Asian influence aesthetic to the brand. I can see the vintage but I think it’s too much of a throw back. Also I dislike the volume at the waist, it would be so much better and more like Ariel if the volume was just at the bust. 6/10

Aurora by Elie Saab

Aurora’s gown is by Elie Saab. I don’t see Aurora in this. I mean it’s pretty and very Elie Saab, whose aesthetic is feminine and romantic which suits Aurora but the style of this doesn’t. Maybe if the neckline had more details or if the belt at the was more interesting it could have been more in keeping with Aurora. Also the color is not right. I think a deeper pick would have been better and then chiffon could have contrast it instead of being the same color. 4/10

Belle by Valentino

Belle’s gown is by Valentino. When I first saw these gown I thought it was Jane’s from Tarzan. I like the skirt, the vertical ruffles are very nice and the color is a nice take on Belle because let’s face it that gold color works on Belle but it can look very tacky in real-life. The bodice however No, No, No. I don’t understand the hood at all. The puff sleeves and the mid section don’t work with Belle’s gown either. 3/10

Cinderella by Versace

Cinderella’s gown is by Versace. Like Belle’s gown my main reaction is no,no a thousand times no. What the hell, Versace? This is tacky. The only thing I can see of Cinderella is the peplum. The color is wrong. I can kind see what they were doing as Cinderella’s gown can look white but it has a cool tone and this is a a warm. It’s so wrong. 1/10

Jasmine by Escada

Jasmine’s Gown is by Escada. I’m confused by this one. Jasmine wears red once and that was when she was Jafar’s slave. I guess the bracelets point that that is what this gown is based on, so we’ll just say that even though Jasmine had two Princess gown’s in the film plus her normal blue outfit it’s based on Jafar’s look, which was pretty sexy admittedly. But ok. Despite not really reading Jasmine. I like cut and the color is nice. I dislike cape though. I don’t get as part of the look or as Jasmine really. Maybe it was a train off the wait it would have been better because I like the way it drapes. I think the cape cut off the neckline and Jasmine wore open necklines. I love the accessories. 7/10

Mulan by Missoni

Mulan’s gown is by Missoni. Missoni is all about prints and it seems that like they just remade Mulan’s with their prints. I really like the blue print and the beige chiffon. The applique flowers are a bit much but I think the overall look is a bit much and looks costume-y. 4/10

Pocahontas by Roberto Cavalli

Pocahontas’s gown is by Roberto Cavalli. Pocahontas is a tough one to design a gown for as her being in a Tsencommacah it’s hard to get her to a shiny princess gowns. Cavalli aesthetic is rock, wild and sexy. I guess wild fits Pocahontas’s personality. The fabric fits Pocahontas natural aesthetic but the gown reads Cavalli more than Pocahontas. The feather-like fringe details on the skirt is a bit silly. The cut of the gown is very similar to Pocahontas’s costume so it’s an appropriation. It’s not a bad idea for Pocahontas it just fails to connect with me. 4/10

Rapunzel by Jenny Packham

Rapunzel’s gown is by Jenny Packham. I love with gown, I would wear this but it’s a Jenny Packham’s gown and not Jenny Packham’s design for Rapunzel. In fact basically this dress is a copy of one of Packham’s wedding gown in purple with more fabric that pools on the floor. (click here to see the gown). I’m not sure how to rate it. 8/10 for the gown as itself and 2/10 for it’s connection to Rapunzel because other than the color there isn’t one. So sad.

Snow White by Oscar de la Renta

Snow White’s gown is by Oscar de la Renta. At first glance this is over-the-top but looking with a a more critical eye and keeping Snow White and Oscar de la Renta in check, this one is really good. It captures both Snow White and Oscar de la Renta’s personalities very well. Oscar de la Renta aesthetic is ornate and luxurious which this is but the color are in keeping with Snow White. The details also fit with her design in a new way which I appreciate. There is the neckline and the puff sleeve it communicates her look but it different. Yes, it over the top but it works. 8/10

Tiana by Ralph & Russo

Tiana’s gown is by Ralph & Russo. I can see Tiana in the puffy skirt and the diagonal draping in the bodice. The color is more blue than Tiana’s vibrant green but it’s quite pretty. I like the cowl neckline and I’m glad that it wasn’t strapless, I hate strapless gowns. I hate the line at the waistline though, I wish it was either embellished somehow or not there. That line kills me. If the color was amp up a little more or more green it would be more Tiana-ish. 6/10 I still like it though and if the color worked on me I would wear.

