Releasing from the Disney Vault and coming to Blu-ray for the first time is The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Hunchback of Notre Dame II in a Special Edition 2-Movie Collection. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) is the 34th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and is loosely based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name. It earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Score. The voice cast includes Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, David Ogden Stiers, Tony Jay. and Mary Wickes. Following its success, in 2002 Disney released the direct-to-video sequel The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. All the key voice cast returned except for Tony Jay, Mary Wickes and David Ogden Stiers; Jane Withers and Jim Cummings joined the cast.
Set in 1482 Paris, The Hunchback of Notre Dame tells the tale of the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame named Quasimodo. Raised by the ruthless and self-righteous Judge Claude Frollo, he is confined to a lonely life in the bell tower with only the company of three living stone gargoyles. He wants to attend the annual Festival of Fools, but is warned by Frollo that the everyone would reject him as a monster. Disobeying Frollo, he goes anyway and has a good time until a riot breaks out and he is humiliated by the crowd. Frollo refuses to help Quasimodo, but a kind gypsy named Esmeralda saves him. Accused of allegedly performing witchcraft, she is confined to the cathedral by Captain Phoebus of Frollo's guard. Quasimodo and Esmeralda become friends and he thanks her by helping her escape. Frollo, who has developed lustful feelings for her, is enraged and orders a citywide manhunt to find her. To save Esmeralda and the gypsies, Quasimodo and Phoebus rally the citizens of Paris against Frollo and Quasimodo finally gains acceptance in society after saving the day.
In the sequel The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, six years have passed and Captain Phoebus and Esmeralda are married with a son named Zephyr. While Quasimodo is accepted by society, he still lives in the Notre Dame as the bell-ringer with his gargoyle friends. When Sarousch’s circus troupe comes to town as part of "Le Jour d'Amour” to celebrate romance, Quasimodo finds himself falling in love with Sarousch’s assistant Madellaine. At first she is only using him to help Sarousch steal Notre Dame’s most beloved jewel-encrusted bell, La Fidèle, however she soon finds herself having feelings for him too. When she no longer wants to help Sarousch, he threatens to kill Quasimodo and blames her for a string of robberies that Phoebus is investigating. Quasimodo is brokenhearted and the festivities are ruined until Madellaine helps them expose Sarousch and recover La Fidèle, saving romance and their love.
Bonus material include audio commentary, “A Guy Like You” multi-language reel, behind the scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt, and “The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “A Gargoyle’s Life 2” featurettes.
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame Cast:
- Tom Hulce as Quasimodo
- Demi Moore as Esmeralda (singing voice by Heidi Mollenhauer)
- Tony Jay as Judge Claude Frollo
- Kevin Kline as Captain Phoebus
- Paul Kandel as Clopin
- Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, and Mary Wickes as Victor, Hugo, and Laverne
- David Ogden Stiers as The Archdeacon
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II Cast:
- Tom Hulce as Quasimodo
- Jennifer Love Hewitt as Madellaine
- Michael McKean as Sarousch
- Demi Moore as Esmeralda
- Kevin Kline as Captain Phoebus
- Haley Joel Osment as Zephyr
- Paul Kandel as Clopin
- Charles Kimbrough as Victor
- Jason Alexander as Hugo
- Jane Withers as Laverne
- Jim Cummings as The Archdeacon
- April Winchell as Lady DeBurne
Special Features:
- The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Audio Commentary
- Multi-Language Reel - “A Guy Like You”
- Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt
- A Gargoyle’s Life 2
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