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Mulan (1998 film)

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Mulan
Promotional Poster For Mulan
Directed byTony Bancroft
Barry Cook
Written byRobert D. San Souci
Produced byPam Coats
StarringMing-Na
Eddie Murphy
B.D. Wong
Miguel Ferrer
Harvey Fierstein
Beth Fowler
Music byJerry Goldsmith
Distributed byWalt Disney Pictures
Release dates
June 19, 1998
Running time
88 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$90,000,000
Box office$303,500,000

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 $200 million in worldwide box office - however, this results weren't considered enough to help Disney recover from a lull in the success of its cartoon animated movies.

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 being the only male, but he will not survive. Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) disguises herself as a man, then takes her father's conscription notice, armor, and weapons. 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 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 and her fellow soldiers; 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

Mulan's development 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.[2]

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. [4]

Cast

File:Mulan Screenshot.jpg
From right to left: Khan; Fa Mulan; Mushu; Cri-Kee
  • Ming-Na as Fa Mulan (singing voice provided by Lea Salonga), the female protaganist, 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[5]. The visuals have been described as stunning[6], breathtaking [7] and magnificently animated[8]. Many praise the movie for attempting something new. Fa Mulan is unlike a traditional Disney heroine, suggesting that she is independant and brave; without being overtly glamorous. [6][7].

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[9]. Some reviewers suggest that the film is "soulless" in its portrayal of Asian society.[10]

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."[11] 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.[12].

Box office performance

Mulan's opening weekend box office figures were $22.8 million[13], placing it as the second highest grossing movie that week to The X-Files.[14] It went on to make $120 million domestically and $304 million worldwide, placing it the second higest family film of the year, behind A Bug's Life, and the 7th highest of the year overall. [15]. 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.[16] Top international releases include United Kingdom ($14.6 million) and France ($10.2 million).[17]

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[18]. 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[19]. 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.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22] 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[23][24]. 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

Main article: 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[25], 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, 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[26] Chi Fu's name literally means, in Chinese, "to pester or annoy".

Music

Main article: Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

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.[27] 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.[28] 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 would also be Mulan's singing voice in the sequel, Mulan II[29].

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[30].

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.[31]
  • 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.'
  • There are a number of Hidden Mickeys in this film, including the spots on Shang's horse's neck and rumpand in the training sequences, the first time the soldiers use their rockets.
File:Mushu from kh.png
Mushu in the game Kingdom Hearts
  • 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'.[34]
  • 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.[35]
  • 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.[36]

References

  1. ^ a b J. Lau. "Ode to Milan". Retrieved 2007-08-11. Cite error: The named reference "Ballad" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c "Disney Princess Official Homepage" (SWF). The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2007-09-08. Cite error: The named reference "DisneyPrincesses" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Mulan Disney VHS Release". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  4. ^ Mulan DVD Commentary
  5. ^ "Rotten Tomatoes". Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  6. ^ a b Wong, Stephen (1998). "History? Close enough..." Entertainment Insiders. Retrieved 2007-08-11. Cite error: The named reference "StephWong" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Suggs, Kyle (1998). "Review of Mulan". Christian Spotlight. Retrieved 2007-08-11. Cite error: The named reference "KyleSuggs" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Jardine, Dan (1998). "Review of Mulan". Apollo Guide. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  9. ^ "Review of Mulan". Need Coffee. 1998. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  10. ^ Gonzales, Ed (1998). "Review of Mulan". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  11. ^ Nguyen, Mimi. "Negotiating Asian American superpower in Disney's Mulan". Pop Politics Media LLC. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  12. ^ Labi, Nadya (1998-06-26). "Girl Power". TIME Magazine. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  13. ^ "Box Office Report for Mulan". Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  14. ^ "Box Office Report for X-Files". Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  15. ^ "1998 WORLDWIDE GROSSES". Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  16. ^ Corliss, Richard (2002-06-24). "Stitch in Time?". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  17. ^ Woods, Mark (1998-12-01). "'Mulan' hits $100 mil". Variety. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  18. ^ "26th Annie Award Winners". 1998. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  19. ^ "1998 Academy Award Winners". 1999. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  20. ^ "1998 56th Golden Globe Awards". LA Times. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  21. ^ Fessler, Karen (June 23, 1998). "Will Mulan open China to Disney?". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2007-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  22. ^ Michael Fleeman (1998). "Hollywood hopes more movies will follow Clinton to China". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  23. ^ Kurtenbach, Elaine (February 8, 1999). "China Allows Disney Film Screening". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  24. ^ Shelly Kraicer (August 14, 1999). "China vs. Hollywood : the BBC World Service talks to me". Retrieved 2007-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  25. ^ "China Factbook".
  26. ^ Baring, Maurice. Orpheus In Mayfair And Other Stories And Sketches. Mills & Boon. ISBN 1-404-32312-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |origmonth= ignored (help)
  27. ^ Smith, Andy (August 15 1998). "One talented teen". Providence Journal. Retrieved on May 25 2007.
  28. ^ Clemmensen, Christian (July 7, 2007). "Filmtracks: Mulan (Jerry Goldsmith)". Retrieved 2007-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  29. ^ Salonga, Lea. "Lea Salonga Official Site". Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  30. ^ Scheerer, Mark (1998-07-08). "Donny Osmond rolls with the punches for 'Mulan' success" (HTML). CNN. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  31. ^ Mulan Easter Egg Archive
  32. ^ Lilo & Stitch Easter Egg Archive
  33. ^ a b "Official Kingdom Hearts Website" (SWF). 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  34. ^ Nick Lee. "Spaced Out - Episode Guide". Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  35. ^ Shack, Twop (2002-12-10). "Girl-on-girl action! Woooo!". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
  36. ^ Gates, Anita. "Don't Get Hysterical, Mom. Just Leave a Message. Beep!". New York Times.

See also

Wikiquote has quotations related to Mulan (1998 film).
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