In the creation of Hercules Disney writers, Ron Clements and Don McEnery were ruthless in their usage –or rather nonuse - of the "actual" myth of Heracles. Most adults, with even a superficial knowledge of the myth, would not characterize the Disney writers' portrayal as accurate. Tough decisions, about which details of the myth to include or skip entirely, given the constraints of the target audience's age and maturity level, were necessary. Throughout the movie many scenes depict concessions by Clements and McEnery to partially include or allude to the "facts" of the Greek myth. The writers' usage of one-liners and over-their-young-heads jokes makes the movie entertaining to the whole family. Though not a factual reenactment of the Greek myth of Heracles, the Disney version creates a wonderful introduction of characters and locations in Greek mythology for young children using what is suitable and fun for them.
             The Disney movie starts off with a concession where Hercules is the natural son of Hera and Zeus taken shortly after birth thru the devious acts of Hades, Lord of the Underworld, and his sidekicks, Pain and Panic. Foster parents Alcmene and Amphitryon take on the raising of Hercules. The myth states that his father Zeus created him with a mortal woman, Alcmene, and the devious acts were the work of Zeus' wife Hera. Hera is also well known in the myth for having sent a serpent to kill Hercules, which he easily overcomes, the Disney movie depict Hades sending in his shape-shifting duo Pain and Panic as the serpents and as with the myth he easily overcomes this plot for his demise. Several of the Twelve Labors that are a constant in the various versions of the Greek myth are used as a backdrop during the creation of his hero like image for the feature length cartoon. For instance, while modeling for an artistic rendering of Hercules he is shown
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