The Disney Motion Picture Mulan

When we typically think of a cross-gender performance we often don’t look towards animated G-rated movies, however, the Walt Disney film Mulan produced in 1998 and directed by Tony Bancroft and Berry Cook, is a perfect example of a cross-gender performance. Mulan was one of the first examples in a Disney film, of a cross-gender performance and gender coded behaviors. Based off of the fifth-century Chinese poem “the Ballad of Mu-lan” the animated film takes place in China during the Han Dynasty, after the Huns have invaded China. Mulan is a young woman who decides to disguise herself as a man so that she can go to war instead of her elderly father. With no visual reference to base the character off of, Mark Hann, the primary animator on the team, struggled with creating a character that was an “outcast tomboy”. Primarily the struggle was to create this image of a lovable outcast without referring to the disjunction of her manly

Mulan is a brave warrior who saves her country from a man named Bori Khan. She steals her father’s sword and armor and runs away to join the Imperial Army without her family’s knowledge. While in the army, she pretends to be a man so she doesn’t get killed or have dishonors put on her and her family. Eventually, she ends up defeating Bori Khan and saving the emperor. During her time with the Imperial Army, she showed honesty and loyalty, both to her country and to her family.

Now she is able to be who she wants to be, rather who everyone had once wanted her to be. Mulan’s story is a good example of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey because of how it analyzes the Mulan as a person through her journey. Mulan begins as somewhat weak young girl unable to please her parents because she isn’t able to attract a man for marriage. But then we see that she cares much more in protecting her family rather than finding someone to spend her future with in the way she decides to take her father’s place despite the consequences. Now we see her as a mature young woman with a strong will, who cares more for protecting and honoring her family over finding a man who will take care of

The idea of feminism has not always been common. The term “feminism” wasn’t introduced until the 1970s. This shows how society didn’t allow anything that had to due with everyone being equal because of the standards that society constructed. In all the versions of Mulan, I think that Disney’s Mulan was the most strict on her having Ancient China’s role of being a woman. This would be having kids, helping clean around the house and not working for money, but working for her husband and kids. In Disney’s Mulan, her family is more hard on her to be a lady and for her to be the proper role of a women. This is because they went to a “matchmaker” to find her husband, and after saving everyone several times, she was still looked down upon because she was a woman.

Disney’s Mulan has depicted the religion/beliefs accurate and inaccurate in many key events. An example of an accurate scene was when Mulan’s grandma gave her a lucky cricket for good. Disney portrayed this scene well and accurate because research show that throughout Chinese history, crickets have symbolized wisdom and prosperity which is what makes the lucky ("Why Is a Cricket a Sign of Good Luck? | Synonym", 2017). In the balled did not get given a lucky cricket but that is probably because Mulan didn’t have a grandma in the story. Mulan likely could have been given a lucky cricket by her grandma because Chinese believed in that. One of the inaccuracies in the movie was the talking red dragon Mu-Shu. There was a talking dragon called Mu-Shu

Mulan, a tale of adventure and honor, is not only an engaging film to watch, but it also contains an amazing amount of historical accuracy concerning religions in China. The film Mulan is historically accurate in its portrayal of Daoist ideas, the expected behavior of women according to Confucianism, and Confucian relationships.

The legend of Mulan, the Chinese woman warrior, was first presented in an annonomous poem called “the Ballad of Mulan” which dated back the 6th sentury Tang Dynansty. The poem was written in five segments; each one represents Mulan’s origin, experience in the battlefield, and also sense of obedience to her family. The legend lives on as it is passed from one generation to other generation through diverse versions such as storytelling, poem, and movies. Ultimately, the ballad takes on a new form when it was adapted into a 1998 Disney animated feature. This is the first time Disney has drawn on an Asian

From the very beginning the Huns in Disney's Mulan are portrayed as evil incarnate. In the opening scenes, they are associated with an eerie atmosphere heightened by ominous sounds. The Huns do not appear immediately; they are introduced by suspense, preceded by the appearance of a bird of prey. A Chinese soldier, standing guard on the Great Wall of China is not even attacked by the falcon, he is caught by its wing, almost as if the Huns were trying to warn their enemies of their arrival, showing that they do not fear the resistance.

In Mulan, the stereotype of an obedient women, good housewife, and beautiful women who are married off is presented. When I see the heroine of the movie she conforms to the Asian race appearance, she has the common sexual identity of heterosexual, she is able-bodied and young. Mulan goes against her Asian culture of how women are supposed to be, a terrible housewife, clumsy, and has a hard time being obedient. She tries to fit into the stereotype in order to appease her parents. When her father is drafted into the military, however, Mulan confronts the gender box. She cuts her hair short, joins the military, becomes a strong woman who is capable of fighting, develops a sense of independence, and learns how to follow her own beliefs as opposed

Walt Disney movie Mulan is based on a legendary figure. The real story is quite similar to the movie. Mulan is based on a woman from ancient China. She's usually described in Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan. According to Scribe, in ballad, “Hua Mulan [took] her aged father's placed in the army.” she was known for her skilled martial art and sword, although was not highlighted in the movie. She fought for twelve years and gained high merit, but refused. Mulan the movie is set in China during Han Dynasty; taking after the invasion by the Huns, the Emperor asks one man from every family to join the Chinese armed force (Scribe). Realizing that the only male in her family is her father, Mulan takes her dad's protective layer and sword

A person who is brave enough to come out of their comfort zone and take risk, someone who never gives up even when things may seem impossible, a clever and creative mind, and to top it all with a heart that only means good; all mold together to make a hero.

However, Disney’s movie Mulan countervails these stereotypes as the main character and protagonist, Mulan, acts as a symbol of resilience by resisting the gender roles placed on her by society and as a result, is seen as a hero.

Disney directly exposes the idea that young girls should make their main goal in life to find their prince charming, fall madly in love, and live happily ever after. Making young girls’ aspiration in life revolve around finding a man of their dreams “transfix[es the] audience and divert[s] their potential utopian dreams and hopes through the false promises of the images [Disney] cast[s] upon the screen” (22). Disney tells the audience that women need a man to be happy. Disney presents the idea that women are dependent on me. Just like in The Little Mermaid, Ariel goes as far as surrendering her voice, to a witch named Ursula, and abandoning her family in order to be with her prince. Ariel also trades in her life as a mermaid, drastically changes her body, and sacrifices her greatest talent all in order to win her prince. Disney sends the message that girls need to give up their talents and lives in order to be with a man. Disney suggests that a woman’s main priority is her lover, no one or nothing else. Disney effectively portrays women in a negative way, depicting them as weak and needy. No attempt to break the stereotypical gender roles of women are evident however, these stereotypes are growing as Disney instills this image of women in the minds of viewers.

In the movie, “Mulan” the gender stereotyping is different than in the movie, “The Lion King.” Although she is portrayed as a strong female she still needs a man in her life. Giroux states, “Mulan may be an independent, strong-willed young woman, but the ultimate payoff for her bravery comes in the form of catching the handsome son of a general” (Greene 582). This teaches that young girls should strive to be beautiful so they can find a handsome man that will want to be with them. Men, on the

Mulan is a Disney animated film that takes place in ancient China during Han Dynasty War. Mulan is a young girl in China, the only child of her honored family who struggles to find her identity and meaning in society. While Mulan is a lovable, spirited girl who doesn’t fit in with Chinese tradition because she speaks her mind and follow her heart. Being a girl who experience culture, gender role, and self-image demonstrated what a non- tradition person will do to bring honor to her love one’s and the family.