The 1990s were a really great time for Walt Disney animated films. Throughout the decade, Disney released a number of hit films, including The Rescuers Down Under (1990), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994), Toy Story (1995), Pocahontas (1995), Mulan (1998), and more.
However, one animated film Disney released during that time might be considered one of its most underrated and controversial.
That movie is the 1996 film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Related: OpEd: ‘Hunchback’ is the Best Animated Disney Movie
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo and tells the story of Quasimodo, a young man forced to live in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. He is under the care of the evil Judge Claude Frollo, who convinces Quasimodo that no one will ever care about him because he is different.
One day, Quasimodo decides to sneak out of the bell tower and interact with the people of Paris during the Feast of Fools. There, he meets Esmeralda, a kind Roma woman who doesn’t look at Quasimodo like he is any different.
Related: Celebrate a Number of Disney Firsts With ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’!
Quasimodo also learns that Judge Frollo hates Esmeralda and the rest of her Romani people. He hates her so much that he wants to burn her at the stake (if she doesn’t agree to submit and belong to him). Quasimodo decides to defy Judge Frollo and help Esmeralda escape Paris, and he almost loses his life doing so.
In the end, it is Judge Frollo who learns what eternal damnation is, while Quasimodo makes new friends and learns that he is so much more than what he looks like on the outside.
While a lot of Disney movies have dark moments, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a lot of them. Not only does Judge Frollo sing about murdering Esmeralda, but he also lights a house on fire with a family inside. The city of Paris burns, and he delights in it, but then has a moment of clarity, where he is terrified of God and his angels judging him.
Because of its adult content and darker moments, the movie tends to be overlooked by many people. It’s not a film that gets a ton of recognition, even though it has incredible animation and some truly great music.
But finally, nearly three decades after its release, Hunchback is finally getting some of the respect it deserves.
The film rating website Rotten Tomatoes recently took archival reviews from 1996, when the movie was released in theaters. The site compiled 50 reviews, put them into its rating system, and gave the film a “Certified Fresh” rating of 80%!
Famed film reviewer Roger Ebert called the film. “A high point in the renaissance of Disney animation,” while Gene Siskel praised the film for its “effective songs” and “tasteful bits of humor.”
While admitting that the film was scary, Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune said that adults would absolutely enjoy it.
Except for Toy Story, Disney’s hasn’t really made a first-class scary movie — on the level of Dumbo, Bambi or Pinocchio — during its recent renaissance. The Hunchback of Notre Dame comes close, ringing the bells for adults if not their kids.
Related: Fans Demand Sanctuary For ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Remake
As many Disney fans know, Disney is really going all-in on turning many of its iconic animated films into live-action remakes. At one point, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was set to be one of those remakes.
The live-action Hunchback remake was first announced in 2019, with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz confirming they were returning to do the music for the new film. Frozen (2013) star Josh Gad also confirmed that he would serve as one of the film’s producers, and there were rumors that he was even being considered for the role of Quasimodo.
Unfortunately, in 2023, Menken seemed to confirm that the live-action remake was no longer happening. He admitted that the film’s original content made it difficult to transform it into a live-action film appropriate for most audiences.
One of the biggest things standing in the way, according to Menken? You can’t have the movie without the song “Hellfire” (Judge Frollo’s song), but it is wildly dark and not something a lot of parents today would want their kids listening to.
Do you agree with Rotten Tomatoes ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Are you sad that the live-action remake has been canceled? Let us know in the comments!
The post Classic Disney Animated Film Reaches Huge Milestone After 28 Years! appeared first on Inside the Magic.
