Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy comedy film loosely based on the legendary hero Heracles (known in the film by his Roman name, Hercules), a son of Zeus in Greek mythology. Produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, the film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, both of whom co-wrote the screenplay with Irene Mecchi, and the writing team of Donald McEnery and Bob Shaw. Featuring the voices of Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, Danny DeVito, and James Woods, the film follows the titular Hercules, a demigod with super-strength raised among mortals, who must learn to become a true hero to earn back his godhood and place in Mount Olympus, while his evil uncle Hades plots his downfall. It features six original songs written by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and an original musical orchestral score also composed by Menken.
Development of Hercules began in 1992 following a pitch adaptation of the Heracles mythological stories by animator Joe Haidar. Meanwhile, Clements and Musker re-developed their idea for Treasure Planet (2002) following the critical and commercial success of Aladdin (1992). Their project was removed from development in 1993, and they joined Hercules later that same year. Clements and Musker studied multiple interpretations of Greek mythology, though they later abandoned darker mythical aspects such as Hercules's birth through Zeus's adulterous affair with Alcmene. The project underwent multiple story treatments and a first script draft was inspired by the screwball comedy films of the classic Hollywood era and popular culture of the 1990s.
During production, McEnery, Shaw, and Mecchi revised Musker and Clements's script. British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe was recruited as production designer and produced over 700 character designs. Research trips to Greece and Turkey provided inspiration for the background designs. The film's animation was done in Burbank, California and Paris. Computer animation was used in several scenes, predominantly in the Hydra battle sequence. The production budget was $85 million.
Hercules was released June 27, 1997, and received generally positive reviews from film critics, with James Woods's performance as Hades receiving particular praise. The animation (particularly the visual style) and music received a mixed response. The film under-performed in its theatrical release notably in comparison to previous animated Disney films, ultimately earning $252.7 million in box office revenue worldwide. Hercules was later followed by Hercules: The Animated Series, a syndicated Disney television series focusing on Hercules during his time at the Prometheus Academy, and the direct-to-video prequel Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999), which consists of four episodes from the TV series.
Plot
In Ancient Greece, the gods Zeus and Hera have a son named Hercules. While the other gods are joyful, Zeus's wicked brother Hades plots to overthrow Zeus and rule Mount Olympus. Through the Fates, Hades learns that in eighteen years, a planetary alignment will allow him to free the Titans to conquer Olympus, but only if Hercules does not interfere. Hades sends his minions, Pain and Panic, to murder Hercules, providing them with a potion that can strip a god of immortality. The two kidnap the baby and feed him the potion, but a married farmer couple pass nearby, causing the demons to flee before Hercules could drink the very last drop; therefore he is only stripped of immortality but retains his god-like strength. The couple adopt Hercules, and Pain and Panic decide not to report their failure to Hades.
Years later, the teenage Hercules is ridiculed for his inability to control his strength while inadvertently causing destruction to a building. Wondering about his origins, he decides to visit the Temple of Zeus for answers. There, a statue of Zeus comes to life and reveals all to Hercules, telling him that he can earn back his godhood by becoming a "true hero". Zeus sends Hercules and his forgotten childhood friend Pegasus to the satyr Philoctetes ("Phil") who is known for training heroes. After completing the training, Phil and Hercules travel to Thebes, so he can prove himself there as a hero. On the way, they meet Megara ("Meg"), a sarcastic damsel whom Hercules saves from the centaur Nessus. Unbeknownst to Hercules, Meg is Hades's slave due to selling her soul to him to save her boyfriend, who eventually left her for another woman. When Meg mentions Hercules to Hades, he realizes Pain and Panic's failure and plots to finish off Hercules properly.
Hades stages an accident with the disguised Pain and Panic to trick Hercules into fighting with the Hydra. Hercules defeats the monster, earning the Thebans' respect and admiration. He defeats many other monsters afterward, each of them sent by Hades, and becomes a celebrated hero. However, Zeus tells him that he is not yet a "true" hero but refuses to explain what that means. Saddened and frustrated, Hercules spends a day out with Meg, during which they fall in love with each other. Realizing this, Hades, on the eve of his takeover, holds Meg hostage and offers her freedom in exchange for Hercules surrendering his strength. On the condition that Meg will be unharmed, Hercules accepts but is heartbroken after learning that Meg was working for Hades all along.
Hades unleashes the Titans, who defeat the gods on Olympus, while the Cyclops goes to Thebes to kill Hercules. After receiving encouragement from Phil, Hercules uses his wits to defeat the Cyclops. During the battle, Meg is mortally injured while saving Hercules from a falling pillar. This breaks Hades's deal, so Hercules regains his strength. Hercules and Pegasus fly to Olympus, free the gods and vanquish the Titans, but Meg dies from her injuries.
