Disney Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Disney Wiki

"Hercules and the Arabian Night" is an episode of Hercules that features a crossover with the characters from Aladdin. It first aired on February 10, 1999.

Plot[]

Hatan44

Hades with Jafar.

As Hades goes through his usual job of bringing fresh souls into the Underworld, Pain and Panic tell him that one of the souls is not cooperating. The soul approaches Hades, introduces himself as Jafar and all but demands to be sent back. Hades is at first unconcerned, but they find a common ground: Jafar tried to overtake Agrabah, Hades is trying to overtake Mount Olympus and they both have been defeated by "upstart boys", but each villain thinks his nemesis is superior. They make a bet that they can defeat each other's respective hero. So Hades gives Jafar a new snake staff, which makes him flesh and blood so long as he holds it, and tells him to attack Hercules while he's training on Philoctetes' island.

At said island, Phil is trying to teach Hercules not to "barrel through" and to "use his noodle" from time to time. Suddenly, Jafar pops up and creates a huge bull-like red beast, a Griffin and a Minotaur to go after Hercules. With Phil tied up, Hercules does his best to wrestle the beasts. Jafar laughs at how slow Hercules is, until Hercules picks up Phil's "statue head" house, bashes the beasts and proceeds to smash it on Jafar, who gets knocked all the way back to the Underworld - although Phil scolds Hercules for misinterpreting his instruction of "using his noodle" rather literally, by stating "I said use your head - not my house!".

Hades, upon learning that Jafar's foe Aladdin is 'a mere mortal', decides to send Pain and Panic to Agrabah to take Aladdin out - just for 'a chuckle or a two'. Likely having lost the concept of the passage of time due to Jafar's death and his time in the Underworld, when Pain and Panic arrive in the Arabian city, they first mistake Abu for Aladdin, claiming that he fits Jafar's description of the character on their rap sheet as "wearing a vest, no shirt, and a rakish fez", but Pain are confused when the "Aladdin" they captured doesn't look as "heroic" like they pictured him to be. But the real Aladdin, along with his wife Jasmine, arrive on the Magic Carpet, pointing out Pain and Panic's mistake. After a scuffle, Pain and Panic are about to finish Aladdin off, but Aladdin convinces them to look into his lamp (by telling them not to look into it). Genie's hand punches them all the way back to Greece (a town parallel to an Arabian city) and down into the Underworld (this is Genie's only appearance in this episode).

Hades admits that Aladdin is tough, but wants to concentrate on beating Hercules first. Then Jafar offers an idea: what if Hercules and Aladdin had a misunderstanding between them and get into a fight? Hades likes the idea and puts the plan into motion. The first part is kidnapping Abu from Agrabah and Icarus from Prometheus Academy (both using bananas as bait). When Hercules can't find Icarus, an old man (Jafar in disguise) fools Hercules by telling him that a "young rogue named Aladdin" kidnapped him. Hercules gets angry and runs off to find Aladdin. Later, in Agrabah, Aladdin and Jasmine can't find Abu, and Pain and Panic disguise themselves as Hercules and tell him that Hercules kidnapped Abu.

When Herc, Phil and Pegasus arrive in Agrabah, Al, Jasmine and Carpet give them a not-so-warm welcome. Hercules and Aladdin start the fight, aka "The Battle of the Disney Heroes." Hercules barreling in and Aladdin sidestepping each blow. Aladdin gets Hercules to chase him through the alleyways of Agrabah to an old abandoned building. He then gets Hercules to punch enough holes in the walls to bring most of the house down on top of Hercules. When Herc holds it up, Aladdin demands Herc to tell where he hid Abu. Herc responds by wanting to know where Aladdin took Icarus. Aladdin, shocked at hearing this, begins to realize, "There's been a big mistake." Before they can work it out, though, the building collapses on both of them.

Hercules and Aladdin

Aladdin and Hercules properly introduce each other.

While Jafar and Hades believe the heroes have been destroyed and laugh maniacally together to celebrate, Hercules gets himself and Aladdin out of the rubble. They piece together that it was a setup and that Hades and Jafar are holding Icarus and Abu in the Underworld. Aladdin wants to charge in to rescue them, but Hercules thinks of another way. While Hades tells Jafar of his plans for Olympian domination (and offers Jafar the 'Lord of the Dead' title while doing this), Pain and Panic yell that Hercules and Aladdin are coming their way.

