This article is about the film "Mulan". For the legendary person, see
Hua
Mulan. For the namesake protagonist, see
Fa Mulan.
Mulan is a 1998 animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, and released by Walt
Disney Pictures on June 19, 1998. The thirty-sixth
animated feature in the Disney
animated features canon, the film is loosely based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan,[1] and was the first of three produced primarily at the animation studio at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida.[2] It was directed by Tony
Bancroft and Barry Cook, with the story by Robert D. San Souci among others.[3] The film was praised for its stunning visuals and for portraying an independent and dominant
female, and earned over $300 million in worldwide box office.
Plot
When the Huns, led by the ruthless Shan Yu (Miguel Ferrer), invade China, each family is given a conscription
notice. Mulan's father, Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh) has to serve in the army but he is too old,
and he will not survive. Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) disguises
herself as a man, then takes her father's conscription notice, armor, and weapons so that he will
not have to go. She rides away on her horse, Khan, to join the army, knowing that if she were caught she would be killed.
Mushu (Eddie Murphy), a small dragon who had been demoted to gong ringer by Mulan's ancestors, is asked to awaken the "Great Stone
Dragon". Mushu accidentally destroys the Dragon but realizes that this could be an opportunity to earn his place among the
guardians again if he can make Mulan a war hero.
Mulan trains with a group led by Captain Li Shang (B.D.
Wong), including fellow soldiers Ling (Gedde Watanabe), Yao (Harvey Fierstein), and Chien Po (Jerry Tondo). The troops complete
their training, but Chi Fu (James Hong), the Emperor's meddling and misogynistic adviser
refuses to let them see battle, accusing the troops of being ill prepared. Mushu forges a letter from the General, ordering Li
Shang to take his men to battle. The troops set out to meet General Li (James Shigeta),
who has already left on a mission. However, Li Shang and his troops discover that the General and his men were killed in
battle.
Captain Li Shang and his troops continue, disheartened by their loss, when they are ambushed by Hun archers. After an initial
attack, the Huns are believed to be defeated, but the troops soon discover otherwise. As they are setting up the last cannon to
fire at the Huns, Mulan spots a precarious mound of snow on the upper mountain side. As the Huns charge down the mountain Mulan
takes the cannon and fires the rocket at the snow mound. The collision of the rocket and the snow mound causes an
avalanche which spreads over the charging Huns, burying them. Captain Li's soldiers take
refuge while Mulan rescues Captain Li from being swept away by the snow.
During treatment, Mulan's true identity is discovered. Captain Li is notified and is expected to execute Mulan, but spares her
life and considers his pardon an exchange for Mulan saving his own life. Instead, Captain Li expels her from the army. Mulan
decides to return home but hears the Huns emerging from the snow that had blanketed them during the earlier battle. She tries to
warn Captain Li's troops as they are heralded by citizens in a parade for their war efforts, but they do not listen. As the
Emperor (Pat Morita) addresses the crowd, the Huns, disguised as parade characters, kidnap
him.
Captain Li and his troops try to follow the Huns into the palace but are unsuccessful. Mulan devises a ploy with the other
soldiers to dress as concubines, scale the castle wall and infiltrate the castle. When the
Huns lower their defenses in the presence of the "women", Mulan and her friends swiftly dispatch them all. During this attack the
Emperor is safely removed from the palace by Chien Po, but Captain Li and Mulan are both trapped on the balcony with Shan Yu.
Shan Yu is about kill Captain Li when Mulan gets his attention. The Hun recognizes her from the mountain battle and gives chase.
Mulan lures Shan Yu onto the palace rooftop, where Mushu propels a huge firecracker that hits Shan Yu and carries him off to his
death.
The Emperor meets Mulan and, in an accusatory tone, lists Mulan's crimes, but he pardons her. The Emperor then bows to Mulan,
which is considered an extremely high honor as it implies being of a higher status than the Emperor, and the crowd follow suit.
The Emperor then offers Mulan a position in his staff but Mulan refuses the offer and confesses that she wants to return home. He
gives her Shan Yu's sword, along with his crest, for her to bring home and give honour to
her family.
