I Can Go The Distance: Hercules (Part 2)

I make it no secret that Disney's Hercules is one of my favorite movies. No doubt it's my favorite animated movie and while it's not perfect, I enjoy it for what it is. But being me, simply enjoying the movie is not enough. I impulsively need to get a hold of anything I can get my hands on that was tied to it. That's why I even bought that crummy Zero to Hero tape. It's not great, but I like it because it's Hercules. However, I already talked about the movies, so if you want to read about them, click here. This time, I want to talk about some of the other things tied into the movie, the art book, The Art of Hercules: The Chaos of Creation, and the Playstation game based on the movie.

The Art of Hercules: The Chaos of Creation

I first heard about The Art of Hercules from my animation professor at my old community college. I was showing him some of the work I had been doing at the time and mentioned I had recently seen this movie and it left an impression on my work. To my surprise, he said it was one of his favorite 2D Disney movies and mentioned studying and copying the art styles in the book. This was the first time and heard of this. I knew they made books full of concept art for movies and video games. I even gave my cousin a book of concept art for Star Wars: The Force Unleashes for Christmas. But a book full of concept art for Hercules?!? I had to get it.

Due to the fact the movie is close to twenty years old and was not one of the most profitable Disney franchises, I had to get my hands on a secondhand copy. Nonetheless, my copy was basically good as new and didn't stop me from enjoying it at all.

The book itself is broken up into various chapters detailing the steps of the movie's creation, including the initial planning stages, the story development and the character and environmental design, all with amazing concept art. We can see how directors Ron Clements and John Musker plotted out the main storyline, where each made lists of potential ideas and then compared and contrasted the two. We also see early design sketches of several of the characters, including some by the directors themselves, because they were once Disney animators, themselves. This is one of the most fascinating things for me. The characters of Hercules have a distinct design that was intentionally done to set them apart from previous Disney heroes and heroines, but the earliest sketches can give the viewer an idea of what Hercules, Megara, and Phil could have looked like if they followed an art style closer to The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.

Strewn throughout the book are rough animation frames of characters (i.e., the actual pencil sketches done by animators prior to cleaned up or being painted) that serve as guides throughout the book. The author sometimes gives them quotes to comment on whatever is being discussed, but it usually comes off as kind of cheesy. Nonetheless, when you see these frames, it makes you step back and realize how much work really goes into creating a single frame. And for somebody who is into hand drawn animation like me, that is incredible.

It's been a little while since I actually sat down and looked all the way through, but regardless, if you can find a copy for cheap and you're interested in animation, this is a neat book to check out.

Hercules (PlayStation)

Before I even got into the Disney's Hercules stuff, I had known about the game for the original Playstation after seeing JonTron talk about it. However, it was only recently I was particularly interested in getting my hands on a copy of it, when I found a copy for about $11 on Amazon when you count shipping. With that, I just couldn't resist.

A lot of times, licensed games based on movies or TV shows are total crap. Some of the only exceptions I can think of are SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, The Simpsons: Hit and Run, and a handful of Star Wars games. However, in this case, I'd say this was a pretty good game. I had fun, andI probably would have even if it wasn't based on a movie I liked.

Almost all of the levels are based on scenes from the movie, beginning with Hercules, training on Phil's island. We then go through levels such as the Centaur's forest, Thebes, a boss battle with the hydra, storming Mount Olympus, and traveling to the underworld and facing off against Hades.

The game itself is largely a side-scrolling platformer, with a handful of segments where you traverse the z-axis. Graphically, it almost reminds me of Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64, as it uses two-dimensional sprites with a three-dimensional background. The sprites themselves are pretty low resolution, but this is not the end of the world for me. There are a number of different moves and power-ups you can use, the types of levels arranged are varied, and the boss battles are varied as well, so you won't get bored doing the same thing over and over again. The controls are pretty responsive and overall, it is pretty fun.

However, there are drawbacks. For one thing, the game makes you jump through hoops just to get the ability to save. Basically, there are four vases hidden in each level and you must get each of them, which allows you to save your progress after completing the level. However, the vases can be hard to find or in some levels, extremely hard to even get to, and there is no indicator as to how many you have gotten. This normally wouldn't be a problem if there weren't things objects in the foreground obscuring your view several times per level. Then again, you may not need to use the save at all, because the game is incredibly short. Once you get the hang of the controls and what to do in each level, you can easily complete the game in the same amount of time it would take just to watch the movie.

In the long run, though, I liked the game. Would had it been worth $50 when it was new? No, but for about $10, it's a good deal to me. But if you have the money, I would definitely recommend the art book, first and foremost. If you like Disney or animation in general, the book gives some insight on the creative process that can go into creating an animated film, and can show how many incarnations everything goes through before the project is finished.

Who Is The Monster and Who Is The Man: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

With my previous posts about Disney movies focusing on Hercules, Aladdin, and A Goofy Movie, I think it's obvious I have particular tastes in this company's movies. However, this time I'm going to write about a movie that is very, very different than these others, but one that I love all the same. That is the Disney adaptation of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, from 1996... and it's sequel, I guess.

While I don't remember ever actually watching Hercules or Aladdin as a kid, I'm pretty sure I remember seeing this one as a kid. I just didn't remember the movie itself. When I opened up the tape, it was at the end of the spool and had not been rewound, so obviously it had been played through at least once, and I have a fleeting memory of me either putting it in or taking it out of the VCR we had in the basement. Regardless, when I was in my major Disney phase over the past couple months, I was curious about this movie. While I didn't remember the events of the movie, from what I read and the little I had seen online, it was evident that this was much darker than the other Disney movies that came out in the Renaissance and once I got back into Disney films, I was interested in seeing this one.

This past spring, my parents bought me a couple blu-rays for Easter, including Lilo and Stitch, The Emperor's New Groove, A Bug's Life, and lastly, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. At last, I got the chance to sit down and watch it.

Synopsis (SPOILERS)

Our main character, Quasimodo, is a disfigured, deformed, yet kindhearted young man who is the bell ringer for Notre Dame cathedral in the 1400s. Twenty years before, Claude Frollo, a judge who despises gypsies, killed Quaismodo's mother and almost drowned the boy before he was forced by the archdeacon to raise Quasi to atone for it. In those twenty years, Frollo has forbidden Quasi from leaving the bell tower and tells him the world will not except him for his deformities. As a result, Quasimodo only has the gargoyles in the bell tower to talk to. Taking advice from the gargoyles, Quasimodo sneaks out of the tower in disguise to attend the Festival of Fools, a yearly festival that Frollo must preside over, yet hates.

Meanwhile, we meet our other two main characters, Phoebus and Esmeralda. Phoebus has been called back from war to serve under Frollo as captain of the guard. When they meet, Frollo explains to Phoebus how he believes the gypsies are corrupting the morals of Paris and plans to eradicate them by finding their hideout, the "court of miracles". Esmeralda is a beautiful, good hearted gypsy who dances in the street for money and is going to perform in the Festival.

