Heartwarming / Hercules

"People always do crazy things... when they're in love."

• A minor moment in the opening narration; when the Muses playfully criticize the tone the original Narrator is going for (in a completely non-malicious or spiteful way to boot) and the head Muse tells him they'll take over, he simply gives them an encouraging, "You go, girls," and leaves them to it, gracefully accepting they're the best people for the job.
• The opening scene on Olympus, where Zeus is playing with Herc. Zeus is such an adorably doting father, and creates Pegasus out of a cloud as a gift for him.
  • This comment from Zeus will absolutely melt your heart;
    Zeus: He's so tiny.
• Hercules and Pegasus meeting for the first time.
  • Also, the reunion, where it's played the exact same way, but with the roles reversed, right down to the headbutt.
• Hera tells Zeus to not let baby Hercules play with a thunderbolt. Fortunately, he's immortal so the worst it does is mildly zap him.
• While Hades already has a bad reputation with the other Gods in the beginning, Zeus still gives him the benefit of the doubt and cheerfully invites him to join the party when his son is born. This says so much about Zeus's character, as he's practically the only one to somewhat consider Hades a friend. Sadly, it's only when Hades releases the Titans that Zeus realizes his true intentions...
• The scene where Hera and Zeus find Hercules's crib empty is a Tear Jerker, but the way that Hera shouts out his name screams Mama Bear while Zeus's thunderous Big "NO!" likewise screams Papa Wolf. Meanwhile, the Muses explain that when Hercules became mortal, Zeus and Hera tried to find him, but when he couldn't come home they opted to watch over him instead.
  • Once the call is sounded, the entire pantheon of gods and goddesses joins the search for baby Hercules. Despite it already being too late, the fact that they put aside their issues to look for their collective nephew is nice.
• The moment when Alcmene and Amphitryon find baby Hercules. This is a kind and humble couple that has finally found someone to parent and it’s incredibly sweet.
  Alcmene: Amphitryon... for so many years we've prayed to the gods to bless us with a child. Perhaps they've answered our prayers!
  Amphitryon: Perhaps they have. (reading off the medallion) ''Hercules".
• Notice that the cape on Hercules' "hero suit" is the shawl his adoptive mom gave him when he left to find answers. She's always with him. Not only that, but the shawl appears to be the same one that she wrapped Hercules in when he was found as a baby.
• When Zeus is finally able to talk to his son after so many years he is ecstatic.
  "My boy. My little Hercules."
• During "One Last Hope", when Herc fails yet another test (target shooting with swords), instead of berating him Phil tells him (in song) that it's not all about power and it's the heart that really matters in being a hero. Then Herc tosses a sword feeling sorry for himself, and he hits a target. The looks on their faces say it all.
  • In the Finnish version, Phil says (roughly translated): "This is how you recognise a true hero: listen to your heart--that's how you'll get strong". What really sells it is the tone of utter pride in Phil's voice.
  • The entire premise of "One Last Hope" must be such a turnaround from how Hercules is used to being treated. After being cast out and called a freak all his life, he finally gets to work with someone who sees his abnormalities as gifts. Is it any wonder he's so eager to perform well?
• Hercules winning over the people of Thebes during his first act of heroism. When he initially introduces himself to them they are very skeptic and unbelieving of his capabilities. When he raises a giant boulder to save two kids trapped under it (really Pain and Panic in disguise), they are clearly unimpressed but still slowly clap for him anyway. When Hercules seemingly defeats the Hydra by cutting off its first head, they are legitimately impressed and give a much more sincere applause. Finally, after Hercules kills the Hydra with a rockslide and reveals he survived the battle, they all erupt in thunderous applause while carrying him away in victory.
• After Hercules pounds the floor in frustration when Zeus leaves after telling him he's still not a true hero yet, Pegasus drapes his wing over his shoulder and nuzzles his face to comfort him.
• When Hercules is discouraged about not becoming a true hero, Phil gives him a pep talk.
  "I've seen 'em all, and I'm telling you, you got something I've never seen before. I can feel it, right down to these stubby bowlegs of mine. There is nothing you can't do, kid."
• Hercules casually pulls down a tree to retrieve a flower for Megara, hands it to her, and then kisses her on the cheek. Megara instantly looks forward with wide eyes as though her thoughts have instantly been banished. She then gives a small smile and touches her hand to her cheek.
• Megara's song "I Won't Say I'm in Love," especially the ending. There IS a reason why this song is overused in AMV's.
  • The deleted song "I Can't Believe My Heart" it replaced is pretty good too.
  • At one point, Meg is skipping along a trail of stepping-stones when she loses her balance. Frantically throwing her hand out, she grabs something...which turns out to be the extended hand of a life-size Hercules statue. Meg smiles and cuddles next to it before realizing what she's doing.
  • Throughout the entire song, the Muses are encouraging (while disguised as statues and carvings) Meg to follow her heart instead of pushing Hercules away. They also return to her the flower Hercules had given to Meg while reassuring her that it's okay to fall in love again.
• Seeing Herc on what can only be described as a "love high" after his night out with Meg. You tell the guy is just head over heels for her, and it's absolutely adorable.
  Hercules: Oh, Phil, I just had the greatest day of my life! I-I can't stop thinking about Meg. (sighs happily) She's something else...
• Even after a bitter argument with Hercules (Hercules didn't believe him when he told him that Meg was working for Hades and slapped him out of anger after he insulted her to his face), when Meg tells Phil that Hercules will die if he doesn't help him, he goes straight back to him and gives him another pep talk that gives him the will to defeat the Cyclops despite having lost his super strength.
  Hercules: You were right, Phil, dreams are for rookies.
  Phil: No, no, no. Giving up is for rookies. I came back because I'm not giving up on you. I'm willing to go the distance. How 'bout you?
• "People always do crazy things when they're in love."
• When Hercules has to go stop Hades's siege of Mt. Olympus, Phil volunteers to stay behind with the mortally wounded Meg, and he even holds her hand as she dies. Like Pegasus, up to this point Phil had hated her since almost the moment they met.
