The Hero’s Journey in Disney Key: Hercules (1997), Between Myth and Modernity

Abstract

Through a case study of the film Hercules (John Musker and Ron Clemens, 1997) it examines how the classical story of Heracles - Hercules following Roman mythology and the film's narrative - has been adapted to suit the demands of modern audiences. The article explores the alterations and omissions made to both the characters and the narrative itself, addressing the internal cogency of the plot and, consequently, the changes to key elements of the original myth, such as the roles of Zeus, Hera and Hades. In addition, the historical rigorousness of the mythological and cultural representations depicted in the film has been evaluated, and how these decisions contribute to a simplified or transformed view by the audience.