At the festival, Quasimodo is exposed and is crowned as the "King of Fools" for his hideousness. However the crowd's attitude turns ugly and they begin to humiliate him, tying him down and throwing food at him. Frollo refuses to help as punishment for disobeying him and instead, Esmeralda steps in to stop the cruelty. Frollo demands she leave Quasimodo be, but she refuses, freeing him. Angered Frollo sends Phoebus and the other soldiers to arrest her, but she is able to escape and the festival ends.

Quasimodo retreats into the cathedral, and Esmeralda sneaks in as well. Phoebus notices and follows her in and makes her declare sanctuary so he cannot arrest her. Trapped inside the cathedral, Esmeralda finds Quasimodo and follows him and they get to know each other better. To repay her for helping him at the festival, Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape. Before they go their separate ways, she gives him a necklace that he can use to find her if he ever needs help and he is smitten.

Meanwhile, Frollo is battling his own feelings towards Esmeralda, with conflicting feelings of lust for her and hatred of her because she is a gypsy. He is informed that she has escaped from Notre Dame and reaches a conclusion: if he can't have her, then he will have her killed.

The following morning, he begins a citywide search for her, raiding and destroying houses and jailing people, angering Phoebus in the process. However, Phoebus finally reaches his breaking point with Frollo when he is instructed to light a house on fire with a family trapped inside. When he refuses, Frollo lights the house himself and Phoebus saves the family. Declared a traitor, he is about to be executed until Esmeralda intervenes. Phoebus is able to escape but is injured in the process, and is presumed dead by Frollo. At the same time, Frollo realizes that it was Quasimodo who helped Esmeralda escape from the cathedral in the first place. Esmeralda saves him and takes him to Quasimodo in the bell tower to hide him. There, Phoebus and Esmeralda kiss, crushing Quasimodo. However, this moment is interrupted when Quasimodo hears Frollo approaching the cathedral and Esmeralda escapes, leaving Phoebus to heal.

Frollo comes up to the bell tower and tells Quasimodo that he has found the court of miracles and plans to invade it the next day. After he leaves, Phoebus leaves to find the court and warn Esmeralda and the other gypsies, and Quasimodo follows suit. Using the necklace Esmeralda gave him, Quasimodo and Phoebus find the court in the old catacombs before they are ambushed by the gypsies. They are then almost executed until Esmeralda once again steps in to save them. However, as the two warn the gypsies, Frollo and his men arrive, as they followed Quasimodo there. The protagonists, as well as all of the gypsies are captured.

We find Frollo has had Phoebus and the gypsies locked up, Quasimodo chained up in the bell tower, and Esmeralda tied to a stake, about to set her aflame. He gives her one last chance to save her self by sleeping with him and she spits in his face. Enraged, Frollo lights the wood pile. Quasimodo is ultimately able to break the chains and use a rope to swing down and save Esmeralda, bringing her back up to the top of the cathedral. However, she is unconscious from the smoke. Frollo gets some of his men to get a battering ram to break down the cathedral's doors. In the chaos, Phoebus is able to break out his cage and free the gypsies and lead an uprising against Frollo's soldiers. The door is ultimately broken down enough for Frollo to get through and confront Quasimodo, with the intent to kill him.

When he tries, however, Quasimodo overpowers him but is distracted when he notices Esmeralda has woken up. Frollo takes advantage of this and tries to attack him with a sword and chases the two out onto the balcony, where he finds them hiding by hanging from a gargoyle. He struggles to hit them with his sword and ends on top of a gargoyle. However, as he is about to swing his sword, the gargoyle starts to crack and he clings onto it for dear life until it finally breaks off and he plummets with it to his death. Meanwhile, Esmeralda is able to climb back onto the balcony and tries to help Quasimodo back up, however he slips from her fingertips and and falls too. Luckily, Phoebus is able to catch him further down. The following morning, Phoebus, Esmeralda and Quasimodo exit the cathedral and Quasi is celebrated, concluding the film.

My Thoughts

The biggest thing I have to say about this movie is that it is by FAR one of the darkest movies Disney has ever put out. It has themes you would probably NEVER see in a Disney movie portrayed so blatantly today, such as religious hypocrisy, racial prejudice, infanticide, and even plain sexual lust. However, I think this is one reason why I love this movie so much. It's not only a black sheep in the realm of renaissance films, but also in the entire Disney animated filmography. It's actually crazy to me that Hercules, easily one of the most comedic and lighthearted renaissance films, came out just a year later, which really juxtaposes the differences between the two. Whether it's the themes, the ominous Gregorian music, the medieval setting or the depiction of some of the characters, this movie has a much darker atmosphere than some of the other Disney movies.

Being Disney, the animation is obviously fantastic. Esmeralda and Frollo probably stand out the most to me, with Esmeralda's dance sequence in particular as well as Frollo's overall creepy presence. While a lot of animation tends to be geared towards comedy, I think this movie shows how effective it can be in creating drama as well. From what I have read, this was the most expensive renaissance film, and it is evident that they were pushing the boundaries of what they could do. If I remember correctly, the making of the opening shot actually crashed the computer because it could not process all the different layers. Other innovations could be seen in the crowd shots, which featured numerous computer generated background characters. While today, these characters look extremely dated and basic when you focus on them, when you look at the shot altogether, they still contribute to the scale of the scene. Another phenomenal shot is the shot of Quasimodo sliding down the flying buttress during the "Out There" musical segment. Aside from that is the shot of him running down the side of Notre Dame , both of which utilize computer technology for the background.

The music is also very good. Like many Disney movies since 1989, the music was composed by Alan Menken, and there are several fantastic musical numbers. Easily one of the best in the movie is Judge Frollo's song, "Hellfire", which is indicative of the film's darkness. Another good number is the song "God Help the Outcasts". None of these songs necessarily have the radio friendliness of previous Disney films, yet they are still very strong.

Much like my other favorite Disney movie, Hercules, one of the strongest features this movie has is its villain. However, unlike Hades, who brought a layer of comedy to Hercules through his fast paced delivery and snarky attitude, Judge Claude Frollo was a very dark character that contributed to the film's family unfriendliness. His depiction as an overtly religious bigot and his warped belief that what he was doing was righteous creates realistic villain which, coupled with Tony Jay's chilling performance, creeps me out as an adult. However, that could be another draw to the film: to see one of Disney's darkest, most sinister villains.

One thing I did not particularly like was the gargoyles. I know they were intended for comic relief, but to me, they tended to seem out of place and just too over the top for the mood the movie was aiming for. As far as characters go, I don't think they were that bad, but I think they created major mood whiplash whenever they were there and their song was one I could have gone without.

Due this film's darkness, it seems like this film has largely fallen by the wayside in Disney's eyes and doesn't really get any recognition nowadays. You almost never seen references to it in Disney's social media platforms and you don't see many references to it in Disney World. Nonetheless, that does not detract from the film and actually makes the film somewhat more special to me. It's basically a hidden gem of a movie that has been forgotten in time. If you have the chance to see it on Netflix or see a copy of the DVD, I'd recommend it. Keep in mind though, when you get the DVD, it's also probably going to include the sequel.

The Sequel

I have only seen the sequel all the way through once. I actually tried watching it a second time and just turned it off midway through. I don't remember much of it and I don't want to discuss it much so the synopsis will be brief.

