The Humiliated Hunchback
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is hailed as one of the most underrated and darkest Disney films out there. Sure, it’s got a cast of colorful characters who offer comic relief and musical scores that tug at our heartstrings, reeling us deeper into the story, but it also contains heavy social themes that stole bits of our innocence.
Quasimodo’s deformities made him a lonely social pariah and target for public humiliation, while the beautiful Esmerelda faced racial discrimination. Watching the lovable characters endure such poor treatment put us down in the dumps and had us reaching for the tissue box and a hug from mom. It was one of our first lessons in learning to love everyone no matter what they look like or where they come from.