^{Credit: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Walt Disney Animation Studios)}

Alan Menken has won eight Academy Awards. Of all the musical scores he worked on at Disney, though, Menken's favorite is ironically the one that ended his Oscar-winning streak. Now thirty years old, The Hunchback of Notre Dame remains one of Disney's most underrated gems. In this video essay, Cartoon Contender looks back at Hunchback at the Oscars with special guest appearances from Menken, co-songwriter Stephen Schwartz, and co-director Gary Trousdale. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!