The case for and against the gargoyles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

[Transcript of the hearing of THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES V. THE GARGOYLES]

All RISE!

Please sit down. Hello, everybody. We have a long day of cases ahead of us, so let’s just get straight to the point. It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. defendants today — Hugo, Victor, and Laverne, colloquially known as The Gargoyles From Disney’s The Hunchback Of Notre Dame — have been accused of tarnishing an otherwise fantastic film. It was on June 21st, 1996 that the alleged crime occurred. This is when the Disney Renaissance Era began. Before we get into the movie, let’s take a look at some of its background.

Background

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Disney Plus

Victor Hugo published his novel in 1831. Notre-Dame de Paris. This was a letter of love to Notre-Dame Cathedral which has fallen into disrepair in the decades since it’s construction. A large part of the book is dedicated to detailing Notre-Dame. Notre-Dame de Paris is more known for its central story and characters, namely a hunchback named Quasimodo, who lives in the cathedral’s bell tower. Esmeralda a Romani-speaking girl, falls for him. The Archdeacon Claude Frollo as well as the aristocratic Captain Phoebus are also attracted to her.

It was an international bestseller, and its English title became a global phenomenon. The Hunchback Of Notre-Dame. With the success of this film, there were, naturally, cross-media adaptions.

The Victim: 1996’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Disney Plus

When Disney first planned to adapt The Hunchbacks of Notre Dame into a children’s animated musical was inevitably, “How will they make this novel palatable for kids? How will they remove all the adultery, torture, rape, murder, and suicide?” HunchbackIt is not a stranger to adaptations which sanitize material. This includes the 1836 oper La Esmeralda by Victor Hugo himself, as well as several film adaptations, all of which walk back Esmeralda’s death from the novel and allow her to survive. The challenge is to make it accessible and appealing for children.

Disney’s film wound up focusing on Quasimodo as the main character of what was originally a pure ensemble story, as many other adaptations did before it. Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quasimodo all get romantic stories. The film is what audiences have grown to expect of Disney adaptations. The Hunchbacks of Notre DameIt is surprisingly dark for a Disney animation.

The film is often criticized for its grim tone. The five-person team of screenwriters and directors Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise created many comical moments and characters to counteract this. This is where today’s defendants come in.

Gargoyles and Hunchback: The prosecution’s view

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Disney Plus

Quasimodo gains three friends, the most significant change (aside from the plot) in the book. Hugo Victor Laverne and Hugo are all stone gargoyles that come to life when they’re around Quasimodo. (Much like the characters in Disney’s 1994 animated series GargoylesBut sillier.

According to paper, it seems that the trio would be an acceptable addition to the movie. It could be hard to portray Quasimodo’s interiority or give him meaningful scenes, given that he spends much of the film on his own. Why not have him talk with friends to help express his feelings and anxiety?

The problem for many of the injured parties in this case arises when the gargoyles try to be funny — because they aren’t. However, the prosecution suggests that the problem isn’t any specific limping joke, or the humor of the script in general. Screenwriters overcorrected for the initial problem that Quasimodo had no one to speak to and gave him companions who would not stop talking. Whenever the gargoyles are on screen, they’re chattering and blabbering nonstop. The gargoyles interrupt emotionally powerful scenes by bursting into the scene and talking nonsense. The prosecution asks the court to consider Exhibit A: “A Guy Like You.”

“A Guy Like You” stands out among the otherwise immaculate soundtrack, including “God Help the Outcasts,” “Heaven’s Light/Hellfire,” and “The Bells of Notre Dame.” The song comes as the movie is ramping up to its intense climax. Quasimodo has just helped Esmeralda sneak out of Notre-Dame so the lustful, vengeful Frollo doesn’t get her. Quasimodo loves her and the gargoyles are trying to get him to confess to her. They build up his confidence by suggesting that Esmeralda also has feelings for him.

“A Guy Like You” is a bad song. It’s a bad song. The lyrics and music are both annoying. Frollo is seen destroying Paris in search of Esmeralda. The song concludes with Esmeralda taking Phoebus up to Notre-Dame and revealing that she does not love Quasimodo but rather Phoebus.

That is what the gargoyles are: They’re pointless. In the worst possible way, they stand out in comparison to the rest of film. The most emotional and effective scenes are ruined by them. Who could defend such abominations?!

The Defense: Why the gargoyles aren’t that bad

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Disney Plus

While I was in love, the defense wants to point out that The Hunchbacks of Notre DameFor so many years I hated the gargoyles. It was like they were the blemish on a perfect movie. But as I’ve grown and rewatched the film again and again, I’ve learned to accept and appreciate them more.

People tend to overstate how much of the gargoyles’ presence is comedy-based. The gargoyles do serve a purpose: they help Quasimodo discover what he desires. He is encouraged to face his fears. They’re the only characters who don’t judge Quasimodo for how he looks, up until Esmeralda comes along. When people begin their hatred-rants, they ignore the many tender and sweet moments between Quasimodo and his gargoyles. They aren’t soulless comedy machines, they’re Quasimodo’s friends first and foremost.

The voice acting on all three characters are perfect. Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough and Mary Wickes do a great job in these roles and bring the characters to life.

Lastly, on the point of jokes, the defense disagrees with the prosecution’s claim that the gargoyles aren’t funny. As with all arts, humor has a subjective nature. While the film’s jokes are intended for younger audiences, they can be enjoyed on several levels. As evidence, the defense submits the video “Funniest moments- The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Not only is the video itself proof that some people found humor in the film, the comments section is full of people quoting their favorite jokes and celebrating the movie’s humor. The defense would also like to bring attention to one specific joke from the film: the “I’m losing to a bird!” line.

This line got some notoriety after video essayist Lindsay Ellis repeatedly played it in her video “The Case for Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Not only is there proof that many people found that line funny, it wound up with its own cultural impact as a meme. Ellis produced merchandise featuring this line without any visual reference to the movie. It’s evidence of the gargoyles’ broad appeal.

Final arguments

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Disney Plus

1996’s The Hunchbacks of Notre DameThe most loved Disney classic hasn’t been the original. It has a loyal audience who love it for its uniqueness and the way it defies the Disney standard formula. The gargoyles are perhaps the one element of the story that isn’t challenging those Disney standards, and are instead trying to replicate the success of comic-relief characters in other Disney films, like Aladdin’s fast-talking Genie and The Lion Kingdom’s double act of Timon and Pumbaa.

The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us HunchbackIt would be incorrect to claim that the gargoyles are bad and without purpose. Fans as well as detractors have all expressed their distaste. After weighing all of the evidence and arguments, the court has concluded that the gargoyles were successful as comic-relief figures, which are meant not only to add humor but to make a film more than just its serious moments.

Gargoyles allow Quasimodo to feel love, and they also give the audience an opportunity to do so. Without them, the film would just consist of Quasimodo’s isolation and self-hatred, Frollo’s lust and superiority complex, and Esmeralda coping with being trapped and powerless to stop her people’s persecution. Hugo Victor Laverne offer the audience some relief from their misery.

Yes, these are flaws in a film that is flawed. But the whole moral of Disney’s Hunchback Of Notre DameIt is important to not only accept but also to appreciate flaws. Disney might remake it without the flaws as part of their endless variations on animated classics. But the film wouldn’t be itself without them.

This court rules in the matter of The People of the United States of America v. The Gargoyles, the defendants are found not guilty of the crime of ruining Disney’s The Hunchbacks of Notre Dame.

The court is adjourned. The next defendant is Gurgi. Black Cauldron.