Jafar is sent to stop them. He blasts Aladdin in an ice block and creates a giant scorpion to take on the slow Hercules. But there's one problem: the man in the ice is Hercules, disguised as Aladdin, and the one fighting the scorpion is Aladdin disguised as Hercules. Shocked, Jafar is unable to stop Aladdin from nabbing the snake staff and tossing it to Hercules, who snaps it in half. The spirit of Jafar is dragged down into the River Styx for good. Icarus and Abu meanwhile have escaped and begin punching Hades, until he threatens to make them "permanent residents".

Hercules and Aladdin congratulate each other before Aladdin takes Jasmine, Abu and Carpet back to Agrabah. Aladdin tells Hercules that he'll make a great hero someday. Hercules thanks him, "Coming from it means a lot." Icarus, having bonded with Abu, asks Hercules if they can get a monkey.

Cast[]

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Hercules and the Arabian Night.

Trivia[]

  • When Phil makes a pass at Jasmine, she turns him down, telling the satyr that she is married while showing her wedding ring. This indicates this adventure follows Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
  • Iago is notably the only main character from the Aladdin franchise absent during this episode. This is due to these events occurring after Aladdin and the King of Thieves, in which Iago left to tour the world with Cassim. However, Iago was mentioned by Jafar who was still furious at how he had betrayed him during the events of The Return of Jafar.
    • Rajah and the Sultan are also the only main characters from the Aladdin franchise to not appear in this episode as well.
  • The episode implies that the events of Aladdin actually took place around the same era as Ancient Greece. A similar hint was given in The Return of Jafar, where Genie commented that he had "raced with Hercules" during his song when he explained his travels across the world. However it's historically impossible that the two occurred around the same time, as there are at least 3000 years between the Ancient Greek and the Abbasid Caliphate.
    • Also, during "A Whole New World" song that was seen in the original movie, a place that could be considered Greece is shown.
    • The character of Mechanicles from the Aladdin TV series, who seems like an Ancient Greek character and describes himself as "the greatest of the great Greek geniuses", further muddles the timeline issue.
    • Co-incidentally, both Aladdin and Hercules were directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, and Tad Stones served as executive producer on both this show and the Aladdin TV series. Both films belong to an era known as the Disney Renaissance and were released five years apart from each, with Aladdin released in 1992 and Hercules released in 1997 respectively. Both films are composed by Alan Menken.
    • In addition, the pop versions of their songs, "A Whole New World" (sung by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle) and "Go the Distance" (sung by Michael Bolton) are played during the closing credits of their respective films.
  • The disguise Jafar used to trick Hercules into fighting Aladdin was the same one he used to recruit Aladdin to go to the Cave of Wonders in the first film.
  • When Hades makes a new snake staff for Jafar, he tells Jafar that he will be flesh and blood as long as he holds it - with Jafar instantly becoming a spirit again when Hades briefly takes it from him. However, Aladdin later takes it and throws it to Hercules to snap. Before it's snapped, Jafar mysteriously remains flesh and blood.
  • Jafar's death in "Hercules and the Arabian Night" is almost similar to that of The Return of Jafar, where after his source of life (snake staff in "Hercules and the Arabian Night", Jafar's Lamp in The Return of Jafar) gets destroyed, he gets killed (via electrocution in The Return of Jafar, via imprisonment in River Styx in "Hercules and the Arabian Night"). Coincidentally, both defeats also involved a lethal substance resulting in their death (in The Return of Jafar, it was lava which destroyed the lamp, and Jafar by proxy; while in "Hercules and the Arabian Night", it was the waters of the River Styx, which was where dead souls were trapped under and potent enough that even Hades is unable to get out of it if he falls in.)
  • The Genie has the shortest appearance in the entire episode, only consisting of a single fist out of the lamp. This was likely because neither Robin Williams nor Dan Castellaneta were available, despite the latter having a recurring role on the show as Homer.
    • Phil did say one of Genie's quotes from the first Aladdin movie when Hercules thought of a way to get to the Underworld to save Icarus and Abu: "He can be taught!"
  • This is the first of only two episodes of a Disney television series to take place after a Disney sequel. The other being The Lion Guard episode Return to the Pride Lands, which takes place after The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.


v - e - d
Hercules logo
Media
Films: Hercules (video/soundtrack) • Hercules: Zero to HeroHercules (live-action film)

Shows: TV seriesHouse of MouseChibi Tiny Tales
Video games: Hercules Action GameAnimated Storybook: HerculesHades ChallengeKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts Birth by SleepKingdom Hearts coded Kingdom Hearts χ Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χKingdom Hearts IIIDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
Disney Animation BuildingIt's a Small WorldSorcerers of the Magic KingdomHercules in the Underworld