The story is set several years after the events of the first film. Phoebus and Esmeralda have since married and had a son named Zephyr. Meanwhile, Quasimodo still lives in the bell tower and serves as the bell ringer, but now lives among the other people in Paris. At the beginning of the film, there is about to be a festival devoted to love. However Quasimodo doesn't have anyone to celebrate with.

Meanwhile, a carnival has come to town, however, it is revealed the carnies are actually thieves traveling town to town, and the leader, Sarousch, has his sights set on stealing a bell from Notre Dame and sends his assistant, Madellaine to steal it. When she gets to Notre Dame, she and Quasimodo get along until he reveals his face and she runs away in shock. However, Quasimodo goes back to the circus to see her and Sarousch instructs her to follow Quasimodo. After seeing him with Zephyr, Madellaine is not afraid of him anymore and the two go on a date through Paris, distracting him long enough for Sarousch and his minions to sneak into the cathedral and steal the bell. Phoebus realizes that Sarousch is responsible and Quasimodo accuses Madellaine of deceiving him and Phoebus arrests her for her involvement in the theft.

Sarousch and his men end up taking Zephyr hostage as they escape almost get away. However, Madellaine uses her high wire skills to sneak past them and take Zephyr back, and Sarousch is arrested.

The next scene is at the festival, where Madellaine, who has since been freed for helping the heroes, shows up at the cathedral and she and Quasimodo end up declaring their love for each other, thus concluding the movie.

This is the type of movie that people talk about when they criticize Disney straight to video sequels. The animation is incredibly cheap, the characters are uninteresting, and the story has the quality of a lousy TV show. I actually forgot there were songs in this movie until earlier tonight when I started writing this entry. That's how forgettable they were. There are really only two things I can say I liked about this movie. The first is that the majority of the cast (minus Tony Jay as Frollo) returned, so the returning characters all sound familiar. The other thing was I liked was that Quasimodo got to be in a relationship at the end. But that's about it.

All in all, I think the original movie is an underrated work of art that has unfortunately been lost with time. I don't feel that way about the sequel.

The animation is beautiful and fluid, the music is great, and the stories and characters are crafted very well. Since seeing it back in the Spring this year, it has become one of my favorite Disney movies.

Bless My Soul, Herc Was On A Roll: Hercules

Oh boy, this is one I've been really looking forward to. When I mentioned in past posts about being on a Disney kick the past couple months, it was all because of this movie. Once I saw this movie back in January, it opened up the floodgates and revived my interest in Disney movies and this takes the spot as my all-time favorite Disney movie.I don't know how to describe why I like this movie so much. Granted, as an adult, I can appreciate the technical work that went into the production better than I ever could as a kid. I love the animation, the art direction, the music, and it may just be because it was the first traditionally drawn Disney movie I've seen in years and reminded me of the studio's quality of the time.

Much like Aladdin, I remember occasionally watching reruns of the TV show on Toon Disney, but I only saw the movie as an adult. Other than that, the only exposure I had to the movie was the occasional reference to Hades in Disney World or House of Mouse, jokes and screenshots posted online, and a scene or two we watched in sixth grade when we studied Greek mythology.

Overall though, this movie is fairly underrepresented when it comes to Disney films. While it may not be outright ignored like The Hunchback of Notre Dame or any of the movies from the dark ages, it certainly seems to be low ranking in terms of the company's roster of movies. In a sense, that may be another reason why I like it. It doesn't have as much exposure as some of the other movies nowadays and that sort of makes it more special to those who really do like it.

Summary

Hercules is very, very, loosely based on the myth of the ancient Greek demigod Heracles, but takes on a largely different story.

As a baby, Hercules is kidnapped and turned mortal under the order of Hades, the god of the dead, who wants to take over Mount Olympus for himself. After Hades' minions fail to kill him, Hercules is adopted and raised on Earth but struggles to fit in because he has superhuman strength. After learning about his true parentage, Hercules begins a quest to restore his godhood by becoming a "true hero", with the help of his flying horse, Pegasus, and trainer Philoctetes.

On his journey towards becoming a hero, Hercules, Phil and Pegasus travel to Thebes and meet a beautiful young woman named Megara along the way, who is revealed to be reluctantly working for Hades. After defeating the hydra, Hercules becomes a celebrity in Thebes, defeating every monster Hades sends his way.

As Hades gets closer to implement his plan to take over Olympus, he uses Hercules' attraction to Meg against him, however, Meg comes to fall for him as well. Phil overhears Meg and Hades talk, but when he tries to warn Hercules, Hercules refuses to listen and the get in an argument, which ends with Phil leaving.

When she refuses to assist him further, Hades takes Meg hostage and coerces Hercules into giving up his powers for her safety. Hercules gives up his powers, and is immediately crushed when Hades reveals Meg was working with him all along. Hades then leaves and frees the Titans to help him take over Olympus, and sends a giant cyclops to kill Hercules. Unable to convince him to fight, Meg gets Phil to help motivate him, but is fatally injured when Hercules defeats the cyclops, breaking Hades' deal. With his strenght restored, Hercules is able to save Mount Olympus, but Meg dies before he can return to her.

Hercules travels down to the underworld and offers to take her place in the sea of the dead if he can reach her. As he saves her, he becomes immortal because he sacrificed himself, and can return to Olympus. However, Hercules realizes he will have to leave Meg behind and instead gives up his godhood to live on Earth with her.

My Thoughts

When I first sat down to watch this movie, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I was curious about some of the scenes I had seen online and I recognized Hades as a popular villain, but I finally sat down to watch it in January 2016. 

It had been a long time since I had seen a traditionally animated Disney movie and I think seeing this and the quality of the animation really is what sparked my revived interest in Disney films. I was used to limited animation and cheaper television animation so when I saw the fluidity and fantastic flow and movement of the movie, it blew me away. One thing that astounded me was the attention to detail in how the characters moved. Even if a character wasn't doing anything, they still would shift their weight slight naturally and actually seem like a living person. In limited animation, it a character doesn't need to move, they don't. The animators will animate whatever parts that need to move like an arm or eyes, but little more. With this animation, the characters actually feel like they are alive, only two dimensional. Another thing I love about the animation is that it was a break from the typical Disney design. By hiring Gerald Scarfe as production designer and incorporating ancient Greek influences, the art has a distinct personality that would not only set it apart from other Renaissance movies, but also open the door to more abstract designs in future films. I don't even know how to describe the nature of the art direction. Many objects and characters are filled with flowing swirls and angular, rigid points.

Certain characters also highlight certain animation styles. Hercules (who was animated by Andreas Deja, responsible for Jafar from Aladdin, Scar from The Lion King, and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast) has by far the best action animation, obviously. In scenes like the Hydra scene or when he is still high from his date with Meg, we see wild, yet believable animation that is beautifully detailed and fluid.

Meg's animation can emphasize her sex appeal in how she moves, her animation really shines in the more subtle moments, especially in her face. This can be seen when Hades implies he wants to use her to find Hercules' weakness, where she is both shocked and insulted. Another example can be seen when they are on their date, both when she is annoyed by Pain and Panic nagging her as well as the heartfelt gaze she gives when Hercules says she's the greatest person "with weak ankles" he's ever met.

