The Archdeacon of Notre-Dame Cathedral is a severe, highly educated priest who adopted Quasimodo and raised his younger brother Jehan. He devotes his time to intellectual pursuits, theology, and alchemy. His orderly, ascetic life changes when he develops an obsessive attraction to the young street dancer Esmeralda. This infatuation deeply conflicts with his religious vows.

A 16-year-old street dancer raised by Romany travelers. She performs across Paris, earning money through acrobatics and illusions with her trained goat, Djali. She guards her virtue fiercely, believing a special amulet she wears will reunite her with her unknown parents if she remains chaste.

The 20-year-old bell-ringer of Notre-Dame possesses immense physical strength but remains isolated from society due to his visible physical differences. The loud ringing of the cathedral bells has rendered him deaf. He views the cathedral as his entire world and communicates almost exclusively with his adoptive father.

A struggling playwright and intellectual who falls heavily into debt when his ambitious play fails to hold the crowd's attention. Destitute and wandering the streets, he survives by learning street performance and relying on the pity of thieves in the Parisian underworld.

The Captain of the King's Guard is a handsome, arrogant soldier who prefers drinking and temporary romances over his aristocratic obligations. Though engaged to a wealthy woman, he pursues Esmeralda purely to satisfy his physical desires after a brief encounter.

Claude Frollo's younger brother is a university student who shuns education in favor of drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels. He frequently begs his strict older brother for money to fund his reckless lifestyle.

A traumatized woman who locked herself in a tiny public cell called the rathole to demonstrate perpetual grief. She lives on scraps thrown by passersby and harbors a visceral hatred for Romany people, believing they abducted her infant daughter years ago.

Esmeralda's trained pet goat. Djali performs complex tricks during street shows, such as spelling words with wooden blocks and imitating public figures. These tricks lead suspicious onlookers to accuse the animal of witchcraft.

The charismatic and ruthless leader of the Court of Miracles, Paris's criminal underworld. He acts as the king of the city's thieves and beggars, presiding over a mock court where regular societal rules are inverted.

An aristocratic young woman engaged to Phoebus. She notices his disinterest in her and quickly becomes jealous of his attention toward the street dancer Esmeralda, leading her to inspect Esmeralda's belongings out of spite.

The aging King of France. He occasionally travels in disguise to consult scholars and views his kingdom through a lens of strict financial and political control. He readily endorses harsh punishments and specialized torture devices for those who cross him.

A wealthy, plain-spoken hosier who is part of the Flemish delegation visiting Paris. He prefers rowdy public entertainment over high art and initiates the face-pulling contest that disrupts Gringoire's play.

A court official who prosecutes witchcraft trials. He frequently defers to Claude Frollo's judgment regarding interrogations and the interpretation of dark arts.

A woman from Reims who knows the tragic backstory of the reclusive Paquette. She fears the Romany travelers and worries constantly that they will steal her young son.