Entertainment: Animazment: The MusicalDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDisney's WishesFantasmic!Hercules: The Muse-icalMickey's Gift of DreamsOnce Upon a MouseVillains Tonight!
Parades: Disney Stars and Motor Cars ParadeHercules Victory ParadeThe Hercules Electrical ParadeThe Wonderful World of Disney Parade
Fireworks: Happily Ever AfterHarmoniousMomentousWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationWondrous Journeys
Summer: Stitch and Friends Summer Surprise
Halloween: Disney's Not So Spooky SpectacularDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularHouse of De Vil-lainsMaze of Madness: The Nightmare Experiment ContinuesMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeRock on With The Disney VillainsScream and Shout Halloween ParadeThe Villains WorldVillains Night Out!World of Color: Villainous!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy Parade

Characters
Original: HerculesHadesPegasusPhiloctetesMegaraPain and PanicFatesMusesZeusHeraHermesHephaestusAthenaAresPoseidonAphroditeArtemisApolloOlympian GodsThebansDionysusTitansCerberusHydraMinotaurSthenoNemean LionNessusNymphsAmphitryon and AlcmeneHarpiesCetusCaledonian BoarCharonBob the NarratorGriffinsCupidDemeter

TV Series: ChipaclesHestiaIcarusCassandraAdonisHelen of TroyTempestCirceTritonGalateaPandoraMedusaEchidnaTyphonEchidna's ChildrenFuriesHecateCanis and LupusNemesisMr. ParenthesesHomerFear and TerrorIbidAntaeusPrometheusDaedelusMorpheusKronosGaiaAmphitriteAchillesTheseusOrionNestor & MeleagerKing MidasMelampusLavinaAndromedaSyrinxMr. GriffTiviusOrthosQueen HippolyteMomalusArachneCaucasian EagleSphinx MartindaleGegeneisOtus

Episodes
Season One: "Hercules and the Apollo Mission" • "Hercules and the King of Thessaly" • "Hercules and the Secret Weapon" • "Hercules and the Assassin" • "Hercules and the Big Kiss" • "Hercules and the River Styx" • "Hercules and the Techno Greeks" • "Hercules and the World's First Doctor" • "Hercules and the Pool Party" • "Hercules and the Prince of Thrace" • "Hercules and the Tapestry of Fate" • "Hercules and the Living Legend" • "Hercules and the Return of Typhon" • "Hercules and the Owl of Athena" • "Hercules and the Girdle of Hippolyte" • "Hercules and the Bacchanal" • "Hercules and the Underworld Takeover" • "Hercules and the Comedy of Arrows" • "Hercules and the Hostage Crisis" • "Hercules and the Disappearing Heroes" • "Hercules and the Argonauts" • "Hercules and the Drama Festival" • "Hercules and the Phil Factor" • "Hercules and the All Nighter" • "Hercules and the Song of Circe" • "Hercules and the Trojan War" • "Hercules and the Dream Date" • "Hercules and the Big Games" • "Hercules and the Jilt Trip" • "Hercules and the Falling Stars" • "Hercules and the Golden Touch" • "Hercules and the Minotaur" • "Hercules and the Son of Poseidon" • "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods" • "Hercules and the Griffin" • "Hercules and the King For a Day" • "Hercules and the Pegasus Incident" • "Hercules and the Big Sink" • "Hercules and the Big Lie" • "Hercules and the Prom" • "Hercules and the Spartan Experience" • "Hercules and the Complex Electra" • "Hercules and the Long Nightmare" • "Hercules and the Arabian Night" • "Hercules and the Aetolian Amphora" • "Hercules and the Romans" • "Hercules and the Yearbook" • "Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" • "Hercules and the Grim Avenger" • "Hercules and the Spring of Canathus" • "Hercules and the Big Show" • "Hercules and the Tiff on Olympus"

Season Two: "Hercules and the First Day of School"" • "Hercules and the Visit from Zeus" • "Hercules and the Driving Test" • "Hercules and the Parent's Weekend" • "Hercules and the Prometheus Affair" • "Hercules and the Hero of Athens" • "Hercules and the Caledonian Boar" • "Hercules and the Epic Adventure" • "Hercules and the Poseidon's Cup Adventure" • "Hercules and the Muse of Dance" • "Hercules and the Kids" • "Hercules and the Gorgon" • "Hercules and the Green-Eyed Monster"

Songs
Original: The Gospel TruthGo the DistanceOne Last HopeZero to HeroI Won't Say (I'm in Love)A Star is BornShooting StarI Can't Believe My Heart