Hades, meanwhile... I don't know how to describe it. His animation and motion just seems to fit James Woods's portrayal so well. He talks like a smarmy used car salesman and he's got the animation to pull it off.

One more comment I have about the animation I have is regarding the Hydra scene. One of my favorite shots in the entire movie is the shot where Hercules is holding onto the monster's teeth as it tries to eat him and he struggles to keep it from biting down. This is due to how well the the traditional and computer animation interact together and look believable, which is a challenging task. I can't even begin to imagine how much time went simply into that shot.

Another thing I enjoy is the story. Before anybody says anything, I am fully aware this movie is unfaithful to the mythology. If anything, I view this movie as Ancient Greek fanfiction. However, that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it. The biggest thing about this story that I love is the love story. I admit it. I am a total sucker for the romance plot between Hercules and Meg and I find the kiss at the end to be extremely sweet.

Another thing is that even though the movie conflicts with the myth, it's evident Ron Clements and John Musker did their research in writing. Even if it's not part of the story, there are several allusions to the 12 Labors Hercules has to accomplish in the original story as well as parts from other myths. It's obvious artistic liberties were taken several times for the sake of the movie being entertaining, but at the same time, if it didn't Hercules wouldn't be a family friendly G-rated musical comedy. It would also be called Heracles.

One other thing I love about this movie is the music, because it is such an odd choice. The Little Mermaid has songs with tropical elements, Aladdin's soundtrack incorporates Middle Eastern influences, and Hercules... has a soundtrack inspired by '60s gospel and soul. The anachronistic nature of the soundtrack adds to the overall oddball nature of the film. It helps that the songs are also insanely catchy. Much like Aladdin, I was familiar with some of the songs long before I saw the movie. The song, "Zero to Hero" would go on to be the intro theme for the animated series, while "Go The Distance" would be used in the Wishes fireworks show in Walt Disney World.

Aside from the reasons already listed, I think the reason why I love Hercules is because it sticks out from so many of the other Disney movies at the time. Aside from Aladdin, Hercules is probably the most comedic films from the Disney Renaissance era, which made it really contrast with the more dramatic movies it came out in between like The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame or Tarzan. One observation I have seen that I agree with is that it was one of, if not the first Disney movies where over-the-top humor wasn't really relegated to sidekicks. Instead, basically every character can get their own comedic moment. In terms of slapstick, Hercules is clobbered a couple times, Phil takes a heavy dose of physical abuse through the movie, and even Meg gets tossed around a couple times. Another thing I like is that most of the characters are smart-asses, with Hades and Meg both providing some good quips.

Another reason I love it is probably just because it doesn't get as much attention as some of the others from its time. Everybody loves the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, but how many people say Hercules or the Hunchback are their favorites? They're not as common. No doubt it was a financial hit at the time and Disney probably did an intense marketing campaign like they always do, but that is definitely not the case anymore. You may see Hades lumped in with all the other acclaimed Disney villains, but Hercules gets little to no recognition commercially anymore. So it always seems extra special when Disney actually DOES reference it.

The way I see it, based on the quality of Disney movies, you can name almost any of their movies as your favorite and it can be acceptable. And while Hercules may come across as a middling/average Disney movie, there are certain parts to it that really bring it out on top for me, personally.

Hercules: Zero to Hero

Once I saw the original Hercules, I was obsessed. I was not just hooked, I was literally obsessed with it for several weeks. In that timeframe, my obsession and my need for completion led me to actually track down and buy a copy of Hercules: Zero to Hero. I even made sure I had a working tape player to ensure I could watch it. It's not that it's particularly good, because it's not. But I loved the movie so much that I wanted the complete experience.

Synopsis

Set after the events of the original movie, we see Hercules and Meg, now married and moving into a new house. During the move in process, Meg comes across some of Hercules' old high school stuff. In a panic, Hercules sends the stuff back to Phil's island. Curious, Meg sneaks out to find Phil and see what the big fuss was about. This leads into the first segment.

The first segment is about Hercules on his first day of school. Once there, he quickly establishes himself as a loser, and becomes friends with fellow outcasts, Icarus and Cassandra. He also gets humiliated by the school's bully, Adonis. Hoping to boost his popularity, Hercules decides to beat a two headed cyclops who are more interested in attacking and eating more prominent students, leading to problems back at school.

Back on Phil's Island, Hercules finds Meg at Phil's island and tells her another story from high school. The second story features Hercules coming across a new student at school who moonlights as a vigilante known as the Grim Avenger. Together, the two team up to defeat the Minotaur, who has been destroying temples recently.

The last story is about Hercules getting into an argument with his father Zeus after Hercules is picked on in school by Adonis. After the dispute, Zeus turns himself into a mortal teenager to show how easy it is to be a teenager and is quickly disproven. Meanwhile, Hades catches wind of this, and tries to take advantage of this, and Hercules and Zeus must work together to stop him.

Once again on Phil's island, Meg reassures Hercules that she'd love him regardless of who he was in high school, and Hercules responds by telling her he found her high school memorabilia, much to her chagrin.

My Thoughts

Overall... this is really not that great. All this video release is is a compilation of four episodes of the TV show: "Hercules and the First Day of School", "Hercules and the Grim Avenger", and "Hercules and the Visit from Zeus", with the clipshow episode, "Hercules and the Yearbook" being re-edited to serve as a segue between episodes. I mean, for a Saturday Morning TV series, it wasn't bad, but it is not all that great when you compare it to the movie as a full length release. The animation is cheap, the songs are either cheesy or forgettable and the writing isn't as strong as it is in the movie. The one thing this has really going for it is the return of most of the main voice actors, most importantly Tate Donovan as Hercules and James Woods as Hades.

Again, it was originally a TV show, which on its own, is not all that bad. If anything, I give it more of a pass because of that as opposed to being an intentional straight to video release (*COUGH* Hunchback of Notre Dame II *COUGH*). Honestly though, I only bought the VHS because I'm a compulsive collector. If you really wanted to see these episodes for whatever reason, I know they are on YouTube, and they're not anything particularly special. Overall, I'd say this video was not that good, but I still sort of enjoy it through its mediocrity simply because I love the original movie so much.

Conclusion

While it may not be most people's first choice, Hercules is easily MY favorite Disney movie. It's kind of a weird movie when you compare it to some of the other latter day renaissance movies, but I think that makes it more endearing to me. I love the animation, the music is some of my favorite from a Disney movie, and I like the overall mood and atmosphere the film casts. It's a shame Disney doesn't do a whole lot with this movie anymore. At most, they may make a reference to Hades or make a post from the movie on their social media sites, but it seems to have largely fallen by the wayside since the end of the Disney Renaissance. However, this is not the only one, and the I plan on writing about another movie that has since been forgotten since the '90s in my next Disney post.