• Meg returning from the dead because Hercules literally broke into Hell to save her soul.
• Zeus's poignant words that will bring Tears of Joy to many eyes.
  "For a true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart."
• "Father, this is the moment I've always dreamed of. But, a life without Meg, even an immortal life would be empty. I… I wish to stay on Earth with her. I finally know where I belong."
  • Meg fully believed she would be left behind, especially since the last boyfriend she had before Herc came along ended up leaving her for someone else when the choice was given to him. Just look at her confusion and wonder when Hercules chooses her over godhood.
    • And she softly rests her head in his arms, grateful someone loves her that much. And look at how she smiles as Hercules says "I finally know where I belong".
    • It's also worth pointing out that, while sad when she assumes Hercules will be staying on Olympus, she accepts this without bitterness.
  • It should not be understated just what Hercules was willing to sacrifice for the woman he loved. All his previous heroics could be argued to have a somewhat selfish motive - in that he hopes becoming a true hero will allow him to join the other Gods on Mt Olympus. He however has no reason to benefit from taking Meg's place in the Underworld; he does this will the full knowledge he will be trapped there forever, in effect giving up both his dream to join his birth parents and his mortal life. Even though he'll save Meg, he won't be able to be with her. But he does it without a second thought, because she's the woman he loves.
• Herc still loves his mortal adoptive parents as much as his divine blood parents, and both sets of parents love him as well. Especially at the end when Herc comes down and they embrace each other.
  • His father doesn't blame him for accidentally destroying the town. Amphitryon tells him not to listen to what other people say, that he is proud of his son. When Hercules suffers a Heroic BSoD, he and Alcmene tell him about finding him by the road and give their blessing for him to seek advice for Zeus.
  • Before Hercules leaves his adoptive parents to go to Zeus' temple, they take the time to share one big hug and Alcmene gives him a shawl which, as said above, will later become the cape on his "hero suit".
  Hercules: Mom, Pop, you're the greatest parents anyone can have...
  • After Hercules becomes rich, what is one of the things he does? He uses his newfound fortune to buy an enormous house for his adoptive parents and take care of them. They have enough royalties from the merchandise to support them for life, into old age.
    • And adding on that, despite all the success Hercules received, he still keeps his Nice Guy and Humble Hero attitude.
  • In the ending, he heads back home and introduces Meg to his adoptive parents. They welcome her as their new daughter-in-law.
• When Zeus and Hera are told that Hercules wants to stay on earth with Meg, they share a look and smile - happy for their son to have found love.
• During the final song "A Star is Born", we see Zeus making a constellation of Hercules in the sky... And then Phil sees it and overhears someone saying, "That's Phil's boy!"...and as he begins crying of joy for finally achieving his ambition, so do we...
  • Becomes more Heartwarming when you recognize the guy as the same one who earlier in the film was mocking him and Herc. Now he and others witness Herc becoming a hero.
• Pegasus and Meg doing a headbutt... followed by a hug from both of them. Really is heartwarming when you consider how much they disliked each other when they first met.
• In the end Phil wooing Aphrodite and getting kissed. Showing he's still got that spark, especially for helping Hercules.
• Apollo says, "Three cheers for the mighty Hercules!"
• Most versions of the myth of Hercules have Hera as his stepmother, loathing his existence as proof of Zeus's philandering, and more desperate to destroy him than Hades ever was in this film. So, even with the change in the origin, to see Disney's version of Hera not only accept Hercules but show him unconditional love is indeed heartwarming.
• A whole lot of the lyrics in "Go the Distance", and the message about hope and determination in them.
  I have often dreamed of a far-off place, where a great, warm welcome will be waiting for me. Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face, and a voice keeps saying this is where I'm meant to be. I will find my way. I can go the distance. I don't care how far; somehow, I'll be strong. I know every mile will be worth my while. I will go most anywhere to feel like I belong.
  • And even when Herc gives up his godhood for Meg, the song still all comes true. He could have had that with the gods but he gets it all just as much with her.
  • In a certain sense, one of the subtler themes the movie teaches is the importance of personal responsibility and self-improvement, rather than the comparatively standard moral of "Be yourself, regardless of what anyone else says." Hercules was genuinely a destructive person in his youth, and was ostracized and shunned because of it. He could've disregarded what other people thought by reclaiming his birthright and joining the gods on Olympus — who, let's be real here, weren't particularly concerned with what mortals thought of them — but he ends up finding happiness in the mortal world by tempering his flaws into useful abilities, bettering the lives of those around him.
  • The altered lyrics in the Lucas Grabeel version or the Michael Bolton credits version take the message in another direction that's equally heartwarming:
  I have often dreamed of a far-off place,
  Where a hero's welcome would be waiting for me.
  Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face,
  And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be!

  I'll be there someday, I can go the distance.
  I will find my way, if I can be strong.
  I know every mile will be worth my while.
  When I go the distance I'll be right where I belong!

  Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate,
  Though the road may wander, it will lead me to you.
  And a thousand years would be worth the wait,
  It may take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through!

  And I won't look back, I can go the distance,
  And I'll stay on track, no I won't accept defeat.
  It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope,
  'Til I go the distance and my journey is complete!

  But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part,
  For a hero's strength is measured by his heart!
  Like a shooting star, I can go the distance,
  I will search the world, I will face its heart.
  I don't care how far, I can go the distance!
  'Til I find my hero's welcome waiting in your arms.

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