Heartwarming / The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)

A Disney hero who gives up his love interest. Now there's something you don't see everyday.

• "I dare to dream that she might even care for me..."
• When Esmeralda frees Quasimodo after he's been tied down and humiliated by the crowd. Also counts as a Crowning Moment of Awesome, as she was defying Frollo by doing it AND (for that time) got away with it.
  • Before Esmeralda intervenes, Phoebus is shown to be disgusted and angered by Quasimodo's mistreatment and requests Frollo's permission to put a stop to it. Frollo's callous refusal is the first of many factors that leads to Phoebus' eventual Heel–Face Turn.
  • Several people in the crowd are also visibly appalled when the guard throws the first fruit at Quasimodo. While they are still afraid of him and most of the crowd follow the guard's example and join in the torment, it's clear that Esmeralda and Phoebus are not the only people capable of compassion towards the hunchback.
• In general, Quasimodo’s relationship with the gargoyles. They provide him with the love of a family that Frollo fails to provide and they never make him feel bad about how he looks. Unlike Frollo, they want him to enjoy himself with other people and to find love, hence why they’re so supportive of his interests in Esmeralda and later Madeline.
• Towards the end, when Quasimodo walks out of the cathedral, expecting to be ridiculed and shunned like he has been all his life. Then a little girl approaches him, touches his face, and gives him a hug. Say it with me: D'awww.
  • In fact, it is this very moment that provides the page picture for Heartwarming Moments.
  • The moment before that is very sweet, too; Esmeralda wordlessly beckoning Quasi out into the public, all with the warmest smile that seems to say that things will be alright to Quasi (and from the layout placing, the audience).
  • To make it even better, there's some foreshadowing related to this scene. There's a scene in the movie earlier where Quasimodo is talking to his gargoyle friends, angrily asking "What am I supposed to do? Go out there, rescue the girl from the jaws of death and the whole town will cheer like I'm some kind of hero?!" Everything said in that sentence comes true in the final act of the movie.
  • Plus add in this little fact as well: After rewatching it, the little girl? She was at the beginning of the movie! She knows about Quasimodo's mother's death from Frollo and is likely seeing him for the first time, afraid of them from the Feast of Fools incident. So she was the one who helped Quasimodo get over his fear and show him that they're not so bad. Even adding that she and Clopin watch him go off together, with him playing around with one of the hand puppets from the beginning of the film from when he told Quasimodo's story.
• Quasi blessing Esmeralda and Phoebus' relationship. Despite most saying that this breaks the movie's "looks aren't everything" message, this shows a lot of growth in his character in being able to let Esmeralda love someone else and make peace with Phoebus. Quasi may not be getting the girl, but he's 100% certain that the right guy has her. Extra bonus for the melody from "Heaven's Light" playing.
  • Arguably it is not broken as the characters are loved for their personalities. Phoebus is shown to have inner beauty himself and slight character development from a reluctant pawn of Frollo to someone who disobeys orders to rescue an innocent family. He is attracted to Esmeralda at first sight but loves her for spirit and energy, and she loves him because he is kind at heart. To add to the Heartwarming list, Phoebus completely credits Quasimodo for finding the Court of Miracles when he notices how Quasi looks forlorn at being ignored.
  • It's even more heartwarming when you realize it does, in fact, keep with the movie's real Aesop: the comparison between Quasimodo and Frollo. By blessing Esmeralda's relationship with Phoebus, Quasi proved that he's the real man despite looking like the monster. He's happy knowing Esmeralda is happy.
• "God Help The Outcasts"
  • Part of the song has the various parishioners asking for various blessings, such as wealth, fame and love to name a few. Esmeralda, who has many, many reasons to ask God for help for herself at that moment and would be justified in doing so...instead prays that God help those who are far worse off than she is, saying she can take care of herself. It's a subtle moment but a very powerful heartwarming moment.
    "I ask for nothing/I can get by/But I know so many less lucky than I/Please help my people, the poor and downtrod/I thought we all were children of God."
  • It's also rather sweet to see that it's this and Esmeralda's kindness that attracts Quasi and Phoebus. While enthralled by her beauty (and Phoebus is clearly turned on by her Action Girl ways) it is her kind soul and heart that makes them love her. Frollo only wants to possess her like an object, these two love her for the person she is.