To recover Meg's soul, Hercules goes to the underworld and risks his life by leaping into the River Styx. This act restores his godhood and immortality, so he is able to reach Meg's soul and climb out alive. Hercules punches Hades into the Styx, and he is dragged to its depths by vengeful souls. After Hercules revives Meg, he is summoned to Olympus, where Zeus and Hera welcome him home, saying he has proven himself a "true hero" through the "strength of his heart". However, rather than joining the gods, Hercules chooses to remain with Meg, living on Earth as a demigod. Returning to Thebes, they watch Zeus form a constellation in Hercules's honor, much to Phil's happiness.
Voice cast
Tate Donovan as Hercules, a powerful demigod based on the mythological deity Heracles. Josh Keaton provided the speaking voice of Hercules as a teenager, while Roger Bart provided his singing voice. Susan Egan as Megara, Hercules's love interest and Hades's former servant. Danny DeVito as Philoctetes/Phil, a crotchety, old Satyr (half-man, half-goat) who served as a trainer of heroes in Ancient Greece, most notably Achilles and the powerful demigod, Hercules. James Woods as Hades, Hercules's uncle and Zeus's brother who is the ruler of the Underworld. Rip Torn as Zeus, king of the gods and Hercules's birth father. Samantha Eggar as Hera, queen of the gods and Hercules's birth mother. Lillias White, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan and Vaneese Thomas as the Muses (Calliope, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Thalia and Clio respectively), the narrators of the film's story. Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer as Pain and Panic, Hades's henchmen. Patrick Pinney as the Cyclops. Hal Holbrook and Barbara Barrie as Amphitryon and Alcmene, Hercules's adoptive parents. Amanda Plummer, Carole Shelley and Paddi Edwards as Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos, the three Fates who predict Hades's failed attempt to conquer Olympus. Paul Shaffer as Hermes. Jim Cummings as Nessus. Cummings also voiced the Tall Theban and the Elderly Theban. Wayne Knight as Demetrius Mary Kay Bergman as the Earthquake Lady Corey Burton as the Burnt Man Kathleen Freeman as the Heavyset Woman Keith David as Apollo Charlton Heston has a cameo role as the opening narrator. Frank Welker as Pegasus.
Production Development In early 1992, thirty artists, writers, and animators pitched their ideas for potential animated features, each given a limited time of two minutes. The Odyssey was pitched first and by the summer of 1992, Disney announced it was in development. However, The Odyssey was later cancelled when the narrative proved to be too long, lacked central characters, and failed to translate into animated comedy.
Animator Joe Haidar also suggested pitching a story from Greek mythology, but thought his chances plummeted when The Odyssey was discontinued. Nervously, he produced a pitch sketch of Hercules, and delivered a brief outline set during the Trojan War where both sides seek the title character for their secret weapon. Hercules makes a choice, without considering the consequences, though in the end, he learns humility and realizes that strength is not always the answer. With the pitching session concluded, Hercules was approved for development based on Haidar's page-and-a-half outline, but his involvement with the project went no further.
In November 1992, following the success of Aladdin (1992), directors Ron Clements and John Musker re-developed Treasure Planet up until fall 1993. Aladdin co-screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio subsequently took Clements and Musker's earlier ideas and wrote a treatment. Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was the chairman of Walt Disney Studios, disapproved of the project, and instead suggested they do an adaptation of A Princess of Mars (in which Disney had held the film rights to). Clements and Musker were uninterested in the adaptation, and the film rights were transferred to Paramount Pictures in 2002.
Katzenberg later struck a deal with the directors to produce another commercially viable film before he would green-light Treasure Planet. Clements and Musker glanced over the concept artwork of the studio's in-development projects such as Don Quixote, The Odyssey, and Around the World in Eighty Days. They felt some of these projects lacked comedic potential or would not translate well into animation. They later learned about Haidar's pitch for a Hercules feature. "We thought it would be our opportunity to do a "superhero" movie," Musker said, "Ron and I being comic book fans. The studio liked us moving onto that project and so we did [Hercules]."
Writing With Hercules as their new project, Clements and Musker conducted research and wrote extensive notes for the film. On excerpts detailed in November 1993, their story outlines shared similarities such as the naïve title character caught between two worlds, a Danny DeVito-type sidekick, a world-wise heroine, and a powerful villain in a battle of idealism versus cynicism. The directors were also inspired by screwball comedy films directed by Preston Sturges and Frank Capra with "Hercules as the young Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," Musker explained, and "Meg is modeled on Barbara Stanwyck, especially the characters she played in The Lady Eve and Meet John Doe."