Before there were video archives like YouTube or file-sharing
programs like BitTorrent and everyone had to tape what they
wanted to watch on TV with VCR+ Plus and mail each other
grainy, bootlegged copies of documentaries via USPS, the
Disney Channel aired a 'making of' feature on "The
Hunchback of Notre Dame." In it , Kathy Zielinski described
her creative process and how she imagined the character
of Judge Claude Frollo from mind to sketchbook to animation
cell. Apparently, she explained to Jason Alexander (who
played one of the gargoyles) that while it was challenging
to breathe life into the lecherous medieval official, she
basically enjoyed herself and let the plot of the movie
guide her, particularly the 'Hellfire' scene where Claude
confronts his inner demons. I suppose I mention this because
as opposed to Severus Snape, the good/evil Potions master
from "Harry Potter" (played by Alan Rickman, another
Brit fave of mine with a cult following), Zielinski used
no real-life counterpart as her inspiration for Frollo's
persona.
You can use the navigation bar on the left to read some
of her interviews.