• When the little girl brings Quasi into the crowd, and Clopin calls "Three cheers for Quasimodo!" And he's carried out into the crowd. He's happy, he has his freedom as he desperately wanted, he didn't need a girlfriend to get his happy ending.
• Quasi's interaction with the baby bird at the beginning after the prologue. According to the commentary, the makers wanted a more humane Quasimodo, as opposed to the monstrous ones of past adaptions. They got it. When the gargoyles are trying to convince Quasi to take part in the Feast of Fools instead of watching, they even use his earlier "No one wants to be cooped up here forever" line he used to encourage the bird.
  • Knowing the story a bit can help with the bird scene, as his line "No one wants to be cooped up here forever" clearly refers to himself moreso than the bird.
• Esmeralda, who is safe behind the parapets, still desperately clinging onto Quasimodo, to prevent him from falling, even though Frollo stands above the both of them sword in hand, ready to strike both down. In this instant she is willing to die alongside her friend, even though she could easily save herself. The very definition of friendship.
  • So while some people complain that Quasi Did Not Get the Girl, in a way, with her devotion to her friend placing his life above her own, it's clear that just because he didn't become her romantic partner doesn't mean he failed to earn her love.
• Right after Frollo's fall into the flames and chaos, it seems that Quasimodo will follow the same fate when Esmeralda loses her grip on him, but luckily Phoebus grabs him in time and saves him. How does Quasi thank him? With a smile, and then a hug. Cue Phoebus patting Quasi's back, and smiling as well.
  • In a brief moment, Phoebus is seen smiling at Quasi's rescuing Esmeralda from being burned. It was almost as if he was saying "atta boy, Quasimodo", as he trusted Esmeralda's life in his hands. In return, Quasimodo happily acknowledged Phoebus's presence in the revolt against Frollo.
• When Frollo throws Quasimodo off the cathedral with his cape, the latter manages to hold onto a ledge, but accidentally drags Frollo off the edge with him. Instead of dropping him to his death, Quasimodo shows compassion and does not dare let go, keeping hold of his cape. Despite the betrayal and hurt, he clearly still loved his foster father.
• It's not much in the grand scheme of things, but the fact that Frollo actually gave Quasimodo a decent, if fundamentalist, education ^note which was very rare and valuable in the 15th century implies a small part of him actually saw Quasimodo as more than a burden he was stuck with.
  • Frollo saying "Good" while he and Quasimodo are going over their alphabet.
• Quasimodo's mother; she literally gave her life in trying to save her son.
• The scene with the Archdeacon stopping Frollo from drowning Quasimodo. First off, the way he handled the situation by telling him that God had just seen him murder an innocent woman and will pay the price with his eternal soul is a Crowning Moment of Awesome. Second, it shows what a compassionate man he is in contrast to Frollo, caring for a stranger and her infant. Plus, it looked like he was going to bury her body instead of leaving it on the steps.
• The way Clopin defuses the situation after Quasimodo is identified by a villager at the Feast of Fools is heartwarming in its own way.
  Clopin: Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic! We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here it is! QUASIMODO, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME!!
  • He was also going around trying to get Quasimodo to be more involved when he first catches him. While this could be seen as mean, he is at least trying to get someone who seems to be a wall flower of sorts to get involved and adds him to all the chaos. It's nice that the King of Gypsies wanted everyone to enjoy the feast of fools. Plus during the second part of the Topsy Turvy, he immediately starts to build up Quasimodo's confidence. If not for the soldiers, everyone would have shown Quasimodo a lot of kindness because, despite how he looks, he is still the King of Fools; so that'd make him a local celebrity!
  • Even earlier during the Topsy Turvy song, Quasimodo accidentally tumbles into Esmeralda's tent. Though at first she sounds annoyed, due to having accidentally torn down the curtain that had been covering her, she quickly becomes concerned if he's OK since he fell to the floor. He simply attempts to leave the room, but she insists on checking if he's OK, eventually seeing his face (which she assumes is a mask), and only reacting with relief that he isn't hurt before warning Quasimodo to be more careful.
• The scene where Phoebus first talks to Quasimodo right after helping Esmeralda escape. Quasimodo is already pissed that a soldier is in his bell tower and tries to be intimidating in order to drive him out of the church demanding him to leave, waving a torch wildly at him. Phoebus, though scared manages to explain why he wanted to talk to her which causes Quasimodo to stop.
  Phoebus: Tell her from me: I didn't mean to trap her here, but it was the only way I could save her life. Will you tell her that? Will you?