A Whole New World: Aladdin

Over the past couple months, I have been going through a Disney kick. For the sake of nostalgia, I dug up our old VHS tapes, simply to see what we had when I was a kid, as well as what we didn't have on DVD or blu-ray. Among those movies were Fun and Fancy Free, A Bug's Life, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Emperor's New Groove, and last but not least, Aladdin.

For years I had heard how great Aladdin was and saw the presence it has in Disney's marketing, but I had never actually seen it. Actually, when I opened up the tape, I could see the tape was largely unfinished and I don't think it was even watched before then. I remember watching reruns of the animated TV series back in the late 90s and early 2000s, but I never fully understood the concept and didn't really watch it if I could find something else. But overall, that was my only real exposure to the franchise.

Back in March, my parents were out of town and left me in charge of the house. Knowing I was going through a Disney phase, they surprised me with a copy of Aladdin on blu-ray. At long last I would be able to see it. When I finally sat down to see it, I loved it. Functioning the way I do, because I loved it, I ultimately wound up finding tapes of the sequels as well, and I will be talking about all of these things.

Synopsis (SPOILERS)

(Bear with me, this is going to be long.)

The story begins with our main antagonist, Jafar and with his parrot, Iago, finding the "Cave of Wonders", hoping to retrieve a magic lamp inside. However, they learn only one person may enter the cave, one who is more than he appears to be. A diamond in the rough. This diamond in the rough is revealed to be Aladdin, a quick witted, good natured boy who, along with his monkey, Abu, resorts to stealing to survive. Aladdin resents being looked down upon as a "street rat" and wants people to see that there is more to him.

All this time, we meet Princess Jasmine, an independent, strong willed young woman who is required by law to marry a prince by her next birthday, which is in a couple days. However, Jasmine detests being viewed as a prize by all her suitors and feels unfulfilled living in the palace. She soon decides to run away. Meanwhile, it is revealed Jafar is the top advisor to Jasmine's father, the Sultan, and is manipulating him with a magic staff. Jafar learns Aladdin is the "diamond in the rough" and sends guards to get him.

The following morning, unfamiliar with the marketplace, Jasmine accidentally gets in trouble with a shopkeeper until Aladdin notices and steps in. The two spend the day running away from guards and they make it back to Aladdin's home where they begin to connect emotionally. However this moment is disrupted by royal guards who arrest Aladdin, under Jafar's orders. When Jasmine confronts him, Jafar lies and says that Aladdin has been beheaded for allegedly kidnapping the princess.

Meanwhile, Aladdin is held prisoner, where another prisoner (which is Jafar in disguise) tells him about the Cave of Wonders and the riches inside. They escape the prison and head out to the Cave of Wonders. Once inside, Aladdin and Abu encounter a sentient magic carpet, who leads him to the lamp Jafar needs. However, the cave begins to collapse and they just barely make it to the mouth. Once he gets the lamp, Jafar reveals himself and betrays Aladdin, throwing him back into the cave as it shuts. However it turns out Abu was able to steal the lamp back just before the cave shut. Upon rubbing the lamp, a magic genie is released and is able to grant three wishes. Using his wit, Aladdin is able to con the genie into getting them out of the cave without sacrificing one of his wishes.

Contemplating what he wants to wish for, Aladdin asks the genie what he would wish for. The genie wants his freedom however can only get it if his master wishes for it. Aladdin then agrees to wish for the genie's freedom as his last wish. The genie has a set of rules when it comes to wishes: three is the limit: no wishing for more wishes. The genie is also unable to kill anybody, bring anybody back from the dead, or make anybody fall in love. However, he CAN make Aladdin a prince, thereby allowing him to marry Jasmine. While this is going on, Jafar, now believing the lamp to be lost forever, devises a plan with Iago to marry Jasmine himself in order to take power. However, this plan is threatened when Aladdin, under the guise of "Prince Ali Ababua" arrives to court Jasmine.

Jasmine is unimpressed with "Prince Ali's" pompous condescending attitude, believing him to be just like every other suitor that had come before him. However, Aladdin begins to let his true personality slip through. Realizing that this is the same guy she met at the marketplace, Jasmine begins to warm up to him. From there, the two go on a date using the magic carpet, which is seen in the famous "A Whole New World" segment. Despite advise from the Genie, Aladdin refuses to admit who he really is and continues the facade of Prince Ali, and Jasmine chooses him to be her husband. After the date, Aladdin is almost drowned under Jafar's orders, but is saved by the genie, at the expense of a wish. Aladdin then returns and exposes Jafar as a traitor when he destroys Jafar's staff, breaking any control Jafar has over the Sultan. Jafar then realizes "Prince Ali" is Aladdin and has the lamp and escapes arrest. Despite Jafar's betrayal, the Sultan is overjoyed to see Jasmine has chosen a suitor and informs Aladdin that he will someday become sultan, which troubles him.

Aladdin is now conflicted, worried that he won't be able to maintain his Prince Ali act and be Sultan in the future. Feeling like he can't go through with this without the genie's help, Aladdin refuses to release him, who is angered and goes into his lamp. Iago then is sent to steal the lamp and bring it back to Jafar. With Jafar as his new master, the genie reluctantly grants Jafar's wishes to be both sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. As he boasts his new powers, Jafar makes Jasmine and the Sultan his slaves and reveals Aladdin's humble origins. He then launches Aladdin, Abu and the carpet to another part of the world. 

Aladdin is able to return and confront Jafar, who uses his street smarts to trick Jafar into using his last wish to turn into a genie, who, despite having phenomenal power, must be confined to a lamp and must serve a master. The genie then banishes Jafar's lamp to the Cave of Wonders. Aladdin apologizes to Jasmine for lying about who he was and must return to his regular life. Seeing how much Aladdin and Jasmine love each other, the Genie reminds Aladdin that he has one last wish and is willing to make him a prince again. Aladdin, unwilling to be something he is not, instead wishes for the genie's freedom. The genie is overjoyed with his new freedom and the two bid farewell as he goes off to see the world. Meanwhile, the Sultan realizes Aladdin's actions have proven himself to be worthy of his daughter, decides to change the law so now the princess can choose who to marry. The film ends with the genie flying off into the distance as Jasmine and Aladdin flying on the magic together.

My Thoughts

Of all the Disney movies I have seen, I think this is one of my favorites. It clearly is one of the more comedic and lighthearted Disney renaissance movies, thanks in large part to Robin Williams' fantastic performance as the Genie. Aside from the brilliant humor the he brought through his overall wackiness and celebrity impersonations, the Genie was a dynamic character who had depth and made the audience feel for him. One of the sweetest moments the film has is when the Genie is willing to give up his chance at freedom for Aladdin and Jasmine's love, and is both startled and touched when he hears otherwise. I was never a particularly big fan of Robin Williams, however I think it's pretty obvious he was crucial to the film's quality, and his absence can be felt in the sequel.

Jasmine is an interesting character and sort of conflicts me. She is as a confident, intelligent woman who refuses to be objectified and wants to be more independent, which is way she runs away from home. The problem is that while she is a strong character with admirable traits, once she comes back to the palace, she really doesn't have much to do for the rest of the movie other than fall in love with Aladdin and help him stop Jafar. While I think she is a good character, I think they wasted some of her potential.

