The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)/YMMV

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • Clopin--he seems very happy and nice, but he does call Quasi the ugliest person in Paris in a way that even the context can't completely excuse, doesn't let him hide in the "Feast Of Fools" sequence, apparently bugs out the second everything goes pear-shaped (as Frollo would likely want to arrest him for the confusion), and then expresses complete delight in hanging Quasi and Phoebus. Without giving them the chance to defend themselves in any way. He's also protecting his home, friends, and family from the most monstrous person in the country by silencing what he believes to be the man's most loyal subordinates...
  • Really, most of the cast qualifies for the original novel. Quasimodo goes from a bitter misanthrope to a naive, Ugly Cute Nice Guy, Esmerelda from a Neutral Female to a Badass Damsel, Frollo goes from being a tragic Anti-Villain to one of Disney's most infamous villains, and Phoebus goes from an uncaring, womanizing Jerkass to an honorable Knight in Shining Armor.
    • Oddly enough, there's also been some talk about Frollo in the movie possibly not being as bad as the movie made him out to be, especially when the entire events of the film were told by Cloplin, hinting at Historical Villain Upgrade being in play.
• Tony Jay (Frollo’s actor) viewed him as being tragic. The writers didn’t feel the same way about the corrupt judge, however.
• Award Snub: None of the songs received Oscar nominations. Among all the movies Alan Menken composed for the Disney Animated Canon during the 1990s, this is the only one that happened to.
• Awesome Music:
  • It's a great score, but "Hellfire" and the instrumental track "Sanctuary" take the cake. "Made of Stone" from the stage version certainly counts as well.
  • "Out There". The combination of the gorgeous music, beautiful lyrics and Tom Hulce's spectacular performance makes it one of the most magnificent songs of the Disney Animated Canon. (Or any Disney film, for that matter.)
    • And out there, living in the sun...
  • Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, BELLS OF NOTRE DAME!!!
    • Pay attention, dear listener, to Clopin's voice toward the end of that song (particularly in its first iteration). God knows why they decided to practically drown it out with the chorus, but the man holds an absurdly high note perfectly for an absurdly long time.
  • While "Sanctuary" is about four different kinds of incredible (it's a four part piece), and Hellfire is without a doubt, the best villain song ever included in a Disney movie (if not any film), the real crowner here is without a doubt, "God Help The Outcasts." The music is incredible, but the lyrics deserve special mention, as they are a deconstruction of the typical Disney "I Want" Song, in that a Gypsy who doesn't even believe, or doubts, in God ("I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there") is offering to God a more humble prayer than the Catholics there who are asking for money, fame, and glory, whereas Esmeralda simply says "I ask for nothing; I can get by. But I know so many less lucky than I."
    • Equally heartwarming in the original movie the animated film was based on when Esmeralda gives the same prayer when she is introduced to Mary and Jesus.
  • "Heaven's Light" is the sweetest, most perfect love song ever written. Anyone who has ever been unpopular or different knows that feeling when someone notices you, even for a moment, and this song perfectly captures that feeling: knowing that they'll probably never love you back, but for the moment, you can hope, just a little.

I dare to dream that she/Might even care for me/And as I ring these bells tonight/My cold dark tower seems so bright,/I swear it must be heaven's light!

• Base Breaker: The gargoyles are either scrappies who cause serious Mood Whiplash with their comedy or they're welcome moments of brevity in such a dark film.
• Cargo Ship: Hugo thinks Djali is pretty hot. Hugo is a gargoyle, Djali is a goat. But come on, Hugo's part goat!
• Complete Monster: Frollo wishes to commit genocide against the Gypsies. Despite believing himself to be a righteous man, it gradually becomes clear just how evil he is.
• Crazy Awesome: Clopin.
• Creepy Awesome: Frollo, according to some people's opinions.
• Critical Dissonance: Despite being moderately well-recieved (Scoring somewhere in the 70s on Rotten Tomatoes), this is the ONLY Disney Animated Canon film to EVER get nominated for a Razzie, which is ESPECIALLY baffling considering that Disney has released more deserving films. It's considered (by those who remember it, anyway) better than its direct predecessor, Pocahontas.
• Crossover Ship: Frollo x Mother Gothel.
• Draco in Leather Pants: Judge Claude Frollo like you wouldn't believe.
• Ensemble Darkhorse: Clopin.
  • Also, Frollo is arguably this for the Disney Villains. Despite almost never appearing in crossovers, rides, merchandise or games (though will change with Kingdom Hearts 3D) he's one of the most well remembered and many people's favorite.
• Evil Is Cool/Evil Is Sexy: Despite being one of Disney's most notorious Knights of Cerebus, Frollo has a lot of fangirls.
• Faux Symbolism:
  • Frollo falling into a lake of Hellfire-like molten lead.
  • Esmeralda's "God Help The Outcasts" and Frollo's "Hellfire", when taken together, sound much like the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
  • Quasimodo tied with chains to the cathedral pillars with his arms outstretched brings to mind both Christ's crucifixion and Samson being put on display for the Philistines. When he breaks free and the pillars crumble, it is reminiscent of how Samson met his end, pushing down the pillars and bringing the roof down on himself and everyone else in the hall.
  • Elements of the Notre Dame architecture are used to convey different moods: for example, the statues foreboding and ominous, the stained glass beautiful and hopeful.
  • At the end of "Hellfire" in the DVD Commentary:

DVD Commentary: Here's some more of our ham-fisted symbolism--Frollo falls down in the shape of a crucifix!

