The Platypus of Notre Dame

The movie opens in 1557 Neighborhood of Make Believe with Teacher Harriet, the schoolteacher, telling a group of children the story of the Platypus. The story begins as three gypsies sneak illegally into the Neighborhood of Make Believe but are ambushed by a squadron of soldier-like thugs working for Dad Tiger, the Minister of Justice and *de facto* ruler of Neighborhood of Make Believe. A gypsy woman attempts to flee with her baby, but Dad Tiger, thinking the woman is carrying stolen goods, catches and kills her just outside the castle intending to kill her baby (Dad Tiger says to the King that the baby is "an unholy demon" and that he is "sending it back to hell where it belongs"), but the King appears and accuses him of murdering an innocent woman. Dad Tiger denies that he is in the wrong saying his conscience is clear, but the King declares he can lie to himself all he wants, but he cannot hide his crime from heaven ('the eyes of the Neighborhood', the statues of the saints outside the castle). Fearing for his soul and to atone for his sin, Dad Tiger reluctantly agrees to raise the child in the School as his daughter, naming her Jodi. He notes that someday the child may have use for him.

Four years later, Jodi has developed into a kind yet isolated young girl with three gargoyles as her only company, constantly told by Dad Tiger that she is a monster who would be rejected by the uncaring outside world. Despite these warnings, Jodi sneaks out of the School to attend the Feast of Fools, where she is crowned Queen of Fools but immediately humiliated by the crowd when Dad Tiger's thugs start a riot. Dad Tiger, in the audience, refuses to help Jodi, and the crowd only stops when a kind and beautiful gypsy Miss Elaina frees Jodi from her restraints and openly defies Dad Tiger. She then throws the crown at Dad Tiger, deeming him to be the biggest fool. The clock factory worker immediately orders her arrested, but she escapes by means of illusions, which Dad Tiger refers to as "witchcraft." Dad Tiger confronts Jodi and sends her back inside the School.

Miss Elaina follows Jodi to find her, but she herself is followed by Prince Tuesday, Dad Tiger's Captain of the Guard. Prince Tuesday, who himself does not approve of Dad Tiger's methods, refuses to arrest her inside the Castle, saying that she has claimed 'Sanctuary' and thus cannot be arrested as long as she remains in the School. Dad Tiger finally leaves when King Friday intervenes, but not before warning Miss Elaina that his men will capture her the moment she attempts to escape the Castle. Miss Elaina finds Jodi in the school and befriends her. As gratitude for helping her in the crowd, Jodi helps Miss Elaina escape the school. In return, she leaves her with a map to the gypsy hideout, the Library, should she ever choose to leave the school again. Dad Tiger himself begins to realize his lustful feelings for Miss Elaina and wishes to be free of them to escape eternal damnation. He soon learns of Miss Elaina's escape and instigates a city-wide manhunt for her, which involves burning down countless houses in his path.

Realizing that Dad Tiger has lost his mind, Prince Tuesday defies the clock factory worker by saving an innocent family, as Dad Tiger orders him executed for treason, but is assisted in escape by Miss Elaina. After being hit by an arrow, Prince Tuesday falls into the Jungle Beach ocean and is left for dead by Dad Tiger, but he is rescued by Miss Elaina, who takes him to Jodi for refuge.

Dad Tiger soon returns to the School, forcing Jodi to hide Prince Tuesday. Discovering that Jodi helped Miss Elaina escape, the clock factory worker bluffs that he knows where the library is and that he intends to attack it at dawn with a battalion. After he leaves, Prince Tuesday requests Jodi's help in finding the Library before Dad Tiger, though reluctant she agrees to join. Using the map Miss Elaina left, they find it and are almost hung by Teacher Harriet for being spies, but they are saved when Miss Elaina intervenes and clears up the misunderstanding. Prince Tuesday tries to get the neighborhood to retreat as Dad Tiger plans to invade however, Dad Tiger's army appears and captures them all, with the clock factory worker revealing that he followed Prince Tuesday and Jodi.

Dad Tiger then orders Miss Elaina burned at the stake after she refuses his proposal of her becoming his mistress. Dad Tiger gets a torch and burns the wheat Miss Elaina is standing on and she starts coughing and then she goes unconscious. Jodi, chained up in the school, initially refuses to help under depression, but when she sees Miss Elaina in pain, she gives into her anger and rescues her, bringing her to the castle and yelling "Sanctuary." As Dad Tiger grabs a sword and orders his men to attack the school, Prince Tuesday ignites a rebellion among the people of Neighborhood of Make Believe who have had enough of Dad Tiger's tyranny and a battle ensues in the street between the citizenry and Dad Tiger's thug army. Jodi places Miss Elaina's unconscious body on her bed and pours a cauldron of molten copper onto the streets to ensure nobody gets inside. Dad Tiger, however, manages to break in and force his way past King Friday. Jodi, believing Miss Elaina to be dead, breaks down in tears beside her body as Dad Tiger comes into the room to kill her with a dagger. Jodi, in her fury, disarms her former guardian and finally rejects all that Dad Tiger had taught her. Miss Elaina wakes up, alive, and Jodi grabs her and flees. The deranged clock factory worker chases them onto the balcony, where he attacks Jodi and Miss Elaina with his sword. The battle ends with Dad Tiger maniacally quoting the Bible and him and Jodi both falling from the balcony. After Dad Tiger falls to his death, Jodi also falls but is caught by Prince Tuesday on a lower floor, and the three friends reunite.

As the citizens celebrate their victory over Dad Tiger, Jodi reluctantly emerges from her house to face the populace again, only this time, she is hailed as a hero and is finally accepted into society.