Costumes
As a baby, Hercules wears only a white cloth and his medal depicting the symbol of the gods. In showing him wearing so little, the artists tell us that he has a very simple life. The choice of white for the cloth tells us that he is still innocent and pure. But the artists also include the medal, making it obvious that while he is an innocent baby, he is still both a god and the hero of our story.
When Hercules is a teenager he still wears white, just as he did when he was a baby. This shows that even though he has grown up a great deal, he still retains the same innocence that he possessed as a child. Unlike when he was a baby, he no longer wears the symbol of the gods. This tells the audience that he has lost that connection he used to have with the gods, making it clear that he does not remember them or where he came from.
Now that Hercules has grown up, his clothes have greatly changed. He now wears a warriors’ outfit in the color of bronze, showing us that he has become a man. He also has on a blue cape, having him wear the color of the sky and giving us a hint of just who his father is. Hercules is also once again wearing the golden symbol of the gods, telling the audience that he is once again aware and proud of who he is. To wrap up the ensemble, Hercules has a sword strapped to his hip. This reminds us that he is a warrior, as well as the hero of the story.
Hades' costume is dark and gloomy, showing the audience what exactly his personality is like. He wears a toga of gray and black, giving away his dark temperament and position as the antagonist of the story. His outfit is completed with a skull pin that holds everything together, reminding the audience that he is the evil god of the underworld.
Megara wears a simple purple dress, which is an intense contrast to her complicated character. In giving her a simple outfit, the artists leave the focus on the many facets of her character instead. Though even then her dress can tell us about who she is. The main thing we can take away from her dress is the color choice. Instead of a warm color which would typically be associated with good, she wears an almost cool color dress, warning us of her relationship with Hades.
Zeus has one of the most simple ensembles of the cast. Instead of an elaborate costume, he possesses a rather plain royal purple cloth. With how intimidating a figure he cuts, the simplicity of the cloth only emphasizes his strength. And in having the cloth be a rich royal purple we are reminded that he is a king. He also has the symbol of the gods holding his outfit together, reminding the audience once more of his importance.