Changes

Unlike most films in the Disney animated canon, this film actually has the character's relying to God's grace to resolve the conflict, instead of relying on some special magic.

Unlike most films in the Disney animated canon, this film actually has the character's relying to God's grace to resolve the conflict, instead of relying on some special magic.

On the other hand, in some cases, the film actually manages to be even darker than the original novel. Originally, Quasimodo's vicious punishment at the hands of the Parisians during the Feast of Fools ceremony was out of corporal punishment; while in the Disney film, it had been done at the whim of the Parisians just for the sake of it. In addition, Frollo himself was also made significantly more villainous in the movie compared to in the book despite being separated from the archdeacon role, removing most of his redeemable traits in the book (case in point, in the film, Frollo was responsible for killing Quasimodo's mother and nearly killed Quasimodo himself as a baby until being made to raise him as penance by the archdeacon, and was depicted as an abusive father figure overall, as well as depicted as sadistic, in contrast to the original novel, where he willingly took in Quasimodo when he was in fact abandoned by his mom and was depicted as a fairly good father figure, at least until Esmerelda entered the picture). Some Christian concepts were also removed from the film in an attempt to increase Frollo's villainy as a result (for example, Quasimodo in the film was named such as an insult to his deformed appearance, while in the book he was actually named after Quasimodo Tuesday). It's also debatable as to whether it's pro-Christian overall since while the Archdeacon himself was a positive influence, most of the Christian characters besides Frollo were nevertheless depicted in a very negative light. The director's commentary also implied that they may have engaged in blasphemous material by having Frollo in the crucifix pose as he's descending into Hell during the visuals for Hellfire.<ref>DVD Commentary: "Here's some more of our ham-fisted symbolism--Frollo falls down in the shape of a crucifix!"</ref>

On the other hand, in some cases, the film actually manages to be even darker than the original novel. Originally, Quasimodo's vicious punishment at the hands of the Parisians during the Feast of Fools ceremony was out of corporal punishment; while in the Disney film, it had been done at the whim of the Parisians just for the sake of it. In addition, Frollo himself was also made significantly more villainous in the movie compared to in the book despite being separated from the archdeacon role, removing most of his redeemable traits in the book (case in point, in the film, Frollo was responsible for killing Quasimodo's mother and nearly killed Quasimodo himself as a baby until being made to raise him as penance by the archdeacon, and was depicted as an abusive father figure overall, as well as depicted as sadistic, in contrast to the original novel, where he willingly took in Quasimodo when he was in fact abandoned by his mom and was depicted as a fairly good father figure, at least until Esmerelda entered the picture). Some Christian concepts were also removed from the film in an attempt to increase Frollo's villainy as a result (for example, Quasimodo in the film was named such as an insult to his deformed appearance, while in the book he was actually named after Quasimodo Tuesday). It's also debatable as to whether it's pro-Christian overall since while the Archdeacon himself was a positive influence, most of the other Christian characters, without even counting Frollo, were nevertheless depicted in a very negative light. The director's commentary also implied that they may have engaged in blasphemous material by having Frollo in the crucifix pose as he's descending into Hell during the visuals for Hellfire.<ref>DVD Commentary: "Here's some more of our ham-fisted symbolism--Frollo falls down in the shape of a crucifix!"</ref>

To make the film even darker, a gypsy genocide plot is introduced, and Paris was also the victim of arson late into the film. The song Hellfire was also notorious for making explicit references to lust despite it being very family unfriendly. This is a stark contrast to most other Disney film adaptations, which have a history of toning down the original works (as in The Jungle Book, in which Disney advised the writers to ignore the book specifically because its contents were unsuitable for children). The Gypsies were also depicted in a more positive light, to the extent that they at times were considered preferable to Christianity, despite Gypsies essentially being pagans. Hints at race swapping were also included in the film, as Esmerelda was made into an ethnic gypsy in the movie, when in the original book, she was actually a blonde parisienne and the daughter of an anchoress who was abducted by the gypsies and made into their own.

To make the film even darker, a gypsy genocide plot is introduced, and Paris was also the victim of arson late into the film. The song Hellfire was also notorious for making explicit references to lust despite it being very family unfriendly. This is a stark contrast to most other Disney film adaptations, which have a history of toning down the original works (as in The Jungle Book, in which Disney advised the writers to ignore the book specifically because its contents were unsuitable for children). The Gypsies were also depicted in a more positive light, to the extent that they at times were considered preferable to Christianity, despite Gypsies essentially being pagans. Hints at race swapping were also included in the film, as Esmerelda was made into an ethnic gypsy in the movie, when in the original book, she was actually a blonde parisienne and the daughter of an anchoress who was abducted by the gypsies and made into their own.