The Hunchback of Notre Dame

from Deconstructing Disney · host Erin Casey Westin, Rachel Casey

Episode SummaryErin and Rachel spend a lot of time wringing their hands over the mature themes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Disney’s animated film about a bell ringer in medieval France. The film underperformed at the box office; apparently, a children’s movie about adult sexuality is a bell you can’t un-ring. The depictions of disability and race induce further cringing that the dazzling music and visuals can’t completely overcome. Join the party! Episode BibliographyAstier, H. (2014, February 13). France’s unwanted Roma. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25419423Bahr, S. (2021, June 22). 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' at 25: 'The Most R-Rated G You Will Ever See'. The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/movies/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame.htmlBarnes, B. (2022, June 10). After a Political Storm, Gay Days Return to Disney. The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/10/style/disney-gay-days.htmlBarrère, J. (2022, May 18). Victor Hugo: French writer. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Victor-Hugo/Bates, J. (1996, July 23). Quasi-Successful: Do 'Hunchback' Results Signal a Sea Change? LA Times. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20160423120423/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-23/business/fi-27142_1_disney-animationBiography.com Editors. (2014, April 2). Victor Hugo Biography. Biography. https://www.biography.com/writer/victor-hugoBracken, H. (2022, September 7). The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Hunchback-of-Notre-DameBruncati, D. (2020, August 27). Every Disney Renaissance Era Film, Ranked By Budget. Screen Rant. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://screenrant.com/disney-renaissance-films-ranked-budget/Corliss, R. (1996, June 24). CINEMA: A GRAND CARTOON CATHEDRAL. TIME. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,984745,00.htmlCoyne, S. M., & Whitehead, E. (2008). Indirect aggression in animated Disney films. Journal of Communication, 58, 382 –395. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.00390.xDavis, A. M. (2007). Good girls and wicked witches: Women in Disney's feature animation. John Libbey & Company.Davis, A. M. (2014). Handsome heroes and vile villains: Men in Disney’s feature animation. John Libbey & Company.Dickerson, M. (1996, June 13). Baptist Group Rebukes Disney, Urges Boycott. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20150217063632/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-06-13/news/mn-14682_1_southern-baptistDreamloverMimi. (2017, February 7). The Making of the Hunch Back of Notre Dame (1996). YouTube. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efEUV7cDsB0Ebert, R. (1996, June 21). The Hunchback of Notre Dame movie review (1996). RogerEbert.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-1996The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2022, August 24). Roma. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/RomFadner, D. (1998). Disney Gets Religion. Conference: National Convention of the American Academy of Religion. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342182716_DISNEY_GETS_RELIGIONFeng, Y., & Park, J. (2015). Bad seed or good seed? A content analysis of the main antagonists in Walt Disney- and Studio Ghibli-Animated Films. Journal of Children and Media, 9(3), 368-385. doi: 10.1080/17482798.2015.1058279galaxies352. (2017, April 9). Disney Hunchback Of Notre Dame Premier Parade 6/19/96 WVUE-TV New Orleans, La. YouTube. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ukR__9brYGaul, L. (1996, June 14). Disney Made Effort to Follow Hugo's Novel. Beaver County Times. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19960614&id=NBsvAAAAIBAJ&pg=3659,3055615Gerard, J. (1996, June 17). The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-4-1200446001/Graham, J. A., Yuhas, H., & Roman, J. L. (2018). Death and coping mechanisms in animated Disney movies: A content analysis of Disney films (1937–2003) and Disney/Pixar films (2003–2016). Social Sciences, 7, 199-213. doi: 10.3390/socsci7100199The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film). (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame_(1996_film)Lacroix, C. (2004). Images of animated others: The orientalization of Disney's cartoon heroines from The Little Mermaid to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Popular Communication, 2(4), 213-229.Lavender, N. (2021, November 16). The Untold Truth Of Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. Looper. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.looper.com/459159/the-untold-truth-of-disneys-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame/Maslin, J. (1996, June 21). FILM REVIEW;The Dancing Gargoyles Romp and Wisecrack. The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/21/movies/film-review-the-dancing-gargoyles-romp-and-wisecrack.htmlMcCullough, D. (1994, October 8). DISMISSAL STUNS MAGIC KINGDOM. Deseret News. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://www.deseret.com/1994/10/9/19135475/dismissal-stuns-magic-kingdomMcGill, C. M. (2018). "This burning desire is turning me to sin": The intrapersonal sexual struggles of two Disney singing villains. Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture, 3(1), 27-49. doi: 10.1386/qsmpc.3.1.27_1Ness, M. (2016, March 3). When Gargoyles Interrupt Your High Concept Film: Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tor.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.tor.com/2016/03/03/when-gargoyles-interrupt-your-high-concept-film-disneys-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame/Norman, F. (2008, November 11). Toon Tuesday: Looking Back on Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame” - Part Un. Jim Hill Media. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://jimhillmedia.com/toon-tuesday-looking-back-on-disneys-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-part-un/Norman, F. (2011, November 18). Toon Tuesday: Looking Back on Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" - Part Deux. Jim Hill Media. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://jimhillmedia.com/toon-tuesday-looking-back-on-disneys-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-part-deux/Pavlovic, D. (2019, May 23). Romani or Gypsies? TEDxBocconiU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTlQMOdeW_8Pinskey, M. I. (1996, July 27). Hunchback Finds Favor with Activists. Herald Journal, B10.Pinskey, M. I. (2004). The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996): The House of the Lord. In The Gospel According to Disney (pp. 167-174). Westminster John Knox Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Gospel_According_to_Disney/YGtbYTyulb4C?hl=en&gbpv=0The Pope meets the press: Media coverage of the clergy abuse scandal. (2010, June 11). Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2010/06/11/the-pope-meets-the-press-media-coverage-of-the-clergy-abuse-scandal/Rauzi, R. (1996, June 24). Children Seem Unfazed by 'Hunchback' Themes. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-24-ca-18114-story.htmlSpiegel, J. (2021, June 21). 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' At 25: An Oral History Of Disney's Darkest Animated Classic. Slash Film. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.slashfilm.com/581592/hunchback-of-notre-dame-oral-history/Strauss, B. (1996, June 23). Courting Controversy? Disney's Newest Animated Feature, 'Hunchback Of Notre Dame,' Takes On Sensitive Adult Issues. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/jun/23/courting-controversy-disneys-newest-animated/Swardson, A. (1997, January 2). Quelle Horreur! French Give Thumbs-Up To Disney's `Hunchback'. The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970102&slug=2516743Thompson, A., & Karger, D. (1996, June 21). Disney's ''Hunchback'' has murder, lust, and corruption. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://ew.com/article/1996/06/21/disneys-hunchback-has-murder-lust-and-corruption/Thompson, A., & Karger, D. (1996, June 21). Playing a Hunch. Entertainment Weekly. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205135730/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,293046,00.htmlTowbin, M. A., Haddock, S. A., Zimmerman, Z. S., Lund, L. K., & Tanner, L. R. (2003). Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 15(4), 19-44. doi: 10.1300/J086v15n04_02Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (Directors). (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.Ward, A.R. (2002). Mouse morality: The rhetoric of Disney animated film. University of Texas Press.Whitney, C. R. (1997, January 5). A Disney Cartoon Becomes a Morality Play for Paris. The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/05/world/a-disney-cartoon-becomes-a-morality-play-for-paris.html

