Hercules Discussion

[UmbrellaFish]

Thank you for posting this! I was so confused when I saw their costumes but I love that they’re using vintage costumes.

[Sotiris]

Hercules: As Told By Chibi
We the Kings: Go the Distance

[Sotiris]

New Hercules books.

Take an unprecedented look at the making of Disney’s beloved 1997 classic Hercules, known for its one-of-a-kind character design with this exclusive volume that features hundreds of pieces directly from legendary cartoonist Gerald Scarfe’s archives, the mastermind behind the design of your favorite characters from the iconic film.

From zero to hero, discover the magic and creativity that went into creating Hercules, Disney’s uniquely animated film. Each chapter gives insight into the artist’s creative process and presents striking outtakes and brainstorms for what could have been—such as alternative designs and fun facts. Featuring in-depth interviews with Gerald Scarfe and a foreword by President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Production Tom Schumacher, Disney's Hercules: The Art of Gerald Scarfe is a must-read for Disney fans and artists alike!

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Disneys-Hercules ... 0CL3C2LDH/

The untold origin story of the 5 Muses from Disney’s Hercules is revealed in this rollicking YA fantasy filled with mythical adventure, music, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. The Muses narrated Hercules’s story. Now, in this novel for fans of the New York Times bestsellers Go the Distance and Fire & Fate, they’ll narrate their own "gospel truth."

Living in a quiet seaside village with their overprotective mother, teenaged sisters Calliope, Clio, Melpomene, Terpsichore, and Thalia are talented performers with no audience. If Calli had her way, she'd pursue her dream of writing epic stories in the city of Thebes. But family comes first, and as the eldest, she'd never leave her beloved sisters behind. Then, following a disastrous public music performance, their mother reveals a shocking secret: she is Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory, and for nearly two decades, she’s been on the run from the gods of Mount Olympus, desperate to keep her daughters safe from their machinations. Before she can share more, she is kidnapped...and though the girls don’t know it yet, the villain pulling the strings is none other than Hades, fiery God of the Underworld. Under Calli’s leadership, the sisters embark on a journey to save their mother and to learn more about their own divine origins. But the path ahead is filled with mythical trials and tribulations, and they’ll need to rely on both their individual talents and the strength of their sisterhood to ensure that they ascend from "zeroes" to "heroes"--or more accurately, heroines.

Penned by New York Times bestselling author Farrah Rochon, this YA fantasy uniquely blends a twist on a Disney classic with a fresh take on Greek mythology.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Bemused-Farrah-R ... 1368098703


Interview: Author Farrah Rochon Chats Music & Myths For Launch of New Book “Bemused”
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/disney- ... interview/

[DisneyFan09]

Wow! Just wow! Are we really getting another Art of-book of Hercules? Especially since it`s among the least exposed pictures from the Renaissance? If so, can`t wait until October, then !

[Sotiris]

Andreas Deja's blog entries on Hercules.

Hercules
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2013/06/hercules.html

"I'm an Action Figure"
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2014/1 ... igure.html

A Lecture on Animating Hercules
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... cules.html

Hercules Pencil Tests
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... tests.html

Hercules Screening
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2016/1 ... ening.html

Hercules and Scar
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2016/1 ... -scar.html

Remembering Hercules
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2021/0 ... cules.html

Long Lost Model Sheets
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2024/07 ... heets.html

Early Hercules
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2024/0 ... cules.html

Hercules Mall Tour
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2024/10 ... -tour.html

More Hercules
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2025/08 ... cules.html

[Sotiris]

Hercules' Meg voice actress Susan Egan stuns Disneyland guests with impromptu performance of character's song
https://ew.com/hercules-meg-voice-actre ... e-11691101

Videos from Disneyland After Dark: 90s Nite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUQuVekvm9s
https://x.com/DisneyParks/status/1898127938739937703
https://x.com/DisneyParks/status/1898857790912798925

[DisneyFan09]

Andreas Deja's blog entries on Hercules.

What a great find! I especially liked the pictures from the Mall Tour. I remember visiting a similar Mall Tour for Hunchback, actually. And it was a traumatizing experience for me, lol

[Sotiris]

Young Hercules pencil test to Mark Hamill dialogue from Star Wars during the production of Disney's Hercules.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/robbpratt/reel/CFNYwrJD8Y7/

My pal Jim Baker found this gem from our past recently! It’s a pencil test that we worked on together as we were both animator trainees at Disney Feature Animation during Hercules! Christopher Reeve from Superman and Charlton Heston from Planet of the Apes dialogue!

Source: https://www.instagram.com/robbpratt/reel/CQJxL75j-l-/

[Sotiris]

In a new interview, John Musker revealed that there was originally a sequence where Hercules battled the Nemean Lion and during the attack, Amphitryon was mortally wounded and on his deathbed he told Hercules he wasn't his real father and he sent him off on his mission to find him.

He also said they had written Hades with Jack Nicholson in mind, but Disney was unable to strike a deal with him. Hades' supervising animator Nik Ranieri suggested John Lithgow whom they hired without first having him audition as he's an actor who doesn't do auditions. Because Lithgow sounded flat and couldn't improvise, they had to fire him and hire James Woods who had previously auditioned for them.

[Farerb]

Thank you for that interview.
He talks a lot about I'm Hip at the end but I wish I had a way to actually watch the short (same with Mushka).

[Kyle]

Thank you for that interview.
He talks a lot about I'm Hip at the end but I wish I had a way to actually watch the short (same with Mushka).

Whats with all these shorts we'll seemingly never get to see? I get that there's a certain period where they want to make sure it's had its time in the film festival circuit to get awards and such, but like, its been a while. Shouldn't these both be out by now?

[Sotiris]

Earlier design of Hercules by Andreas Deja.


Source: https://d23.com/disneys-animation-studi ... -campaign/

[Disney's Divinity]

I actually like it a little more than the final design. The chest isn't so pronounced, the skirt / cape are nicer. Of course, it looks more noticeably Superman inspired which might be what they wanted to distance from (since so much of the movie already was inspired from Superman).

[Sotiris]

"Hercules" Q&A with Tate Donovan and Susan Egan | Animate! Orlando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNbYrEWvaic

[PatchofBlue]

Susan Egan: "I'm sorry--she DIES?!"



Tate's story about the team not looking at him while he was auditioning was funny. I seem to remember Tom Hulce sharing something similar, maybe?

[Farerb]

It still bothers me that Susan Egan wasn't in that Leading Ladies featurette with Alan Menken.