Disney has produced quite a few classic animated films, and the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s is one of the most critically acclaimed periods of animation (with good reason). However, even during this golden age there were a few films that failed to get the love and respect that they deserved. One of these was Hercules, which was actually a rather visually innovative and truly hilarious film (even if it doesn’t get as much love as some of Disney’s best films).
Fortunately, in recent years fans have produced quite a lot of art to celebrate their love of this under-appreciated gems, a lot of which is almost as good as the original film itself.
Hard Boiled
Everyone is familiar with the genre of film noir, that body of older films that usually involved some sort of hard-bitten and cynical male hero and a femme fatale (many of which are quite excellent). This innovative artist has put an interesting spin on it by translating it into the world of Hercules, with this Greek Disney prince as the detective and Megara as the dangerous woman. Though it’s hard to see Hercules being cynical, somehow this artist still makes the whole motif work. Via drea.d.art.
The Power And The Glory
One of the things that really stood out about the film was that it deliberately set out to imitate the style of ancient Greek vase painting. It was a bit of an innovative method, and one that some critics didn’t like. This artist has taken the characters in a bit of a different direction, showing them as more traditional animated characters, albeit a bit more muscular and grandiose in their appearance.
One can definitely picture these characters striding across the landscape of mythology.
Pain And Panic Indeed
Every Disney film needs a pair of sidekicks to lighten the mood, and in this film that role fell to Pain and Panic, the bumbling assistants to the diabolical god Hades. Throughout the film, they manage to turn themselves into a number of things in their efforts to thwart Hercules, including a group of children who marvel at his strength. This piece of fan art manages to capture the sort of manic energy that is one of the most distinguishing aspects of these two devilish characters.
A Unique Design
There’s no question that the animators at Disney are some of the finest artists in the world. Somehow, they manage to take something that’s intended for a broad audience and turn it into art that is truly beautiful. Similarly, this artist has taken the character of Hercules and made it into their own, with a rather stylized image that effaces the hero’s face but captures the rest of his personality. It’s a testament to just how talented many fan artists often are.
Exquisite Sadness
One of the saddest moments in the entire film is when Megara pushes Hercules aside to save him from a falling pillar, only to fall victim to death herself. It’s a reminder that, beneath all of her world-weary cynicism, she really does have feelings for him.
While it’s sad enough in the film itself, somehow this piece of fan art manages to make it feel even more tragic, and someone would have to have a heart of stone not to tear up at seeing Hercules’ profound grief.
Youthful Beauty
Obviously, one of the most appealing things about any given Disney film are its characters, and there’s something truly charming and beautiful about Hercules. He’s a character who really does seem like a genuinely good person, someone who just wants to do right by everyone. This fan artist has managed to capture that youthful innocence and idealism that permeates his character, bringing out in a way that even the film doesn’t quite manage to do.
Everyone’s Favorite Nerd Hero
Though Hercules is very often portrayed as a sort of muscle god, there’s a deeply sensitive part of him, one that allows him to feel emotions in a way that many of the other gods do not. He is also, frankly, kind of a nerd. This is something that clearly makes him a very appealing subject for many of the fans out there, and this one has done an exceptional job of showing the viewer the sensitivity and strength that are key to his personality.
Clash Of The Titans
Everyone who loves this film no doubt recognizes that debt that it owes to Clash of the Titans, that testament to the power of stop-motion animation. This clever artist has given everyone the Clash and Hercules mashup that they didn’t know that they needed. There’s no question that, beneath his bumbling exterior, Hercules truly is a hero, and this piece of art brings that into foreground, showing the viewer that he is indeed someone to be admired.
A Little Realism Never Hurt Anyone
A signature part of the pleasure provided by animated films is that they don’t attempt to portray the world as it is (not most of the time, anyway). Instead, the characters that appear are, in many ways, idealized forms of how people are in realty. This artist has taken a slightly different tack, however, and it seems like they wanted to show what Hercules and Megara would look like if they were something a little closer to the average run of mortals. The artist joins many others who’ve attempted to reimagine Disney characters according to modern standards.
Nauseatingly Cute
While the love between Megara and Hercules is, of course, the fundamental relationship of the film (and, as everyone knows, couples are very important in Disney films), it’s also true that Hercules’ friendship with the brash and abrasive sidekick Philoctetes is just as important. This piece of fan art neatly captures the way that the love and friendship are a key part of all of these characters’ lives, as well as showing Phil’s obvious disgust with the sappiness of the love between Hercules and Meg.