Upon her return, Mulan expects to be reprimanded but is instead embraced by her family. Captain Li arrives to talk with Mulan,
having been encouraged to propose. The ancestors reluctantly agree to make Mushu a guardian once more.
Production
Development for Mulan begun in 1994, after the production team sent a select group of artistic supervisors to
China for three weeks to take photographs and drawings of local landmarks for inspiration; and to
soak up local culture.[4] The filmmakers decided to change
Mulan's character to make her more more appealing and selfless [5] and turn the art style closer to Chinese painting, with
watercolor and simpler design - opposed to the details of The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre
Dame.[6]
To create 2,000 Hun soldiers during the Huns' attack sequence, the production team developed a crowd simulation software called Attila. This software allows thousands of unique characters to
move autonomously. A variant of the program called Dynasty was used in the final battle sequence to create a crowd of
3,000 in the Forbidden City. Pixar's photorealistic RenderMan
was used to render the crowd. Another software developed for this movie was Faux Plane which was used to add depth to flat
two-dimensional painting. Although developed late in production progress, Faux Plane was used in five shots, including the
dramatic sequence which features the Great Wall of China, and the final battle sequence when Mulan runs to the Forbidden City.
During the scene in which the Chinese are bowing to Mulan, the crowd is a panoramic film of real people bowing. It was edited
into the animated foreground of the scene. [7]
Cast
- Ming-Na as Fa Mulan (singing voice provided by
Lea Salonga), the female protagonist, based on Hua Mulan.
She disguises herself as a man and joins the Chinese Imperial Army in her father's place. Instead of being punished for doing so,
she ends up a war hero.
- Eddie Murphy as Mushu, a dragon and one of the Fa
family's guardian spirits, previously demoted after misguiding one of the Fa family ancestors. He is reinstated as a guardian
after successfully aiding Mulan in her efforts in the army.
- B.D. Wong as Captain Li Shang (singing voice
provided by Donny Osmond), the son of General Li and the officer in charge of training the
Imperial Army's new recruits.
- Miguel Ferrer as Shan Yu, the film's main
villain and the head of the Hun army who attempts to conquer the Chinese Empire.
- Harvey Fierstein as Yao, a short but tough Imperial Army recruit who
befriends Mulan.
- Gedde Watanabe as Ling (singing voice provided by Matthew Wilder), a lanky Imperial Army recruit who befriends Mulan.
- Jerry Tondo as Chien-Po, an overweight and good-natured Imperial Army recruit who
befriends Mulan.
- James Hong as Chi-Fu, a member of the Emperor's consul and advisor to Li Shang who
refuses to allow the recruits to join the battle against the Huns.
- Soon-Tek Oh as Fa Zhou, Mulan's father and a renowned war veteran.
- June Foray as Grandmother Fa (singing voice provided by Marni Nixon), the grandmother of Mulan, who is encouraging her to find a husband.
- Pat Morita as The Emperor of China, the target of a Hun kidnapping and commends
Mulan after saving him and the Chinese Empire.
- George Takei as First Ancestor Fa, the head of the Fa family ancestors.
- Freda Foh Shen as Fa Li, Mulan's mother.
- James Shigeta as General Li, Li Shang's father who was killed in a battle
against the Hun army.
- Miriam Margolyes as The Matchmaker, who attempts to find Mulan a husband at
the start of the film.
- Frank Welker as Khan, Mulan's horse, and Cri-Kee, a cricket given to Mulan as an amulet.
Reception
Critical reaction
Reception of Mulan was mostly positive, gathering a 90% fresh rating from Rotten
Tomatoes.[8] The visuals have been
described as stunning,[9] breathtaking
[10] and magnificently animated.[11] Many praise the movie for attempting something
new. Fa Mulan is unlike a traditional Disney heroine, suggesting that she is independent and brave; without being overtly
glamorous.[9][10]
Film critic Roger Ebert gave Mulan three and a half stars out of four in his
written review. He said that "Mulan is an impressive achievement, with a story and treatment ranking with Beauty and the
Beast and The Lion King".