One thing I should note is that even though it may not seem particularly remarkable, I actually found the carpet to be impressive. First and foremost, it fits in and is treated as a character, with a personality all on its own. One of the first assignments I had in my first animation class was to draw a flour sack and make it do something. The intended purpose of this assignment was to make us give an inanimate object personality even when it doesn't have a face or even limbs and after seeing this movie, I can say that the carpet is a textbook example of what we were supposed to achieve. I guess this truly is a testament to the Disney's masterful animation.

As with most Disney movies of the time, the movie features music composed by Alan Menken and has several memorable songs, most notably "A Whole New World". Ironically, I had head several of the songs years before I ever saw the movie. One thing I noticed about "A Whole New World" is that the soundtrack version is different from the version used in the movie -- at least instrumentally. Another thing that is neat about the soundtrack is that the version I have includes a couple of demos that were recorded by Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman that were not included in the movie. Both of these songs make references to characters and events not mentioned in the movie, such as Aladdin's mother or friends, and is neat to see what was in earlier versions of the story.

All in all, after seeing this movie, I am astounded I had not seen this movie sooner, because it is now one of my favorites and I encourage you to see it if you haven't and like Disney movies.

THE RETURN OF JAFAR

While many people remember Disney in the 90s for their string of acclaimed hits, they also remember it for the age when they started putting out cheap direct to video sequels that were almost always criticized. These films were produced not by the main feature studio, but rather DisneyToon Studios, which was devoted to straight to video sequels, TV show adaptations and the occasional original movie, like A Goofy Movie. The first of these direct to video movies was the Aladdin sequel: The Return of Jafar. I actually came across my copy of the film the day after I saw the original for the first time. The record store I go to not only sells CDs and DVDs, but they also sell VHS tapes, and I saw this one for a dollar. While I knew it probably wasn't going to be good, I was morbidly curious and bought it.

SYNOPSIS

After the events of the first movie, we see Aladdin, Abu and the carpet stealing treasure from a competing group of thieves, led by the Abis Mal. Meanwhile, we see that Iago has escaped Jafar's lamp, but refuses to release him and heads back to Agrabah, hoping to go back into the Sultan's good graces and return to a life of luxury. When he gets back to Agrabah, he is confronted by its citizens, but when he inadvertently saves Aladdin from Abis Mal and his cronies, he gains Aladdin's trust. Aladdin locks up Iago, but promises to give him fair trial. However, Aladdin does not tell Jasmine. After this, the Genie returns from seeing the world.

The main characters gather for a dinner where the Sultan announces he wants to make Aladdin his grand vizier (Jafar's old position). However, this dinner is interrupted when Iago is accidentally let loose and is chased by Jasmine's pet tiger, Rajah. The Sultan and Jasmine are both angered by Aladdin hiding Iago, but the Sultan allows Iago to live in palace as long as Aladdin is responsible for him. Iago then helps Aladdin regain Jasmine's trust.

Abis Mal comes to find Jafar's lamp and releases him. After Jafar tricks Abis into wasting his first two wishes, the two form an alliance due to their mutual goal of getting revenge on Aladdin. The two go to Agrabah and Jafar convinces a reluctant Iago to work with them. Aladdin and the Sultan then go off to discuss how to deal with Iago, when they are ambushed by Abis. The Sultan is then kidnapped. Meanwhile, Jafar confronts Aladdin's friends back home, locks them up and frames Aladdin for the presumed death of the Sultan.

Luckily, Iago's conscience shines through and he releases the Genie, allowing him to help save Aladdin from being executed and free the others. Aladdin learns the only way to kill Jafar is by destroying his lamp. They then engage in combat with Jafar, who ends up creating a large crack in the ground with his powers and surrounds Aladdin and his friends with magma. Iago then grabs the lamp and is injured by Jafar. However, he is able to kick the lamp into the magma, killing Jafar and returning everything back to normal. Iago is forgiven and is accepted back into the palace as a friend.

My Thoughts

From what I've gathered, the Aladdin sequels, while not considered particularly good, are among the better direct to video sequels. However, it is still a major step down from the movie. The movie was basically an extended pilot for the television series, and the animation quality is basically that of a Saturday morning cartoon and the fluidity, detail and care present in the film are gone and replaced with a cheap feel.

Unlike the first film, the songs in this movie are completely forgettable. Actually -- I take that back. I can remember, not one, but TWO songs with Gilbert Gottfried singing lead as Iago, which is grating experience.

Much like the animation, the writing simply feels like an extended TV episode. However, one thing that I thought was an interesting choice was putting so much emphasis on Iago and his character development from an antagonist into an anti-hero. From what I've seen, most straight to video Disney movies either focus on children of the protagonists, give a love interest to a character who didn't get one in the original, or serve as a midquel when the protagonist is younger. This one instead provides some character progression to a lower level character, which is not much but still interesting.

The biggest problem with this movie is that it lacks Robin Williams as the Genie. Because Disney went back on some agreements they made with Williams when making the first film, there was a major falling out between the two and Williams refused to come back for the sequel. Instead, Disney hired Dan Castellaneta, best known for playing Homer Simpson, to take his place. In some cases, I can actually hear voices that sound like Simpsons characters such as Homer or Barney Gumble. As a result, the voice seems off and out of place and the humor the genie brings lacks the genuine spontaneous nature and mirth found in the original film. That, coupled with the fact he doesn't have much to do in the movie, makes it seem like he's there just to be there and doesn't actually contribute much to overall viewing experience. This is a stark shift to the original where the Genie was was one of, if not, the biggest reasons to see the movie. Thankfully, Disney and Williams would make amends after this and he would come back for the second movie.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Being the collector I am, I was not satisfied with having just one of the sequels, even if it wasn't that good. As a result, I searched around and found a copy of Aladdin and the King of Thieves on VHS. For the record, I only bought the VHS version because the DVDs of these movies have been sealed away in the Disney Vault since 2008 and copies are much more expensive. Much like The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves is not particularly good as a movie on its own. However, it is a step up compared to its predecessor.

SYNOPSIS

The film begins on Aladdin and Jasmine's wedding day with the kingdom of Agrabah preparing for the ceremony. Meanwhile, a group of thieves known as the Forty Thieves are preparing to raid the wedding. Prior to the ceremony, Aladdin goes back to the ruins he used to live in to find a dagger, which is the only thing he has left from his father, who he believes to be long dead. He confides in the genie that he is worried about what kind of father he will be. They then head to the wedding, which is interrupted by the Forty Thieves, with the King of Thieves searching for a particular scepter in the gifts. Aladdin is able to fight off the king and the Forty Thieves leave.

Aladdin realizes the scepter contains an oracle that can answer one question for every person about anything. The oracle hints his father is actually alive, and Aladdin uses his question to find out where his father is. He then learns his father is "trapped" with the Forty Thieves. He, Abu, Iago and the carpet then head off to find their hideout. There it is revealed Aladdin's father, Cassim is actually the King of Thieves. The reunion is short-lived as another member of the Forty Thieves, Sa'luk wants to punish Aladdin for finding their hideout. Cassim instead suggests Aladdin take part in the initiation process of joining the Forty Thieves by defeating one of its members and taking their place. Aladdin defeats Sa'luk by knocking him off a cliff and is accepted into the group. Cassim then reveals he left his wife and son to find the Hand of Midas, an object that turns anything it touches into gold. When he came back to Agrabah, his wife had died and could not find Aladdin, and carried on believing he was dead as well. Aladdin convinces Cassim to come back and live an honest life, and Cassim agrees once he learns he can still get to the Oracle. Meanwhile, Cassim and Iago also begin to form a friendship, bonding over their mutual appreciation for wealth and treasure.

It turns out Aladdin did not kill Sa'luk, who travels to Agrabah and sells out his fellow thieves and their hideout to the royal guards in exchange for immunity. He also reveals Aladdin is a member of the thieves and his father is their leader. He also convinces the remaining thieves who were not captured that Cassim is responsible for selling out the others. Cassim and Iago are jailed when they are caught stealing the oracle. Aladdin frees the two but refuses to run away with them and takes responsibility for his actions. When he gets back he is ultimately forgiven for his crimes after Jasmine and Genie convince the Sultan not to punish him.

Once Cassim reaches the old hideout with the Oracle, he is kidnapped by Sa'luk and the other thieves and is forced to use the oracle to lead them to the treasure, which is a marble fortress on the back of a giant sea turtle. Iago is able to escape and returns to Agrabah and convinces rallies Aladdin and his friends to save him. Aladdin, Iago, Abu, the Genie and the carpet all reach the turtle and Aladdin and Cassim find the Hand of Midas. They then confront Sa'luk, who takes Aladdin hostage. To save his son, Cassim tosses the Hand of Midas at Sa'luk, who turns into gold upon contact. Cassim admits that his son is the greatest treasure he could have. They then use the Hand of Midas to turn the remaining thieves' boats into gold and sink it. They then return to Agrabah, where Aladdin and Jasmine finally get married. Cassim attends the wedding in secret before heading off with Iago to travel the world.

My Thoughts

After the tape ended, I almost felt kind of lost. It gave the franchise closure, and it was sad to see these characters finally go off into the sunset after three movies. With that being said, I did not think the movie was that good. I thought it was marginally better than The Return of Jafar, but not by a whole lot. 

While The Return of Jafar was the pilot for the TV series, Aladdin and the King of Thieves was the finale, and the quality of the two are very similar. The animation looks like that of a Saturday morning cartoon and the songs are just as unremarkable as those in the preceding movie, the only being no songs sung by Iago.

The story meanwhile is fairly cheesy, especially in the scenes where Aladdin talks about his father or any scene where he and Cassim interact. It's sweet, syrupy, and fairly predictable. The one thing I think The Return of Jafar benefitted from was the choice to make an established antagonist have a drastic change of heart and become one of the good guys. When Cassim is introduced, we see him purely as an antagonist without redeeming qualities for about the first 20 minutes before revealing his identity and making him an anti-villain/anti-hero mix.

What this movie does benefit from is the return of Robin Williams as the Genie. After Jeffrey Katzenburg left Disney, the company's new chairman made a public apology, and with a million dollar salary, Williams returned for the second sequel. This was actually a major selling point, because on the box, it explicitly reads "Starring Robin Williams" right under the title. Williams' return to the role brings back some of the natural spontaneous charm the Genie had in the original, which would have been a significant improvement over the preceding movie if they gave the character something to do in the story. Much like The Return of Jafar, he only really is there for throwaway jokes and using magic when the plot doesn't allow anything else. In this movie, he largely stays back with Jasmine and tries to entertain her while she worries about Aladdin.

All in all, in the realm of Disney DTV movies, this one is considered "okay", which is probably the highest praise I can give it. It brought back Robin Williams and ends the series on a sweet note, but that's about it.

Conclusion

After seeing this movie, I am astounded that I never saw it as a kid. The TV show never really stuck out to me when they would play reruns of it, but when you compare the original movie to the TV show-like sequels, it's apparent the movie is on a totally different plane. The movie has bright, lively animation, catchy, memorable songs, endearing characters and fun humor. The sequels... um... well, they cost $6 combined, which I guess is something.

Regardless, even if you never see the sequels, the original is a great movie along, and is one of my favorite Disney movies. However, I have yet to talk about my all time favorite, which is going to be my next Disney post.

Stand Out Above The Crowd: A Goofy Movie

Since I have only written about band's I've been listening to as of now, I figured it was time to write about the other major part of my blog: animation. For my inaugural animation post, I decided to write about one of my favorite childhood movies, A Goofy Movie, as well as its sequel, An Extremely Goofy Movie.

A GOOFY MOVIE

I had largely forgotten about these movies up until recently, when I uncovered a couple boxes of old VHS tapes in my parents' attic. At the time, I felt motivated to get our old VCRs working and I wanted to find some tapes to use. Meanwhile, I had a renewed interest in Disney movies, especially the Renaissance films from the 1990s. Upon searching the box, I came across my tape of A Goofy Movie, and I was swarmed with memories of the movie. I remember watching this tape fairly frequently as a child and in hindsight, was probably one of my favorites. Based on the previews, it looks like my copy of the film was from around 1999-2000, so I've seen this movie since I was around 5. Flushed with memories, I decided to watch it again and see it stood up to my memories.

Synopsis (SPOILERS)

The movie follows the classic Disney character, Goofy, as he struggles to bond with his now teenage son, Max. Max, interested in impressing a girl he likes, Roxanne, stages a stunt on the last day of school by hijacking a school assembly and lipsynching a song by pop sensation, Powerline. However, when he is caught, his principle exaggerates the disruption to Goofy and makes Max sound like a violent criminal. Fearing Max is slipping away from him, Goofy plans a cross country fishing trip to Lake Destiny, Idaho, which conflicts with Max's plans to go to a party with Roxanne. Not wanting to disappoint Roxanne, he panics and lies to her, telling her he is going to the big Powerline concert that is going to be televised on pay-per-view at the party.

From there, we follow Goofy and Max as they travel to out west, butting heads constantly along the way. Along the way, the two run into their friends Pete and PJ, where Pete advises Goofy to be stricter with Max, however, this only leads to more friction between the two. While the two are trapped in the car after an encounter with Bigfoot while camping, Max secretly changes the map from Idaho to Los Angeles, where the concert is being filmed, yet feels guilty about it.

Goofy ends up abandoning this stricter parenting method and lets Max pick out the stops along the way. However, Pete figures out and informs Goofy that Max changed the map, and Goofy is devastated his son lied to him. This devastation becomes fury when Max hesitantly directs follows the directions to Los Angeles. The two finally have it out and in the confusion, the car is driven off a cliff and they land in a river. Trapped in the river, they argue until they both realize while Max is grown up and has his own life, Goofy is still his father will always be part of it. Immediately afterwards, they realize they are approaching a waterfall and Max is able to save Goofy using a fishing technique Goofy taught him earlier in the movie.