What this episode covers

Erin and Rachel spend a lot of time wringing their hands over the mature themes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Disney’s animated film about a bell ringer in medieval France. The film underperformed at the box office; apparently, a children’s movie about adult sexuality is a bell you can’t un-ring. The depictions of disability and race induce further cringing that the dazzling music and visuals can’t completely overcome. Join the party!

NOW PLAYING

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

0:00 1:58:01

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Biography Flash Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Keep Fans Talking in Latest Pop Culture Buzz

Jun 21, 2026 ·2m

Biography Flash Selena Gomez NBA Drama Benny Blanco and Why Every Post She Makes Goes Viral

Jun 14, 2026 ·2m

Biography Flash Selena Gomez London Era Red Hair Rare Beauty and a Long Distance Love Story

Jun 10, 2026 ·3m

Selena Gomez Biography Flash Red Hair Era London Set and the Digital Reign Continues

Jun 7, 2026 ·2m

Biography Flash Selena Gomez Real Estate Moves Career Buzz and Rare Beauty Billions

Jun 3, 2026 ·3m

Biography Flash Selena Gomez London Style Rare Beauty and Marriage Boundaries

May 20, 2026 ·3m

Similar Podcasts

Solving for Change MOBIA Technology Innovations Solving for Change welcomes business and technology leaders to share stories of bold business transformation within complex organizations. In an era when technology and markets are changing around businesses, the key to staying competitive is to evolve in response to those changes. MOBIA’s Mike Reeves and Marc LeBlanc investigate business transformation, deconstructing the challenges, ambitions, and market disruptions that drive companies to embark on transformation journeys, and exploring their unique approaches to achieving meaningful outcomes. What sparks leaders to pursue business transformation? How do they overcome the challenges along the way? What are the keys to creating enduring change? Through in-depth conversations with business and technology leaders, Mike and Marc answer these questions and explore how businesses evolve by pulling four key transformation levers: people, process, technology, and culture. Destination Cosmo Travel Podcast HD: Rick Steves Europe like Video Podcast, We Bring You to Beautiful Places in HD! Jason Diaz: Filmmaker, Traveler, Foodie, Podcast Host Destination Cosmo Travel Podcast is a Rick Steves Europe like Video Podcast. We bring you to Beautiful Places in HD! We cover Food like we're part of Food Network! Our podcast brings Serial, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, Radio Lab like production to Travel Video Podcast! Whether you are a Pro Traveler, an Amateur Traveler, or even a Disney Podcast Radio Show Lover, we think we can show you a thing or two! So join Jason and Michelle and you may experience National Geographic Type Wanderlust! Dont forget to leave us a review! It will really help us out! Double Dose of Disney Podcast Brittney Lunski Join Brittney & Tony Lunski as they take on the wonderful world of Disney vacations! Talking all about Disney- from little known history to tips used in the parks and on vacation. Each week this podcast aims to fill you with a double dose of the Disney magic we get to run on each day! RSSVERIFY D23 Inside Disney Disney Get the inside scoop on all the latest Disney news and hear from the talented people who are making it all happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Deconstructing Disney?

This episode is 1 hour and 58 minutes long.

When was this Deconstructing Disney episode published?

This episode was published on October 4, 2022.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Deconstructing Disney episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!