All in all Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame is good movie. Is it the best Hunchback adaptation? No, but it’s far from the worst. It’s kind of the worst of best and best of worst.
I think when it comes down to it to fully appreciate this movie, just forget everything you know about the original novel. They are two different stories. The best thing about the Disney version is at least it introduced people to the story and gets people to want to read even if it just to find how divergent Disney is from Victor Hugo.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Xed out Gargoyles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Another good point is Frollo, who is one the best Disney villain. The worst part are those horrible, insipid gargoyles. They were not funny and were weak. But at least they are worst part that is associated with Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. I mean it’s not like they did one of those Direct to DVD sequels with Hunchback. They gave the movie some dignity.
Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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In Victor Hugo’s original book, Notre Dame is more than just a setting. Notre Dame was character and the whole of Quasimodo’s universe. Quasimodo’s existent was so much engrained in Notre Dame that Quasimodo was essentially its soul.
Disney’s representation of Notre Dame of Paris in very much in opposition to the book. In the Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, it’s just a building and its’ role is more like a prison than a sanctuary. Frollo arranged baby Quasi to live in the bell tower where he can be “locked away where no one else can see.” Quasimodo then dreams of getting out of Notre dame.
Now in the book Quasimodo loved Notre Dame he didn’t want to leave it, he loved it. Esmeralda also tells the Court of Miracles that Quasimodo ” helped her escape from the Cathedral”. Notre dame is pegged as something that has to be escaped because it’s a prison. Which is why it’s odd when Phoebus makes his speech about Frollo declaring war on Notre Dame. Frollo seems to be an agent working with Notre Dame to keep people in, so why do people want to defend it? I think it just Frollo-hate on the part of the Parisians, I mean he did burn the city. And when Quasimodo declares sanuaury for Esmeralda.
The movie presents it as prison not sanctuary so why is it so great for Esmeralda to have sanctuary? Really, that climix is contrived when it you think about.
Molten Lead over Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
My guess is original text had an attack of Notre Dame where Quasimodo defends it and Esmeralda from misidentified attackers and pours molten lead out the gutters and Disney really wanted to do that shot and that’s why they had to do it. But Notre Dame’s status in the story got lost among the 18 story writers. That’s right, 18 people worked on the story, there are not even 18 characters. It’s a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen. I think ultimately that the 18 writers are to blame for all the differences to characters and to plot and for making an important point of the book the role of Notre Dame from sanctuary to prison.
Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Phoebus and Esmeralda Happy Ending Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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
Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris
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
Esmeralda about to burn Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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.)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
TheGargoyles do not count, they’re not in the book.
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.)
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.
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.”
Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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I had said in my 1939Hunchback 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 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
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
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
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.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
“Hellfire” is “Heaven’s Light’s” foil in every possible way. “Heaven’s Light” is a sweet hopeful ballad with some subtle humor in the visualization but “Hellfire” is an intense villain song with shades of an I want Song that has a breaks down into insanity.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hellfire is a villain song, but it’s not just any villain song, it’s “THE” villain song. Many people consider it the best and one of the darkest Disney villain songs. So what makes this song so good and dark?
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The song starts with Frollo singing to Notre Dame both figuratively and actually (The building and the Virgin). He claims that he’s purer than the common people and still as pure as he is, he can’t understand his obsession for Esmeralda and why she is invading his mind.
Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
For Frollo this lust is not in conflict with ethics or his own deep religious convictions; it’s all about pride and fearing losing control within himself. You can see him visually losing of control: he starts calm and become more and more crazy as the song progresses
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
For Frollo there are two ways to resolve his problem, either Esmeralda must die or she must be his. Hellfire has a very similar vibe to Frollo in the book. Victor Hugo’s Frollo was very proud of his purity. But much like Disney Frollo Hugo’s Frollo felt that Esmeralda was sent by hell to take him away. Unlike Disney’s Frollo, Hugo’s Frollo is more of a stalker who is hopelessly seeking out Esmeralda. He doesn’t really want her to die but doesn’t want her to be with anyway else.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Disney’s Frollo is more black and white, either she is his or she dies, he only going to ask once. Frollo in Hellfire does have a twinge of gray (which you’ll never seen again), he asks for God to have mercy on both him and Esmeralda. If as he knows he’s wrong but he won’t do anything about it because he too far gone. The Latin chanted “Mea Culpa” (Through my fault) also drives that point too.
Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire
It’s an odd Disney Villain song as Frollo isn’t revealing in his evilness or his brilliant evil plans. Frollo is simply singing out his desperation which ultimately gets worse. Unlike other songs, Frollo is not singing to anyone, usually a villain is rubbing something in the hero’s face, being a demagogue, or exposing their master plan of evil to minions.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo is singing to himself. It’s reminiscent of another villainous song from a Notre Dame adaptation Notre Dame de Paris’ “La Monture.” In the original staging of “La Monture” (The Mounting,) Fleur de Lys (Phoebus’ fiancee) sings about her desperation for Esmeralda to be hanged. In the original staging, she singing to her shadow. In singing alone Frollo’s feelings come off more intense, power, and frantic while he sings to the fireplace while seeing illusions and the becomes engulfed in specters.
Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The song is perfectly sung by Tony Jay, he showcases control and then goes intense. The Latin chanting is great mood enhancer. The music is intense and the Hellfire melody makes up a lot of the Hunchback of Notre Dame’s score. The Music was inspired by Mozart’s Requiem Mass which completes the dark presentation of the song.
Frollo at the end Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The music, the singing, the lyrics, and visuals with the intensity, insanity, sexuality, and religious overtones create a great piece of moviedom. I wish Disney would explore their darker side more, because when they do it’s better than some of their more saccharine fair. I mean Disney enjoys going dark, it’s part of their history (Night of Bald Mountain). So Disney embrace the darkness more often! Please…
, Notre Dame is more than just a setting. Notre Dame was character and the whole of Quasimodo’s universe. Quasimodo’s existent was so much engrained in Notre Dame that Quasimodo was essentially its soul.
is different from the 
. 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. 
. To be honest while Djali lose plot relevance I still love Disney Djali. 
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.
” foil in every possible way. “Heaven’s Light” is a sweet hopeful ballad with some subtle humor in the visualization but “Hellfire” is an intense villain song with shades of an I want Song that has a breaks down into insanity.