I should do research to see what Design would be the best to bring Esmeralda’s costume to life. Also do you agree or disagree with me?

Follow thehunchblog

21Nov 2011

Fa la la la Fallen In Love with Failure – Part 4 of the Music of the Hunchback Sequel

by jess

When I say I’d Stick With You is the worse song in the movie I mean it, but it may not be the stupidest. Which is odd considering the lyrics of Fa la la la Fallen In Love, which based on the title, it qualifies as the stupidest song of the movie.

Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney 2

So the song is about how Quasimodo has fallen in love, that’s it. The song starts with the Gargoyles lamenting that their “boy” has grown (their boy is like 27) and in love but their lament is a fake because they’re happy that “Love has nailed him” then the crowd joins in about have love has “derailed him“. (Didn’t this happen more to Madeline???)

Gargoyles Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline and Quasimodo plus crowd Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Musically the song isn’t bad, it has a jovial and whimsical tone. The lyrics are one of the problems with this song. First off the song is called Fa la la la Fallen In Love and those are the bulk of lyrics. This is just stupid! But I think the “Oh Wow” lines are stupider. Now here the big problem, I can’t write this song off as completely stupid (and that pains me). The song uses a lot of word that I didn’t know. Like roundelay and madrigal. Roundelay is 1) a song in which a phrase, line, or the like, is continually repeated 2) the music for such a song 3) a dance in a circle; round dance. And Madrigal 1) a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation, popular especially in the 16th and 17th centuries 2) a lyric poem suitable for being set to music, usually short and often of amatory character, especially fashionable in the 16th century and later, in Italy, France, England, etc 3) any part song. However both words are anachronism, I mean if your going to use pedantic words they should at least be fashionable to the setting. It’s funny that a song in a sequel would use GRE type words and be called Fa la la la Fallen, use that title as a Roundlay and use the line “Oh Wow” it’s mind boggling to say the least.

Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

I have another issue with the song. The song seems incredulous to the fact that Quasimodo could have fallen in love in the first place. Which is insane since Quasimodo wants to be in love because he think it looks nice. And this isn’t the first time Quasimodo has “fallen in love” remember Esmeralda, she broke his heart (or ripped it). The purpose of this song seems to be that a hard-hearted people has fallen in love which is evident in the lines “Love has nailed him” and “Love’s derailed him.” It seem more suited to Madeline and not Quasimodo. I mean Madeline as to overcome low self-esteem and has to get past Quasimodo’s deformity. What did Quasimodo have to do? Stare and listen to her. And further more why does the crowd care? When did Quasimodo become the Darling of Paris? Because the Darling of Paris is Esmeralda and is a 1917 Hunchback film version starring Theda Bara.

Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Ariel & Jasmine’s Love Child Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Circle Dance (Roundelay) Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Fa la la la Fallen In Love is a dumb little song that uses big words for the sake of alliteration, which makes a level of sense because Quasimodo and Madeline’s relationship is founded alliteration as well lies but still it’s stupid. And no amount of smart and big words can help save it from it’s stupid title.

Madeline and Quasimodo Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Divine Intervention End of Fa la la la Fallen In Love Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Next Time – I’m Gonna Love You ( a.k.a Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Vanity Project)

Jennifer Love Hewitt singing I’m Gonna Love you Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Follow thehunchblog

14Sep 2011

Esmeralda Versus How to Make a Guy Like You – Disney Princess Style

by jess

The Disney Main Female is more of a canon than a line of characters that Disney deems as important. So are Esmeralda’s behaviors in Hunchback of Notre Dame applicable to how other so call Disney’s Princess Behaviors? Let’s compare Esmeralda against the the rules presented in the Video “How to make a guy like you” and see how she does.

