Streaming Gems: Hercules (1997)
Photo from Disney
From Shane Conto
Did you grow-up watching Hercules… I mean Huncules? The 90s were an amazing time for Disney Animation with the height of the Disney Renaissance. The late 90s were showing a bit of a shift as some of the films dabbled a bit more into 3D animation elements including this 1997 reimagining of Greek Mythology. The mythology is filled with all types of twisted elements that you would expect in children’s tales (similar to the original fairy tales we love today) but that would never stop Disney from shaking things up and making them more family friendly and (more importantly) commercial.
What is one of the first things you notice from this era of Disney? The amazing, catchy, and beloved music. Hercules is no different. This film boasts one major addition that makes the music feel even more in line with the tale. The Muses were important figures in Greek mythology and they are portrayed by five extremely talented black women with great voices. They channel that energy of soul singers like Aretha Franklin. There is a soulful and gospel flair to the music that The Muses sing with great hits like “The Gospel Truth” and the extremely catchy, inspiring, and joyous “Zero to Hero”. Then you have the (basically required) ballad for the main character as Hercules sings “Go the Distance”. This jam is one of the most beloved of that era of Disney Animation. The music from Alan Menkin is so joyous and epic in a way that perfectly highlights what the film is going for.
What about the story makes this such a fun and exciting animated romp? The use of Greek mythology goes a long way in creating a vibrant and exciting cast of characters and world-building. There are so many cool creatures to play around with and the “Zero to Hero” montage features a lot of great references. But the battle with the Hydra (which experiments with the 3D animation) is one of the highlights of the film and Hercules’ whole journey. Such a fascinating and dangerous foe and it feels so good when Herc overcomes it. The romance works too with Herc and Meg being a fun couple that really works in the story. The Titans are changed a lot but their cool elemental designs make for some interesting abilities and visuals. The world of Olympus is so vibrant and colorful. The creativity on display is something to behold. But it is the classic Hero’s Journey that makes this hit the way it does. The mentor relationship with Phil. The reconnecting with old pops, Zeus. The conflict with the fiery and slimy Hades. All these threads feel so right. All the way up to when Hercules makes the big sacrificial play and shines in this heroics. This one hits.
What a cast though, right? Tate Donovan (and Roger Bart) has the right voice to make Hercules sound youthful, strong, and charming. Susan Egan delivers arguably the best “princess” performance in any of these Disney Animation classics with how cool Meg is and the amount of depth there. James Woods is one of the top tier voice performances in all of Disney Animation as he fully embodies Hades. Perfect bit of casting. Danny DeVito as the hero trainer, Phil, is another example of pitch perfect casting. The gruff, confident, and grumpy Phil just feels like DeVito’s voice was meant to yell out. Rip Torn is so much fun and this big himbo Zeus. All The Muses are revelations as they breathe so much life and soul into this film. They even had Charlton Heston do the opening narration! This is a truly special cast.
Should Hercules be stacked up with the best of Disney Animation? It certainly deserves consideration. The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King are the top tier crew from the Renaissance Era and are almost universally adored. Hercules has so many great elements and it is endlessly watchable and entertaining. Great music. Great cast. A fun and endearing reimagining of Greek mythos. Plenty to love and experience when it comes to this late 90s offering.
Hercules is streaming on Disney+.