• • Also, during the last few minutes Esmeralda is wearing a white dress. See Color Coded for Your Convenience above.
  • Pay very close attention to the scene where Frollo destroys Quasimodo's model of Paris. As he does so he picks up a wooden figure of Esmeralda and throws it, knocking over a figure of himself in the process.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The climax where Paris is subject to arson by Frollo in pursuit of a Gypsy, and Notre Dame nearly ends up burned to the ground, gets even more horrific after Notre Dame actually did end up on fire on April 15, 2019.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: The fact that the voice actor for Patrick Star voices a guard whom of which has the line "Now THAT's ugly!" Why is this hilarious in hindsight? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Ekg9OxE64&feature=related
• Memetic Molester: Frollo, for good reason.
• Memetic Mutation: "Hellfire" is becoming an increasingly popular subject for Youtube Poop.
• Misaimed Fandom: Frollo has many fans who defend his actions, thinking him to be quite cool despite having much less reason to be thought of as such than other Disney villains. Instead of being a muscular macho-man like Gaston or a sorcerer like Jafar, he is a genocidal self-righteous old religious fanatic; an intent to subvert Evil Is Cool is somewhat apparent here, yet it apparently did not work either.
  • A good number of his fans probably love him for his voice. Love to Hate certainly helps.
• Moment of Awesome: For those of us who like to Root for the Empire, Frollo gets one when he suddenly shows up at the Court of Miracles.

Esmeralda: You took a terrible risk coming here. It may not exactly show, but we're grateful. Phoebus: Don't thank me, thank Quasimodo. Without his help, I'd never have found my way here. Frollo (from off-screen): Nor would I.

• Moral Event Horizon: Frollo either crossed it when he killed Quasimodo's mother and almost killed him too as a baby or when he had a house burned down with an innocent family trapped inside.
• Narm Charm: The entire ending teeters on this, especially the unprovoked hug by a random kid (who also shows up at Clopin's puppet show...)
• No Yay: Frollo's obsession with Esmeralda.
  • Hugo's crush on Djali counts too.
• Sequelitis:
  • The first film had gorgeous animation, dealt with some pretty heavy themes for a Disney movie, and had very good music. The sequel dispensed with all of these in favor of a Lighter and Softer approach that shoehorned in a boring love interest for Quasimodo, an annoying child for Phoebus and Esmerelda, and a very lame villain. Why Kevin Kline, Tom Hulce and Demi Moore stuck around for it is a mystery for the ages.
  • There are two reasons the sequel exists 1) Disney was big on sequels at the time and 2) People felt bad that Quasimodo didn't get the girl.
• Signature Scene: "Hellfire" is arguably the most famous scene in the film.
• Squick:
  • Frollo grabbing Esmeralda in the church and smelling her hair. Tell me you didn't find it sickening. Unless you're a Nightmare Fetishist, and find it ... extremely hot.
  • While it's played for laughs, Hugo the Gargoyle's attraction towards Djali the goat is fairly disturbing.
• Strawman Has a Point: Frollo's grim depiction of the world "out there" actually sounds quite realistic, considering that this is Mediaeval Europe we're talking about.
• Tear Jerker: The reprise of Heaven's Light as Quasimodo watches Esmarelda kiss Phoebus and tearing up his ace of hearts card.

I knew I'd never know/ that warm and loving glow/ though I might wish with all my might/ no face as hideous as my face/ was ever meant for heaven's light!

• • God Help The Outcasts, especially the line "I ask for nothing/ I can get by,/ but I know so many/ less lucky than I" coming from Esmerelda.
• Ugly Cute: Quasimodo, who's Ugly Adorable.
• Viewer Gender Confusion:
  • The gargoyle Laverne has no Tertiary Sexual Characteristics and a voice actress (Mary Wickes) with a husky voice. Although she has an obviously feminine name, it's only mentioned once in the film.
  • Laverne can be a guy's name, too.
    • Well, yes, but Laverne did wear a somewhat skimpy red dress during A Guy Like You in the piano sequence.
    • But Hugo crossdressed as Esmerelda...
  • Averted in other languages where either her voice is unmistakably female, the language itself has grammar rules that indicates gender (like in Spanish or French) or both.
• Vindicated by History: When it was released, it was a moderate hit with both critics and audiences - the consensus was "Hey, it was better than Pocahontas, but nowhere near as good as The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast. However, it's recently become a contender for the Magnum Opus of Disney's Renaissance era.
• Visual Effects of Awesome: Notre Dame, and the Frollo's image of Esmeralda dancing in the flames in the Hellfire song. It is mentioned in the commentary that the special effects team gave their best in that scene.
• The Woobie: Quasimodo.
  • Iron Woobie: Towards the end of the movie.
  • Esmeralda possibly counts as well, given all the persecution the gypsies go through, the fact that Frollo is after her specifically, and she still manages to be willing to pray for everybody else in "God Help the Outcasts."

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