Those who criticise it describe it as "instantly forgettable." The songs are accused of not being memorable, and
slowing the pace of the movie down.[12]
Some reviewers suggest that the film is "soulless" in its portrayal of Asian society.[13]
This movie was also the subject of comment from feminist critics. Mimi Nguyen says the film "pokes fun at the ultimately
repressive gender roles that seek to make Mulan a domesticated creature."[14] Nadya Labi agrees, saying "there is a lyric in the film that gives the
lie to the bravado of the entire girl-power movement." However, she pointed out that she needed to become a boy to do it.
Kathleen Karlyn, an assistant professor of English at the University of Oregon, criticises it suggesting "In order to even
imagine female heroism, we're placing it in the realm of fantasy" Pam Coats, producer of Mulan, aimed to produce a character
that exhibits both masculine and feminine influences, being both physically and mentally strong.[15]
Box office performance
Mulan's opening weekend box office figures were $22.8 million,[16] placing it as the second highest grossing
movie that week to The X-Files.[17] It went on to make $120 million domestically and $304 million worldwide,
placing it the second highest family film of the year, behind A Bug's Life, and the
7th highest of the year overall.[18] However,
these figures were criticised as being a significant decrease from former Disney films, and this was considered a sign of the
decreasing popularity of cartoon animation.[19] Top international releases include United Kingdom
($14.6 million) and France ($10.2 million).[20]
Awards
Mulan won many Annie Awards. The film itself won the award for Best Animated Theatrical
theatres. Individual achievement awards were awarded to Pam Coats for producing; Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft for Directing; Rita
Hsiao, Christopher Sanders, Phillip LaZebnick, Raymond Singer and Eugenia Bostwick-Singer in Writing; Chris Sanders for
Storyboarding; Hans Bacher for Production Design; David Tidgwell for Effects Animation; Ming-Na
for Voice Acting Mulan; Matthew Wilder, David
Zippel and Jerry Goldsmith for music and Ruben
A. Aquino for Character Animation. Tom Bancroft and Mark Henn were also nominated
for Character Animation[21]. It was also
nominated for an Academy Award for Original Music Score in 1998,
but was beaten by Stephen Warbeck's score for Shakespeare in Love.[22] The music score also received significant praise. Jerry Goldsmith won the 1999
BMI Film Music Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score in 1998. Matthew Wilder and David
Zippel were also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original
Song the same year for "Reflection". They were beaten by The Truman Show and "The
Prayer" from Quest for Camelot respectively.[23]
Reception in China
Disney was keen to promote Mulan to the Chinese, hoping they might
replicate their success with their 1994 film The Lion King, which was one of the
country's highest-grossing Western films at that time. Disney also hoped it might smooth over relations with the Chinese
government which had soured after the release of Kundun, a Disney-funded biography of the
Dalai Lama that the Chinese government considered politically provocative.[24] China had threatened to curtail business negotiations with Disney over
that film and, as the government only accepts 10 Western films per year to be shown in their
country, Mulan's chances of being accepted were low.[25] Finally, after a year's delay, the Chinese government did allow the film a limited Chinese release,
but only after the Chinese New Year, so as to ensure that local films dominated the
more lucrative holiday market.[26][27] Kelly Chen and Coco Lee voiced Mulan in the Cantonese and Mandarin dubs of the film respectively, while Jackie Chan
voiced Shang in both dubs.
Chinese Culture in Mulan
The Legend of Hua Mulan
-
The Chinese legend of Hua Mulan centers on a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take
the place of her elderly father in the army. The story can be traced back to The Ballad of
Mulan. The earliest accounts of the legend state that she lived during the Northern Wei
dynasty (386–534). However another version reports that Mulan
was requested as a concubine by Emperor Yang of Sui
China (reigned 604–617).[1] The film may take place even later, as it prominently features landmarks
such as the Forbidden City which was not constructed until the 15th Century. On the other hand, at the time of Northern Wei, the Xiongnu
(aka Huns) had been already absorbed into Chinese culture. However, according to the style of dress
(traditional Han clothing), the film takes place sometime in the 15th century or before. The fireworks featured in the movie indicate that the movie is set during the Sui dynasty. Although
Mulan is set in north China, where the dominant language is Mandarin,[28] the Disney film uses the Cantonese pronunciation, "Fa", of her family name. In Mandarin her name is pronounced "Hua".
