Citizens of the Court of Miracles

A few of Esmeralda's fellow Gypsies, from Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

All of these were copied from screenshots I took from clips of the movie. I traced and colored them on Photoshop, referring to the screencaps for colors.  I took artistic licenses, adding a few pieces of jewelry or coins to their outfits.

I chose to draw these people because I was so intrigued by how unique they look. In most Disney movies, the background characters do have more distinctive and "cartoony" faces and bodies, as opposed to the supermodel main characters. But rarely do you see such unique outfits and personalities on the background characters. When drawing the Caucasian French peasants, the animators designed a few people and then multiplied those models, creating crowds of clones. But with the Roms (or "Gypsies" as they're called in the movie), Disney made each individual look very unique. The only difference between these background Gypsies and Esmeralda is the eyes and color coordinations; Esmeralda has color in her irises; and her outfit has more clashing colors, while the other Gypsies have more coordinated outfits. I assume this is so Esmeralda can stand out more, as a main character.

None of these people are named onscreen, nor is there relation to Esmeralda revealed. I, however, like to make up my own backstories for minor characters in movies, so I'll do the same here.

From the top:

Fifika: A performer at the Feast of Fools.

A talented fiddler, and cousin of Esmeralda. Fifika has been harassed her entire life for being a Gypsy and for being "fat," but loses herself in her music as escapism. Esmeralda is one of the few people who is nice to her. Fifika pities the mysterious Hunchback, and is relieved to see Esmeralda rescue Quasi and Phoebus from being hanged by Clopin. She was not seen in the hanging scene, because she was cowering inside her caravan, unable to watch an execution.

Besnik: One of Clopin's guards, who captures Phoebus and Quasimodo.

Where on earth did this young man get a flail? The proud smile on his face suggests he acquired it on his own.  And he did. Besnik--or Benny--is a crafty street urchin, whose parents were killed by Frollo. Benny and a few other Gypsy boys are the eyes and ears of the Court of Miracles above the surface, keeping tabs on what the guards are up to. Benny got the weapon from one of Frollo's guards, when they tried to arrest him for stealing an apple (that he'd bought and paid for).

Daniel/Big Dan: The man who helped drag an injured Phoebus into the bell tower.

He is standing nearby when Esmeralda lies Phoebus onto the bed, and runs out with her when Quasi warns that Frollo is coming. This means that when Quasi overhears Phoebus and Esmeralda confess their love, Big Dan hears it all too! But Dan apparently says nothing to anyone.

Esmeralda's first cousin, and close friend. Dan is the strong silent type. He helps her bring Phoebus to the bell tower, and overhears them confess their love to each other. After he and Esmeralda flee the bell tower, Dan agrees to keep their love a secret, knowing that many other Romani would not approve.  He is not present at the Court of Miracles hanging scene, because he never made it back there; Frollo's guards caught up and captured him, but Esmeralda got away. Dan was then imprisoned, but was released after Frollo was killed. He is also in love with Jaelle (more on her later).

Marie: A child seen in the Court of Miracles.

A young girl who has rarely ventured outside the Court of Miracles, and doesn't really want to. She likes Esmeralda, but obeys her mother, doesn't say so to her mother, who forbids Marie to ever grow up to be as flirtatious or open to outsiders as Esmeralda is.

Stephan: Seen performing at the Feast of Fools, and later among Clopin's army when Quasi and Phoebus are captured.

A man with a limp, who plays up his injury to gain more money as a beggar. He often uses his cart to get around, but doesn't always need it. He refuses to cut his hair. Dang hippie.

Jaelle: Seen in the front row of the Court of Miracles scene.

A very distant cousin of Esmeralda's (distant enough to make her love with Dan un-creepy). Jaelle's beauty can rival Esmeralda's, and just about every Romani man has asked for her hand. She's promised it to Dan, however. Like Dan, she rarely shows anger or viciousness. (In the hanging scene, we don't see her among those cheering for Quasi and Phebus to hang.) Like Esmeralda, Jaelle works with the public, but does so as a bar maid, working at an inn (the one and only inn that will hire Gypsies). Business was failing at the inn, so Jaelle ripped the middle out of her shirt and pulled the top down a bit, in hopes of attracting more customers.

Luminista: Seen in the Court of Miracles crowd, booing Phoebus and Quasi.

Big Dan's sister, Luminista is friends and first cousins with Esmeralda. She is feisty like her cousin, but has less of Esmeralda's compassion. Luminista is practical and controlled, and spends most of her time making crafts and fabrics to sell. She disapproves of the way Esmeralda associates so much with none-Romani people, but otherwise admires her.

Mala:   Another crowd booer.

Esmeralda's aunt, and mother of Big Dan and Luminista. She brings in money telling fortunes with her sister, Lena (not shown here, but seen standing on the other side of Luminista in the crowd scene).  Lena is the mother of Fifika. Both Mala and Lena taught kindness and compassion to their children, but like most parents, sometimes forgot what they taught and turned into crotchety old witches. Both later felt ashamed that they almost cheered to see Phoebus and Quasi get killed. 

Tobar: Another crowd goer in the Court of Miracles.

Father of Jaelle, and a skilled blacksmith. His wife Viola, Jaelle's mother, is the red-clad woman standing next to him in the hanging scene (though I did not draw her here). He and his wife are very fearful of Frollo and anyone associated with them, as Frollo had their son, Jaelle's brother, killed. They are on edge when they learn that Jaelle's fiance Dan helped Esmeralda help Phoebus.

And that is all. Will I write any fanfics about these people? I feel like I just did. But maybe I'll draw some family pictures or something. If you want to write a story or draw a picture with these personalities and relationships, go for it, but please let me know and credit me.

These characters belong to Disney.