After this, Goofy helps get Max to Los Angeles and the two inevitably wind up onstage with Powerline. After the concert, Max ultimately owns up to Roxanne later, admitting he lied to her in an attempt to impress her, even though she admits she liked him from the beginning. From there Max introduces Goofy to Roxanne and the film ends.

My Thoughts

Watching this movie, I can say that while I probably wouldn't like it as much if I didn't watch it as kid, I still found it to be an enjoyable movie. The plot has a neat setup that opens itself up for both comedy as well as drama, the latter of which is not something you'd expect to be associated with a character like Goofy. However, the way the relationship between Goofy and Max is portrayed, the pathos is natural rather than shoehorned. Both characters are portrayed as flawed characters: Goofy is well meaning and good natured, yet oblivious to how his son feels.  Meanwhile, Max is selfish and moody, but it's excusable because he's still a teenager and is ultimately a good person who loves his father. Overall, it's an interesting choice to put Goofy, of all characters in a story like this, because while it is a comedy in the long run, it has a heavy dose of drama and the characters are relatable.

Even though the movie was made in the mid-1990s, it is not considered to be part of the "Disney Animated Canon" of the time like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast. This is because it was largely made by the company's DisneyToon Studios, which is usually delegated to low budget sequels that tend to wind up straight to video. While it may not reach the masterful quality and fluidity of the bigger name Disney films at the time, since it was a theatrical release, the animation quality is far higher than the majority of DisneyToon projects and was an improvement from the animation of its predecessor TV show, Goof Troop.

While this may very well be due to the fact I enjoyed this movie growing up, I found the musical numbers to be very enjoyable, especially the Powerline songs. However, looking at it without nostalgia glasses, the musical numbers like "On the Open Road" and "Nobody Else But You" are fairly forgettable. 

One thing that felt odd about this movie however was that unlike many Disney movies, which tend to have a timeless feel no matter when it is actually set, A Goofy Movie looks and feels very mid-90s. The way the characters dress, Pete calling Max and P.J. the "MTV Generation"... the inclusion of Pauly Shore and his character, Bobby. All these things make the film seem more dated than other Disney movies. This is most evident when Max heads home from school, now an in-school celebrity. With a reprise of the song "Stand Out" playing, he puts on his hat backwards, puts on some sunglasses, and skateboards home, which I guess is what the cool kids did in 1995 (clean diapers were good enough for me at the time, but maybe that's just me).

Overall though, this movie isn't some masterpiece, but it's still a fun movie that, even as an adult, I can appreciate. While Goofy may be an odd choice to have a movie with the pathos it does, it is pulled off fairly well. The soundtrack is catchy, albeit with somewhat forgettable songs and the animation is good for a lower entry Disney project. In the end, I can at least say I still like the movie and not be embarrassed for being nostalgic about it.

AN EXTREMELY GOOFY MOVIE

While I don't exactly remember when I first saw the straight to video follow up, I know I didn't watch it as much as the first one as a kid, but I still enjoyed it. Seeing as how I still enjoyed the first one as an adult, I broke out the DVD to know if this would hold up as well.

Synopsis (SPOILERS)

This film takes place a couple years after the events of the first film, with Max and his friends P.J. and Bobby preparing to head off to college. The three have taken up extreme sports as a hobby and are planning on participating in the college X Games. While Max is thrilled at the opportunity to move out, Goofy is heartbroken to see his son leave.

When Max and his friends get to college, they immediately catch the attention of the fraternity that has won the past several X Games, the Gammas, led by Bradley Uppercrust III. Impressed by his skateboarding skills, Bradley quickly offers Max the opportunity to participate with the Gammas, but not P.J. or Bobby. Not wanting to abandon his friends, Max turns down the invitation and a rivalry develops.

Meanwhile, depressed from empty nest syndrome, Goofy causes an accident at work and loses his job. While looking for new work, it is revealed Goofy never finished school and needs to go back to school to complete his degree. Goofy then enrolls at the same school, to Max's horror and immediately begins to invade Max's space. Wanting to get Goofy off his back, Max is able to get Goofy to join the Gammas and introduces him to Sylvia Marpole, a librarian. She and Goofy quickly hit it off over a shared love of 70s culture and begin a relationship.

However, it is revealed the Gammas are cheating, which causes Goofy to inadvertently humiliate Max at the qualifiers for the X Games. Max then lashes out at Goofy and the two have a falling out. At the same time, Goofy hits a roadblock in his relationship with Sylvia. At this point, Goofy considers dropping out while Max intends on transferring to another school. Both rethink their decisions, with Goofy making amends with Sylvia, focusing on his studies and deciding to leave the Gammas. When he leaves, he learns that they are cheating, however, Max refuses to listen to him when he warns him.

In the semi-finals, another cheating tactic by the Gammas causes P.J. to be launched into , which almost leads to their team being disqualified. Fortunately, Max is able to get Goofy to fill the position and are able to overcome several other attempts by the Gammas to cheat until Bradley causes major destruction to a large X Games decoration that puts  one of the Gammas' own members, Tank, in danger. In the end, Max is able to save Tank and also win, and leaves Bradley to deal with Tank.

Several months later at the end of the school year, Max apologizing for how he treated Goofy earlier, Goofy is able to graduate, and he and Sylvia drive off into the sunset.

My Thoughts

Upon watching this movie, I realized I did not like it as much as the original. I don't know how to describe it other than feeling "Direct to Video". While I could imagine see A Goofy Movie on the big screen, the look and feel of An Extremely Goofy Movie seem best fit for Toon Disney (or Disney XD). While the animation of the sequel feels slightly more modern, with more vibrant digital paint and ink as well as more CGI, the animation of the original is much more cinematic. However, much like the first film, this film winds up being an unintentional period piece in some areas, as it tries to appeal to those who were into the extreme sports craze of the late 90s and early 2000s.

Personally, I also felt the story was lacking in comparison to the original and seems to disregard the character development Goofy and Max made. While you can feel sympathy for Goofy in this movie, he and Max both seem less relatable. Granted, given who the characters are, it wouldn't be such a problem, but it contrasts with the original, which had some deeper moments. We see no mention of Roxanne, who was a driving figure in Max's story in the original and Goofy seems to have forgotten about respecting his son's personal space. The story is in general, lighter, but at the same time, makes the story and pathos a little less relatable.

Unlike the previous film, this movie is not a musical, and instead uses licensed music from the 1970s, reflecting Goofy and Sylvia's passion for 1970s pop culture. I don't have a problem with it, rather I find it to be an interesting artistic choice. The only "real" song in the first movie is when Bigfoot dances to the Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" after rummaging through Goofy and Max's stuff (which creates one of my favorite gags in the movie).

Contrary to my own opinion, this movie actually received slightly higher ratings than their preceding film (neither did exceedingly well, but that's beside the point). However, when I take into account the quality of the animation, the music, the story, and the overall feel of both movies, I find A Goofy Movie to be superior. In the long run, this may just be because I watched it more when I was a kid and really enjoyed it, but it's just my opinion and anyone is free to disagree with me. 

While these movies may not be cinematic classics like some of Disney's other animated films of the time, I think A Goofy Movie is an enjoyable, under appreciated movie that has sort of fallen through the cracks of the Disney franchise.