Clopin Trouillefou is a minor supporting character in the classic animated Disney movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame but is arguably the best and most important of them all. (And also the most attractive) He serves as the narrator for the film and is the first voice we hear. Without Clopin, there would BE no story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. NONE.
Look at him. Yes, his clothes are poorly designed but that’s OKAY because his eccentric and radiant personality shines through the eye-bleeding attire and logic-defying mask. Seeing him on screen makes me so HAPPY because he instantly steals the show and makes sure that you know that he should have been the main character. Quasimodo? Never heard of him. Esmerelda? Irrelevant. Phoebus? Isn’t he from that Disney Channel show? One of the most memorable scenes of the movie is The Court of Miracles song. The imagery here definitely wouldn’t be allowed in Disney movies today (or most of Hunchback at all, really, but that’s for a serious post.)
The costume changes? Immpecable. If Clopin went to MSA it’s very clear he would be an absolutely phenomenal theatre. He shows such charisma on stage even when he’s about to execute the main characters. The contrast he shows at the beginning of the movie when he puts on a puppet show for children and when he is happily about to hang our protagonist is impressive. Truly, he is a man of talent. Not only is he a wonderful entertainer, he is also a talented swordfighter and master of disguise. Just by looking at him you can tell that he can do anything he sets his mind to. You can also tell that the rest of the Court of Miracles looks up to him as a leader, and it just adds to his list of many talents.
You’ve now witnessed the glory of the absolute best Disney character of all time. Graced by his presence, perhaps. You may not know that your life has been changed forever, but it has. You’ll never look at this shade of purple the same ever again. His dashing smile and eccentric charm will come to you in your darkest moments and lift you up. I sincerely believe that once you die, you are greeted by Clopin’s puppet show in the afterlife. It’s also almost morning and I’m staring at my reflection in my computer screen wondering how my life got to this point.
