in 1482 paris, clopin, a gypsy puppeteer tells a group of children the origin of the titular hunchback. twenty years earlier, a group of gypsies are arrested by judge claude frollo, the corrupt and fanatical justice minister, who pursues a woman and her deformed baby. after killing her near the notre dame cathedral, frollo attempts to drop the baby in the well, but the archdeacon stops him. frollo decides to raise the child at the cathedral and atone for his sin. he names him quasimodo.