Walt Disney Studios Animated Features > Hercules
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Hercules - Calliope the Muse - Hidden Mickey
In Greek mythology, the muses are goddesses who inspire the creation of art and literature. Calliope is the muse of epic poetry. In several scenes, a Hidden Mickey appears in Calliope's hair, as she faces forward to the screen.
Classically there are nine muses, Calliope (Epic Poetry), Clio (History), Euterpe (Music & Lyric Poetry), Melpomene (Tragedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Song & Hymns), Urania (Astronomy) and Thalia (Comedy & Pastoral Poetry).
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Hercules - Hermes the FTD Logo
Hermes delivers a bouquet of flowers to Hera. The messenger of the gods, often portrayed with winged sandals, is also recognized as the symbol for FTD Florists.
Florists' Telegraph Delivery or FTD was founded on August 18, 1910. In 1914, the company adopted Mercury (Hermes in Greek) as its logo, the company emulating the speedy messenger. To reflect its global presence, FTD became Florists Transworld Delivery in the 1960s.
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Hercules - John Musker & Ron Clements
Directors John Musker and Ron Clements make a cameo early in the film, as Hercules pulls the hay wagon into the marketplace.
In addition to Hercules (1997), Musker & Clements have also directed The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992) and The Princess and the Frog (2009).
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Hercules - Spring Fresco from the Isle of Thera
The walls in Alcmene and Amphitryon's house are painted with a mural inspired by the famed 'Spring Fresco' from the Greek Island of Thera.
Discovered during excavations of Akrotiri (Thera) in 1970, the Spring Fresco is dated between 1550-1500 BCE. The vibrant fresco depicts the Spring season, featuring lilies in bloom, volcanic rocks and flying swallows.
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Hercules - Mast of the Argo
When Hercules fist enters Philoctetes' home, he bumps his head on the mast of the fabled Argo, the magical ship that took Jason and the Argonauts on a quest to find the Golden Fleece.
Hercules bumping his head on the mast is a direct reference to Jason of the Argonauts. Years after completing his quest, an older Jason slept aboard his beloved Argo, which had fallen into disrepair. After losing favor with the gods, Jason was killed when the ship's mast fell and hit his head.
Image © Walt Disney Animation
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Hercules - Mast of the Argo
Hercules stares at the mast of the Argo, the magical ship which took Jason and the Argonauts on its quest to find the Golden Fleece.
In classic Greek mythology, Hercules (or Heracles) joined Jason's quest as one of the famed Argonauts. In the Walt Disney Studios version, Hercules is much too young to have sailed on the Argo with Jason.
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Hercules - Karate Kid
Herc's training montage includes this scene, which is inspired by the Karate Kid (1984). Phil, Hercules and Pegasus mimic Daniel Larusso's crane kick training, as the sun sets on the beach.
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Hercules - Karate Kid
In this scene inspired by the Karate Kid (1984) Philoctetes, Herc and Pegasus land on one foot after completing their crane kicks.
About the crane technique, if do right, no can defense.
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Hercules - Somebody Call IX-I-I
In this scene, Pain and Panic disguise themselves as little boys trapped under a large boulder. As Hercules approaches the rockslide area, one of the boys screams, "Somebody call IX-I-I!" A witty reference to the 911 emergency service in the United States.
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Hercules - Greecian Express
Hercules' Greecian Express credit card is a parody of the popular American Express card.
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Hercules - Grauman's Chinese Theater
Hercules and Pegasus leave their signatures and prints in concrete, a reference to Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Herc even signs his impression - To Sid, a nod to Sid Grauman, the man who opened the Hollywood landmark in 1927.
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Hercules - Air Herc
The Air Herc campaign mimics Nike's popular Air Jordan campaign from the 1990's.
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Hercules - Lion King's Scar
Scar, the villain from Disney's The Lion King (1994), makes a cameo as the slain Nemean Lion.
The first of Hercules' twelve labours, the Nemean Lion's fur could not be pierced by mortal weapons. Herc used his strength to defeat the lion, wearing its protective pelt from then on.
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Hercules - Lion King's Scar
Upset that his heroic deeds haven't gotten him any closer to Olympus, Hercules tosses a lion skin at Philoctetes. Scar, the villain from The Lion King (1994), makes a cameo as the Nemean Lion's pelt.
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Hercules - Haunted Mansion Muses
The muses appear as the Haunted Mansion's singing busts, backing Megara as she sings "I Won't Say I'm in Love."
The Haunted Mansion attraction is located at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. Instead of the Haunted Mansion, Disneyland Paris has the Phantom Manor and Hong Kong Disneyland will have Mystic Manor.
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Hercules - Wilhelm Scream
The Wilhelm Scream is heard in this scene, as the cyclops destroys the city while searching for Hercules.
The Wilhelm Scream is a stock sound effect first used in the film Distant Drums (1951). Sound designer Benjamin Burtt, Jr. rediscovered the sound effect scream and used it in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Named for the character Wilhelm, from The Charge at Feather River (1953), Burtt also used the distinctive scream in each of the Indiana Jones movies.
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Hercules - It's a Small Underworld After All
As Hercules tries to save Meg, Hades refers to the pool of souls by saying, "It's a small Underworld after all." A quip about the famed "it's a small world" attraction, located at all of the Disney theme parks.
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