Disney's Mulan casts the title character in much the same way as the original legend,
a tomboy daughter of a respected veteran, somewhat troubled by being the "sophisticated lady" her
society expects her to be after failing the match maker's training, dishonoring Mulan's family. In the original Mulan legend,
Mulan uses her father's name Li and not the name "Ping" and she was never discovered as a girl, unlike the film. Also in the
original legend, Mulan went to war for her father, because her father was getting too old to fight, and had no sons to take his
place. However, in the film, it was added that her father's leg was injured.
Language
The script used for most of the text in Mulan is Traditional Chinese,
which is no longer used in daily life on Mainland China (but still used in Hong Kong,
Macau, Taiwan and many overseas Chinese communities), although people are still able to read it. The traditional name for the
leaders of the Central Asian Huns was Shanyu. The war between the Huns and China was real,
called the Sino-Xiongnu War.
When Mulan masquerades as a man, her name is a pun in Chinese. Her first name is "Ping" (瓶),
meaning pot and her Surname (Placed first using Chinese naming conventions) means Flower (花). Together they make "Flowerpot"; a
Chinese term meaning an effeminate man. According to Orpheus in Mayfair and Other Stories and Sketches by Maurice Baring, "Ping"
in Chinese means soldier-man, and if you wish to express your contempt for a man there is no word in the whole of the Chinese
language which expresses it so fully and so emphatically as the word Ping[29] Chi Fu's name literally means, in Chinese, "to pester or annoy".
Music
-
Mulan features a score by Jerry Goldsmith and five songs by Matthew Wilder (music) and David Zippel (lyrics), with a six
originally planned for Mushu, but dropped following Eddie Murphy's involvement with the character. [30]The movie's soundtrack is credited for starting the career of pop princess
Christina Aguilera, whose first song to be released in the U.S. was her rendition of
'Reflection', the 1st single from the 'Mulan' soundtrack. Reception for the song, and
Aguilera's vocals were so well received, that it landed her a recording contract with RCA records.[31] In 1999, she would go on to release her self-titled debut album, on which 'Reflection' was also included. As well as her own, the pop
version of "Reflection" has 2 Spanish translations, because the movie has separate
Spanish translations for Spain (performed by
Malú) and Latin America (performed by Lucero).
Lea Salonga, the singing voice of Mulan in the movie, is also the singing voice of
Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. The music
featured during the haircut scene, often referred as the Mulan Decision score, is different in the soundtrack album. The
soundtrack album uses an orchestrated score while the movie uses heavy synthesizer music.
The synthesizer version is available on limited edition CD.[32] Salonga, who enjoys singing movie music in her concerts, has done a Disney medley which climaxes
with an expanded version of 'Reflection' (not the same as those in Aguilera's version). Salonga also provided the singing voice
for Mulan in the movie's sequel, Mulan II.
The song "I'll Make a Man Out of You" was performed by Donny Osmond, who commented that his children decided that he had
finally "made it" in show business when he was in a Disney film.[33]
References in Other Media
References to Mulan in Disney Media
- When Mulan sings Reflection, in her father's shrine, her reflection appears in the polished surface of the temple
stones. The writing on the stones is the names of the Disney animators who worked on the film written in ancient Chinese.[34]
- In the scene where Mushu awakens the ancestors, one set of grandparents worry that Mulan's quest will ensure her family loses
their farm. This couple appears to be the couple on the farm in Grant Wood's famous painting 'American Gothic.'
- In the "Ugly Betty" season one episode "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", Mulan is referenced when Betty is quizzing Marc on his
knowledge of her to fool his mother into thinking they are dating. However, he does not know much, as is evidenced when the
question is about her favorite princess, and Marc guesses Mulan. Henry, on the other hand, knows it is Cinderella.
- There are a number of Hidden Mickeys in this film, including the spots on Shang's
horse's neck and rump and in the training sequences, the first time the soldiers use their rockets.