( Note There are 21 Rules, they write 16 twice, Video is meant to be funny)

21. Show him you can look good no matter what you’re wearing.

Check

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

Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Phoebus leaving Notre Dame

20. Use Body Language.

Check, Esmeralda is working it

Disney Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Dance picture Image

Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

19. Make him jealous.

Check, she kisses all main three guys @_@

Esmeralda and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda giving Frollo a peak on the nose Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda getting close to Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

18. Be a friends to nature’s animals.

Check, at least Djali, she doesn’t interact that much with other animals

Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

17. Act scared of him.

No, not even, she clocks him right in the face

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

Phoebus being hit by Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

16. Rush into it. Don’t bother getting to know each other ahead of time.

Check, a kiss on the lips is what seals it in a Disney movie

Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

15. Look deeply into his eyes.

Check, she’s guilty

Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

14. Pretend like you would want him even if he wasn’t a prince. (yeah, right.)

No, there is no royalty in the movie and she is more put off by Phoebus’s position as a Knight/ Nobel

Esmeralda and Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda and Djali reactiom to Phoebus’ name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

13. Having a wicked step-mother never hurts.

N/A, This Lady just looks like Lady Tremaine (Cinderella) doesn’t she?

Frollo’s Female Doppelganger singing a line in God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Lady Tremaine Disney Cinderella

12. Never do what your parents tell you to do. They only want what’s best for you.

N/A, no one really ever told her what to do and she doesn’t have parents to get in her way

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda exerting some power Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

11. Be constantly happy. Bottle up any negative emotions you have until after the wedding bells have rung.

It’s hard to say, she’s no negative-nelly but she’s not little miss sunshine either, mmmm after some thought I’m going to say yes, Check

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

10. Trust EVERYONE.

Pretty much

Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

9. Don’t bother being intelligent. It won’t help you that much.

No, I guess I’d give her Street Smarts though.

Esmeralda, Djali, Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

8. Always be prepared, even if this mean carrying around glass shoes in your pocket.

Check, note the knife strapped to her calf

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda defying Frollo by helping Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

7. Be Sweet and innocent…until you want to kiss him.

No, No, No, “She’s been around,” consult the DVD Audio Commentary for more

Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

6. Disregard his personal boundaries and make him feel like an idiot.

Check, Kind of a Derpy looking Phoebus huh?

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame cross eyes picture iamge

Phoebus crosse-eyed Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

5. Cry…simple, but effective.

No, she sulks

Esmeralda sulks Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

4. When you first meet, remain completely anonymous.

Check, they don’t even speak until their third encounter

Achilles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

3. Pretend like you’re dead.

Check

Quasimodo thinking Esmeralda has died Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

2. Sing to them (why this works, I shall never know.)

No, but Belle never sang to Beast and yet it counts in the video, Esmeralda does sing a solo though which more than Jasmine got. 1/2 point

Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

1. ALWAYS leave hims wanting more.

Check, in spades

Esmeralda Dancing Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Because I’m not counting the parental questions that makes 19 in total. She scores 13.5. 13.5/19 = 71%

Well, well, well Esmeralda acts more like a Disney Princess than some give her credit for, too bad she doesn’t cry or have Parental units.

What do you people think, should Esmeralda be made a Disney Princess? Remember, it’s an archetype not a hierarchical position.

The Someday reviews are coming… someday (Lame Joke, tis my destiny)

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 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 leaving Notre Dame

Next Character –Phoebus

Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Follow thehunchblog

Tag Archives: Jasmine

Disney and The Bechdel Test

Disney Cosplay Count

Aladdin and the King of Thieves: I hate Jasmine’s wedding Dress

Disney Princesses meets Haute Couture

Fa la la la Fallen In Love with Failure – Part 4 of the Music of the Hunchback Sequel

Esmeralda Versus How to Make a Guy Like You – Disney Princess Style

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