In 1996 Walt Disney released the animated musical film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which was loosely based on the much darker novel by Victor Hugo. In becoming a family-friendly feature, the film added in three singing gargoyle sidekicks and dropped the main character deaths that occur in the book. Still, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is often overlooked and lacks the popularity seen with many of the other classic Disney Animation films from that time period. However the disregard for the film isn't due to a lack of quality, the story itself is quite moving and examines a lot of heavy topics.
Disney's version of Victor Hugo's tale follows the kindhearted Quasimodo, a physically deformed bell-ringer who has been taken in and raised by the cold-hearted and villainous Minister of Justice, Judge Claude Frollo. The audience is introduced to plenty of complex and interesting characters along Quasimodo's journey like the kind Romani dancer Esmeralda and well-intentioned Captain Phoebus. Here's a ranking of all the main characters both hated and beloved that make up this important Disney film.
Victor
Out of the three friends and guardians for Quasimodo, Victor is the least chatty and the most cautious. At times Victor can be a coward and even his attempts at bravery are often thwarted by his lack of confidence. A perfect example being when he apologizes to one of Frollo's soldiers after attacking one in order to defend his friends Quasimodo and Esmeralda. As a character, he definitely a more minor role, serving mostly as a sidekick for the bell-ringer. Still, while insignificant in terms of screen time he's certainly more likable than the antagonist Frollo.
Laverne
Laverne is one of the three gargoyle companions and guardians for Quasimodo. Out of the three, she acts as the wise maternal figure, often providing Quasimodo with important guidance and comfort. Laverne also acts as the voice of reason should the need arise and will make pointed remarks to her fellow guardians when they are being unreasonable. She dislikes the pigeons that use her as a resting post but manages to work with them to battle Frollo's soldiers. Like her fellow gargoyles, she doesn't have as much screen time, but she's still an important part of Quasimodo's life as well as the film.
Hugo
Out of Quasimodo's three gargoyle companions, the vibrant and talkative Hugo was easily the most comedic one. As the bell-ringer's guardian, Hugo is always ready to encourage and support his friend and is typically the first of the three to suggest that Quasimodo ignore Frollo's orders. Hugo is generally optimistic and good at keeping Quasimodo in good spirits. He also has a strange obsession with Djali, Esmeralda's goat, who he's extremely fond of. As a character, Hugo doesn't have as much screen time as some, but he certainly provides plenty of comedic relief when he does appear.
Clopin
Clopin is the leader of the Romani people as well as a puppeteer. He appears both as the audience's narrator for the film and also as a mischievous and talented street performer in the storyline. Overall he is a neutral character. Clopin shows kindness to the children on the streets of Paris, but he also attempts to hang Quasimodo and Phoebus when they arrive at the Court of Miracles, ignoring their pleas that they are friends and not enemies. Still, this could simply be seen as a protective act as outsiders have not treated the Romani with kindness. Ultimately, Clopin is likable and his colorful jester outfit and performances are quite captivating.
The Archdeacon
The Archdeacon is the polar opposite of Frollo, and often the one that stops him from committing horrible acts. At the beginning of the film, the audience sees the Archdeacon stop Frollo from murdering Quasimodo and guilts him into raising him as his own.
He openly disapproves of Frollo's behavior throughout the film and helps Esmeralda, by reminding him as Phoebus does, that those who claim sanctuary inside the Cathedral cannot be harmed. As a character, he represents the values that Frollo claims to live by. Both worship God, but unlike the judge, the Archdeacon is focused on being kind towards other and encouraging kindness amongst the characters of the film.
Phoebus
Phoebus is Frollo's Captain of the Guard, but despite working for the judge, Phoebus does not share his hateful views and disagrees with his mistreatments. As a soldier, Phoebus is brave and confident, often looking for the light-hearted side of negative situations. His compassion and values are shown when he asks permission to stop the attack on Quasimodo at the festival, (though Frollo refuses his request) and when he tries to save Esmeralda (the Romani dancer he falls in love with) from being arrested by Frollo telling her to declare sanctuary. As a character, Phoebus is very charismatic and his desire to do the right thing makes him quite likable even if he does work for the villain of the film.
Frollo
Absolutely no one would consider the cold-hearted and murderous Minister of Justice Claude Frollo to be a likable character. From the start of the film, viewers see the Judge chasing down and killing Quasimodo's mother, an innocent woman trying to protect her son. He is stopped from murdering the baby who he refers to as "an unholy demon" that he is "sending back to hell." The Archdeacon guilts him into raising the baby as his own, but Frollo mistreats Quasimodo and refuses to help him when he's tormented at the Feast of Fools festival. Frollo also lusts after the Romani dancer Esmeralda who he attempts to have murdered rather than confront his feelings for her. Frollo is definitely Disney's most realistic and compelling villain, due to his very human dark qualities, but as a person, he's absolutely awful. Still, his complexity definitely makes him an interesting character.
Quasimodo
Quasimodo is the protagonist of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He is kind-hearted and gentle, longing to leave the bell tower and see the outside world. Due to his physical appearance, he is mistreated by Frollo (who tells him he is a monster) as well as the townsfolk who misjudge him due to his deformities.
Quasimodo is also artistic, and viewers see him craft miniature wooden figurines which represent a small version of Paris and the Cathedral. He is also physically quite strong and moves freely through the church swinging from ropes. As a character, Quasimodo is shy yet likable and a good man. However, he can be a bit naive and was loyal to the judge for much of the film despite Frollo's obvious mistreatment of him and the other characters.
Esmeralda
The kindhearted Romani dancer Esmeralda is a strong female figure in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Unlike Frollo's soldiers and the cruel townsfolk, she tries hard to intervene when Quasimodo is mocked and attacked at the Feast of Fools festival standing up to Frollo to demand justice for both him and her people. She is brave, assertive, and very independent. Throughout the film, she fights to get her people the fair treatment they deserve and teaches Quasimodo that her people are not monsters as Frollo makes them out to be. She also helps Quadimodo realize that his appearance does not make him a beast, and is one of the few people that shows him kindness. As a character, Esmeralda is extremely likable, ranking top among those in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.