  Quasimodo: If you go. Now.
  Phoebus: I'll go. Now, would you... put me down, please? Oh, and one more thing: tell Esmeralda - she's very lucky.
  Quasimodo: Why?
  Phoebus: To have a friend like you.
• The deleted number, "In a Place of Miracles", is packed with heartwarming moments. After Esmeralda saves Quasi and Phoebus from the gallows in the Court of Miracles, she and Phoebus confess their love for one another as they begin to dance together. At first, Quasi is visibly heartbroken, but eventually, Clopin invites him to celebrate with the Gypsies, leading Phoebus to give him a toast as thanks for bringing him and Esmeralda together. Touched, Quasi finally accepts their love and makes a toast "to love, and friendship." Clopin's touching comment afterwards is the icing on the cake.
  Clopin: Spoken like a true Gypsy.
• "Someday", performed over the film's end-credits by R&B group All 4 One, walks a line between hope and heartbreaking, perfectly conveying the film's themes of acceptance and how the narrator longs for the day the world will be wiser, kinder and more accepting, even if it takes a long time.
• Phoebus's introduction. Esmeralda has earned some coin through her dancing, but some thuggish guards think she is a thief. Phoebus knows she's innocent (after all, he paid for her dance). After she escapes and runs, Phoebus blocks their way with his horse so she can escape. When he notices Esmeralda dropped some of her earnings in her flight, he picks them up and gives them to a beggar woman (who happens to be Esmerelda in disguise).
• It's definitely a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, but "A Guy Like You" is still rather sweet. The gargoyles put on an elaborate performance just to reassure Quasimodo that he's an incredible, one of a kind person and that Esmerelda would love to be with him. They may not be the most liked characters in the movie, but it's clear from the effort they put into the song that they do genuinely love Quasimodo.
• During the climax, the crowd of Parisian citizens proves that Everyone Has Standards when they pick the side of Esmerelda, an outcast among their society, against Frollo, the established power, just because it's the right thing to do. Even before Phoebus rallies them, it's pretty clear that Paris is on the verge of revolting against Frollo and the guards are forced to contain people trying to stop Esmeralda's execution.
  • In his rallying speech, Phoebus refers to the persecution of "our people," though Frollo has been targeting the Romani and not all citizens of Paris. The crowd does not question this, even giving a righteously indignant cheer of agreement that they are Parisians and their persecution should not stand, a vastly different reaction than the beginning of the film.
  • The part that really triggers the crowd to violence is Frollo ordering his forces to attack and seize Notre-Dame, a massive no-no in the film's historical context but also showing just how beloved the cathedral is to the people of Paris. As one they cry out that they will not permit this blasphemy to stand, take up arms, free the Romani prisoners and charge Frollo's army to defend the ancient Lady of Paris.
• After clearing the misunderstanding with Phoebus and Quasimodo over entering the Court of Miracles, Esmeralda embraces Phoebus as she is grateful towards him for warning her people about Frollo's incoming arrival. Of course, seeing Quasimodo feeling left out, Phoebus deduces Quasimodo's true feelings for Esmeralda and states that Quasimodo is to receive full credit, implying he's willing to put aside his own feelings so that Quasimodo can be with Esmeralda; even Quasimodo is briefly touched by this.
• When Frollo bursts in on the Court of Miracles and arrests all the gypsies, he brags to Esmeralda that he really should thank Quasimodo, since he lead him right to the gypsy's hideout. Instead of feeling betrayed or blaming Quasimodo in any way, Esmerelda merely spits, "You're a liar." at Frollo. No matter what, she knows Quasimodo is her friend and would never intentionally betray her, not even for his emotionally abusive father figure. That's how strong her faith in him is.
  • Quasi and Esmeralda's friendship in general is this. To consider: she's Romani. He's disabled (also possibly Roma). These two groups of people have historically been persecuted, dehumanized, and executed by those in power. Seeing two outcasts find common ground and attempt to lift each other against abusive figures is a very uplifting message. And it's much more genuine and unique a message for this type of story than if it had been a simple generic love story that fueled their motivations.
• When Frollo interrogates the Miller and demands to know if he's ever harbored gypsies in his home, the Miller, though clearly terrified, firmly states that his home is always open to a weary traveler. He does this in spite of the fact that the Roma are a persecuted people and that the city is currently in a pogrom.