However, I
like him. Out of the many HoND characters he stays my absolutely favourite
because he is such a strange one. His mind (and his costumes, too) change
from instant to instant. He was given enough time to reveal his mysterious
character and give us riddles to guess (Now here is a riddle to guess if
you can...) In the first moment he instantly catched my ear singing with
his strong leading voice. His appearance is odd and yet inviting, and as
I said changing quickly. The quick, swift way he tends to walk and tiptoe
fits to that, along with his well done design.
As I watch the film I always have to lay a special look on Clopin,
because you never can tell what he will say or think or do in the next
second. And I liked those secretly ways from beginning on.
There is still one big thing about him: His little puppet. It sometimes
seems to have a little personality on his own, or better a split part of
Clopins personality. It seems to argue with him, and that's always a thing
you stuck your mind with. I think he sometimes tells that way what he's
thinking. However, you can never imagine Clopin without it. Clopin also
appears as a big clown, the leading person on the Festival of Fools, once
again masked. He's a great acrobator there, making gags and dancing in
an all mysterious way. I love him.
The webmastress of "Animated Heroines" or so said she didn't Clopin
because he attempted to hang Quasimodo and Phoebus. Girl, I tell you that:
Imagine you were a part of a hated outlaw race in the community, and you
have to hide in a special place, and if somebody of those haters finds
you there, you're going to hang. Imagine it. And now (just imagine it!)
suddenly two strangers come into your hiding place. No, it aren't strangers,
no! It's the hunchback of the cathedral (raised by your biggest enemy)
and the captain of the army of your biggest enemy! Now, how would you react,
if your life is hard already? Welcome the two guys with all hospitability
you have, tea, a seat, and a warm fire? I guess not! I could understand
the reaction of Clopin and his people only too well. And there is one extremly
important thing. Remember the scene in the song "Court of Miracles" where
Clopin acts as a lawyer. I think it's a lot of reference to how minister
Frollo dealt many of Clopins people. And now they do just the same, without
listening to Phoebus and Quasi, without any alternative but a stupid killing.
That's reference, for crying out loud. Mark the lines he does with his
puppet: "I object!" "Quiet!" "Dang..." and then the legendary "We find
you totally innocent, which is the worst crime of all.." Think about it..
That's what a lawyer does to people that object!
Couldn't help it, but had to laugh..
And finally, the very best closeup of him...I prefer him in his usual
clothes and unmasked, really.. His face was designed greatly, no??
What the heck! I read somewhere that Clopins eyes are black. Check
it out, it's right! Black eyes! Groovy, huh? Typically Clopin..
Favorite quotes:
"Dance, la Esmeralda! Dance!"
"Hello, you're there!"
"Judge Claude Frollo longed to purge the world of vice and sin, and
he saw corruption everywhere except within.."
"Any last words?" .... "That's what they all say.."
"Overruled!"
"Quiet!!!"
"You all remember last years king??!"
"Gather around, everybody! There's good noose tonight!"
"We find you totally innocent, which is the worst crime of all.."
"Justice is swift in the Court of Miracles, I'm the lawyers, the judge,
all in one!"
"But the dead don't talk..so you won't be around to reveal what you
found!"
"Why didn't they say so??!"
"Now here is a riddle to guess if you can, sing the bells of Notre
Dame! Who is the monster and who is the man?"
"And Frollo gave the child a cruel name! A name that means half-formed
- Quasimodo!"
"Here in the Court of Miracles where it's a miracle if you get out
alive!"