2. The Mature Subject Matter
One of the main things that sets
The Hunchback of Notre Dame apart from Disney's other movies, is its darkness. Throughout the film, we're given dark story elements, themes, and imagery, the likes of which Disney normally shies away from. In their filmography, because of its unusual elements, this film sticks out as a mature, character study on what it means to be a man. For starters, the film is filled with religious imagery. Ideas of damnation and salvation run throughout the film, with the majority of the story taking place inside a church. Normally, in a kids movie, religion is a topic not discussed. However, this film faces it head on. The music is centered on God, with songs God Help the Outcasts and Hellfire, and throughout all are ideas of being saved, or sent through help. Frollo is always concerned for his soul, and well as condemning everyone else's to hell, on his mission from god. Now, in a film made for adults, this wouldn't be out of place, but the fact that its in a Disney movie, gives it an added level of maturity. They took a risk putting these types of themes into one of their films, but it paid off making it an enjoyable feature for kids and adults. Along with this, the film is filled with instances of unusual darkness. For example, when Phoebus first shows up at the Palace of Justice, we see Frollo over watching the whipping of the last captain. We hear the whip crack, and the screams of the victim, as Frollo watches, smiling. The film is filled with moments like these, moments of darkness, and sadness. Moments when Quasimodo, the character we've learnt to love is put on a pedestal in the middle of the town square and publicly tortured as Frollo watches, allowing this to happen. This makes the film all the more emotional, and real, for mature audiences and allows it to stand the test of time as a well rounded, real, story.