TV series songs: Send My Boy to SchoolMy TownPericles of AthensPromethean DittyThe AgoraThe BacchanalThe Man That I LovePucker Up or Let Him SnoozeThat's How the Story GoesAphrodesia DanceLove Is In The AirSince the Light Went AwayAin't Life a BeachCan-Do KingKronos StoneWhat's a Mother to Do?Sreamin' Grecian Teenage BluesLethe Water on the Brain!One Good ManYou're My Hero

Locations
Ancient GreeceMount OlympusUnderworldPhil's IslandThebesPrometheus AcademyAtlantis City
Objects
Skull PacifierArmageddon BowLightning BoltsMortal PotionTrident
Miscellaneous
Disney Sing Along Songs: From HerculesMusical


v - e - d
Aladdin Logo
Media
Films: Aladdin (video/soundtrack) • The Return of Jafar (video) • Aladdin and the King of Thieves (video/soundtrack) • Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your DreamsAladdin (2019) (video/soundtrack) • Aladdin 2

Shows: Aladdin: The Series • "Hercules and the Arabian Night" • Great Minds Think 4 ThemselvesA Poem Is...
Books: Comic bookAladdin's QuestA-Mazing AladdinJasmine's Magic CharmRoyal WeddingsAladdin: One True LoveJasmine: The Missing CoinJasmine the MatchmakerDisney Princess BeginningsThe Art and Making of AladdinAladdin: Far From AgrabahThe Magic Carpet's Secret
Video Games: Video gameNasira's RevengeActivity CenterDisney's MathQuest With AladdinAladdin PinballDisney InfinityDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts codedKingdom Hearts χKingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χDisney Enchanted TalesDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion KingDisney POP TOWNDisney Classic Games CollectionDisney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
Arabian CoastCaravan CarouselCastle of Magical DreamsDisney Animation BuildingGarden of the Twelve FriendsIt's a Small WorldKaribuni MarketplaceLe Passage Enchanté d'AladdinMickey's PhilharMagicPLAY!Sorcerers of the Magic KingdomStorybook Land Canal BoatsThe Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)The Magic Carpets of AladdinVoyage to the Crystal Grotto

Entertainment: Aladdin: A Musical SpectacularBelieve! Sea of DreamsCinderella's Surprise CelebrationCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceDisney's BelieveDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicFeel the MagicGolden Fairytale FanfareMickey's Magical CelebrationMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey and the MagicianMickey and the Wondrous BookOnce Upon a MouseRoyal Princess Music CelebrationThe Magic Lamp TheaterThe Starlit Princess WaltzVillains Tonight!
Restaurants: Aladdin's Oasis
Shops: Adventureland Bazaar
Parades: A Million Splashes of ColourAladdin's Royal CaravanCelebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney Adventure Friends CavalcadeDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Dreams.... And Shine Brighter!Happiness is Here ParadeMagic HappensMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartyMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Soundsational ParadeMickey's Storybook ExpressMickey and Friends CelebrationThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeTokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLightsNightfall GlowDisney Harmony in Color! Parade
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsDisney Dreams!Disney EnchantmentDisney in the StarsFantasy in the SkyHappily Ever AfterHarmoniousIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationMickey's Mix MagicMomentousOnce Upon a Time Remember... Dreams Come TrueWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Color-Fest: A Street Party!Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Disney's Summer Oasis SplashStitch and Friends Summer SurpriseStitch's Summer Dance Bash
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsJack Skellington’s Villainous GatheringKooky Spooky Halloween NightRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeThe Disney Villains Halloween ShowtimeThe Villains WorldVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Original: AladdinGenieJasmineAbuMagic CarpetThe SultanRajahJafarIagoThe PeddlerRazoul The Royal GuardsGazeemPrince AchmedHarem GirlsFarouk

Sequels: Abis MalAbis Mal's ThugsCassimSa'LukForty ThievesThe Oracle
TV Series: SadiraMercQueen HippsodethScaraKing PectorThe MukhtarKing MamoodEdenSultan Pasta Al-DenteDhandiHamedPharabuPrince UncouthmaGeneral GoudaBrawnhildaBudRuntaThundraQueen KimblaSydneyBrisbaneKoala KidMachanaFasirRiders of RamondSamir the "Destroyer"SquirtCaptain Al BahtrossPrince WazooAjed Al-GebraicAmalAbnor MalMechaniclesScooterMaraudersZorastoMozenrathXerxesKhartoumSiroccoShamanMirageHaroud Hazi BinFashoomSaleenArmandAyam AghoulEvil AladdinCaliph KapokSootinaiDaru TavelevilMalchoDominus TuskAl Muddy SultanAl MuddyAzizMinos and FatimaNefir HasenufNefir's ImpsArbutusMagmaAmuk MoonrahChaosEvil GenieScourge of the DesertAmin DamoolaFrigeedAnubisSahkata, Razili, and FaridaSand MonsterSand SharkMothiasDing and OopoQueen DelucaKing ZahbarQueen Deluca's BrothersThe Great RiftMamluksKileemThe EtherealZin and ZangKutatoUnkbuutDestane
Enchanted Tales: AneesaHakeemSaharaSharma
Video game characters: NasiraBizarrahVery Ankh-Amman
Deleted Characters: ZenaGenie of the RingJasmine's MotherBabkak, Omar, and Kassim
Remake: DaliaPrince AndersHakim