Mushu in the game Kingdom Hearts
References to Mulan in Popular Culture
- The British sitcom Spaced referenced Mulan in the second episode of the second
series. In the show, characters are frequently hard-pressed to draw a line between fantasy and reality, and in this scene the
character Daisy recalls Mulan as someone she has met "when she was traveling" until another character reminds her it was
'a Disney film'. Daisy also sings a very badly-remembered line of 'Reflection'.[36]
- In the television show Firefly, Shepherd
Book mentions a Chinese warlord named Shan Yu who purportedly believed you could only truly know a man by torturing
him.[37]
- Comedian Margaret Cho referred to a fish and rice diet a tabloid (falsely) reported her
adhering to as being "so Mulan," in that it was based on the stereotypes of her ethnic background.[38]
- In South Park episode "Miss teacher bangs a boy", when Miss Stephenson attempts to flee
with Ike to Milan, he replies "yay, Mulan!"
- In Family Guy episode "Love Thy Trophy," Stewie
starts a fight among the family of interracial children about Santa's nationality. After the Asian child claims Santa to be
oriental, the Mexican child says "How can he be Asian? Santa doesn't drive his sled 20 miles under the speed limit with his
blinker on! Go back to your rice-paddy, Mulan!"
References
- ^ a b J. Lau. Ode to Mulan. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ a b Disney Princess Official Homepage (SWF). The Walt
Disney Company. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
- ^ Mulan Disney VHS
Release. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved on 2007-09-08.
- ^ "Discovering Mulan". Mulan DVD: Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
- ^ "Finding Mulan". Mulan DVD: Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
- ^ "Art Design". Mulan DVD: Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
- ^ Mulan DVD Commentary [DVD]. Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
- ^ Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ a b Wong, Stephen (1998). History? Close enough....
Entertainment Insiders. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ a b Suggs, Kyle (1998). Review of Mulan.
Christian Spotlight. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Jardine, Dan (1998). Review of Mulan.
Apollo Guide. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Review of Mulan. Need Coffee (1998).
Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Gonzales, Ed (1998). Review of Mulan. Slant
Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Nguyen, Mimi. "Negotiating Asian
American superpower in Disney's Mulan", Pop Politics Media LLC. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Labi, Nadya. "Girl Power", TIME
Magazine, 1998-06-26, pp. 1-2. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Box Office Report for Mulan. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Box Office Report for X-Files.
Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ 1998
WORLDWIDE GROSSES. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Corliss, Richard. "Stitch in Time?",
TIME Magazine, 2002-06-24. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Woods, Mark. "'Mulan' hits $100
mil", Variety, 1998-12-01. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ 26th Annie Award Winners (1998). Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
- ^ 1998 Academy Award Winners (1999). Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
- ^ 1998 56th Golden Globe
Awards. LA Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Fessler, Karen (June 23, 1998). Will Mulan open
China to Disney?. Bloomberg News. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Michael Fleeman (1998). Hollywood hopes more movies will follow
Clinton to China. The Associated Press. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Kurtenbach, Elaine (February 8, 1999). China Allows Disney Film Screening.
Associated Press. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Shelly Kraicer (August 14, 1999). China vs. Hollywood : the BBC World Service
talks to me. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ China
Factbook.
- ^ Baring, Maurice
[August 1909]. Orpheus In Mayfair And Other Stories And Sketches. Mills & Boon. ISBN 1-404-32312-0.
- ^ "Songs of Mulan". Mulan DVD: Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
- ^ Smith, Andy. "One talented
teen". Providence Journal. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Clemmensen, Christian (July 7, 2007). Filmtracks: Mulan (Jerry Goldsmith).
Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
- ^ Scheerer, Mark. "Donny Osmond rolls with the punches
for 'Mulan' success" (HTML), CNN, 1998-07-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Mulan Easter Egg Archive
- ^ a b Official Kingdom Hearts Website (SWF) (2006-02-08). Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Nick Lee. Spaced Out -
Episode Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
- ^ Shack, Twop (2002-12-10). Girl-on-girl action!
Woooo!. Yahoo! TV. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Gates, Anita. "Don’t Get
Hysterical, Mom. Just Leave a Message. Beep!", New York Times. (English)
See also
External links
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