Honestly, if you grew up in the late 90s, you probably have a soft spot for the absolute train wreck that is Hades' HR department. Specifically, I'm talking about Hercules Pain and Panic. These two are the definition of "failing upward." They’re short, they’re round, they change shape at the drop of a hat, and they are remarkably bad at their one primary job: killing a baby.
But here is the thing. While they were designed to be the "bumbling sidekick" trope we’ve seen a thousand times, they ended up being some of the most memorable parts of Disney’s 1997 Hercules.
The Myth vs. The Masochists
If you look at the actual Greek mythology, the origins of Hercules Pain and Panic are a lot darker than pink and blue worms. Most scholars agree they are loosely based on Phobos and Deimos. In the myths, these guys weren't Hades’ interns. They were the sons of Ares, the God of War.
Phobos represented "panic" or "flight," while Deimos represented "dread" or "terror." They literally rode into battle with their dad to spread fear. Disney took that terrifying concept and turned it into two guys who get stepped on by a giant hydra. It’s a massive tonal shift. In the original legends, if you saw Phobos and Deimos coming, you were about to have the worst day of your life. In the movie, if you see Pain and Panic, you're probably just going to see someone get hit with a vase.
Why the Voice Acting Carried the Movie
You can't talk about these two without mentioning the absolute legends in the recording booth. Bobcat Goldthwait (Pain) and Matt Frewer (Panic) basically ad-libbed their way into our hearts.
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Goldthwait brought that signature gravelly, high-pitched screech that made Pain feel constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. On the flip side, Frewer—who most people know as Max Headroom—gave Panic this jittery, fast-talking energy that perfectly balanced out the duo.
James Woods (Hades) gets a lot of the credit for the movie’s comedy, but his performance wouldn't work without having these two to bounce off of. Hades is the fast-talking Hollywood agent type; Pain and Panic are the overworked assistants just trying to not get set on fire. It’s a dynamic that feels surprisingly modern for a movie set in Ancient Greece.
Designing the Chaos
The visual design of these characters is pure Gerald Scarfe. If you aren't familiar with Scarfe, he’s the British cartoonist who did the art for Pink Floyd’s The Wall. He has this very sharp, wiry, and grotesque style.
- Pain is the pink, stout one with the horns. He’s more of the "brawn," if you can even call it that.
- Panic is the skinny blue one who usually realizes how much trouble they’re in about five seconds before Pain does.
The animators, led by James Lopez and Brian Ferguson, used their shape-shifting abilities to keep the energy high. They turn into snakes, they turn into Pegasus, and at one point, they even turn into "Air Herc" sandals. It kept the visual pace of the movie moving at a breakneck speed that most other Disney films of that era didn't have.
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The "Boy Who Cried Dead" Problem
The biggest plot point involving Hercules Pain and Panic is, of course, the fact that they lied to Hades for 18 years.
They were supposed to give baby Herc a potion to make him mortal and then finish the job. They messed up. Instead of coming clean and facing the literal God of the Dead, they just... hoped he wouldn't find out? That is a level of relatability I think most of us feel in our soul. Who hasn't ignored a major problem for nearly two decades and hoped it would just go away?
When Hades finally discovers the truth, the comedy peaks. The scene where they are wearing the merchandise of the guy they were supposed to kill is peak 90s meta-humor.
Why They Still Matter Today
People still love these two because they represent the "everyman" in a world of gods and monsters. They aren't particularly evil; they’re just terrified of their boss. They don't have a grand plan for world domination. They just want to get through the day without being squashed.
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In the 2020s, that "I’m just doing my best and everything is falling apart" vibe has made them huge on social media. You’ll see them in memes, on pins at Disney parks, and in endless "mood" posts on Instagram. They've outlived the "sidekick" label to become genuine cult icons.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of these two losers, here’s how to do it:
- Check out the Hercules Animated Series: If you haven't seen it, the TV show expands on their dynamic a lot more. They often get stuck doing "day jobs" for Hades that go predictably wrong.
- Look for the Scarfe Concept Art: Search for Gerald Scarfe’s original sketches for Hercules. You’ll see how much more "monstrous" and weird Pain and Panic were originally supposed to be.
- Re-watch the Hydra Scene: Watch it specifically for the background animation. Half the jokes involving Pain and Panic happen in the corners of the screen while the main action is going on.
Basically, these two are the unsung heroes—or unsung failures—of the Disney Renaissance. They took the terrifying concepts of "Pain" and "Panic" and made them something we actually want to hang out with. Next time you're having a bad day at work, just remember: at least you didn't accidentally let a demigod live and then have to tell James Woods about it eighteen years later.