Episodes
Season One: Getting the Bugs OutMudder's DayFowl WeatherThe Prophet MotiveMuch Abu About SomethingMy Fair AladdinTo Cure a ThiefNever Say NefirRaiders of the Lost Shark

Season Two: "Air Feather Friends" • "Bad Mood Rising" • "Do the Rat Thing" • "The Vapor Chase" • "Garden of Evil" • "Some Enchanted Genie" • "Web of Fear" • "Plunder the Sea" • "Strike Up the Sand" • "Sneeze the Day" • "I Never Mechanism I Didn't Like" • "Forget Me Lots" • "Scare Necessities" • "SandSwitch" • "Lost and Founded" • "Moonlight Madness" • "The Flawed Couple" • "Rain of Terror" • "Dune Quixote" • "That Stinking Feeling" • "The Day the Bird Stood Still" • "Of Ice and Men" • "Opposites Detract" • "Caught by the Tale" • "Elemental, My Dear Jasmine" • "Beast or Famine" • "Smolder and Wiser" • "The Game" • "Poor Iago" • "The Spice is Right" • "The Animal Kingdom" • "Power to the Parrot" • "The Sands of Fate" • "Hero with a Thousand Feathers" • "The Citadel" • "Snowman is an Island" • "The Secret of Dagger Rock" • "In the Heat of the Fright" • "Witch Way Did She Go?" • "The Seven Faces of Genie" • "The Wind Jackals of Mozenrath" • "A Clockwork Hero" • "Mission: Imp Possible" • "Stinker Belle" • "Sea No Evil" • "Shadow of a Doubt" • "Smells Like Trouble" • "The Way We War" • "Night of the Living Mud" • "Egg-stra Protection" • "A Sultan Worth His Salt" • "Heads, You Lose" • "The Love Bug" • "When Chaos Comes Calling" • "Genie Hunt" • "Armored and Dangerous" • "The Lost Ones" • "Eye of the Beholder" • "Shark Treatment" • "Black Sand" • "Love at First Sprite" • "Vocal Hero" • "The Lost City of the Sun" • "As the Netherworld Turns" • "Seems Like Old Crimes" • "From Hippsodeth, with Love" • "Destiny on Fire" • "The Return of Malcho"
Season Three: "The Hunted" • "Riders Redux" • "The Book of Khartoum" • "While the City Snoozes" • "Two to Tangle" • "The Ethereal" • "The Shadow Knows" • "The Great Rift"

Locations
AgrabahCave of WondersThe Sultan's PalaceThe Vanishing IsleOdiferousThe Isle of GalifemMorbiaOld Wizard's Lab
Objects
Golden Scarab BeetleJafar's Snake StaffGenie's LampJafar's LampEden's BottleMozenrath's GauntletCrystal of IxBlue Rose of ForgetfulnessTree of RenewalEmerald of KhufuCassim's DaggerThe Oracle's ScytheHand of Midas
Songs
Original: Arabian NightsOne Jump AheadFriend Like MePrince AliA Whole New World

The Return of Jafar: I'm Looking Out for MeNothing in the World (Quite Like a Friend)Forget About LoveYou're Only Second Rate
King of Thieves: Party in AgrabahOut of Thin AirWelcome to the Forty ThievesFather and SonAre You In or Out?
Enchanted Tales: More Than a Peacock PrincessI've Got My Eyes on You
Deleted: Humiliate the BoyProud of Your BoyWhy Me?You Count on MeCall Me a PrincessBabkak, Omar, Aladdin, KassimHigh AdventureMy Finest HourTo Be FreeDesert Moon
Broadway: A Million Miles AwayThese Palace WallsSomebody's Got Your BackDiamond in the Rough
Remake: Speechless

See also
MusicalFriend Like IagoThe Disney AfternoonDisney RenaissanceAs Told by Emoji
Advertisement