Mulan (1998 film)
Mulan is an animated motion picture produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and first released on June 5, 1998 by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution. The film was first of three Disney animated features produced primarily at its animation studio at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with the story by Robert D. San Souci. It was loosely based on various versions of the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. It starred the voices of Ming-Na Wen as Mulan (though her singing was by Lea Salonga) and Eddie Murphy as the dragon "Mushu the Demoted One".
The story is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a 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 Mulan requested as a concubine by Emperor Yang of Sui China (reigned 604–617). The film may take place even later, as it prominantly features landmarks such as the modern Great Wall of China and Forbidden City which were not constructed until the 16th Century.
Disney's Mulan casts the title in much the same way as the original legendary heroine, a rough-around-the-edges daughter of a respected veteran, somewhat troubled by being the 'sophisticated lady' her society expects. When Hun invaders prompt the empire to draft male soldiers from families, Mulan runs off, dressed in drag, to enlist and avoid her somewhat handicapped father from being sent to the front line to his doom. A fair source of humor in the movie is Mulan disguising her gender among her newfound soldier friends.
At the same time, Mushu (an unusually small dragon) plans to protect and encourage Mulan, but mostly to heal his tarnished reputation amongst the late Fa family's departed guardians.
Many fans praised the movie for having a creative departure in Disney's art style (moving away from the so-called standard "Disney Style" seen in films such as Beauty and the Beast and the Hunchback of Notre Dame). In Mulan characters are rendered in an artstyle reminiscent of Chinese art; in particular Mulan being a Disney character "who actually looks Chinese". Mulan is also considered one of the first major departure of Disney female leads; neither a princess nor considered exceptionally beautiful, and a strong and capable warrior. Other fans found the inclusion of typical Disney sidekicks such as the 'lucky' cricket and Mushu bizarre, as most of the other animals in the movie are depicted 'normal' non-sentient beasts.
Mulan 2
A sequel, Mulan 2, was released direct-to-video in 2005. It was directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerland.