ABOUT MULAN
The animated movie Mulan produced in 1998 by Walt Disney
is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan (Xu and Tian, 2013),
especially on the Ballad of Mulan (Kwa and Idema, 2010). San Souci, Tseng J. and Tseng M. (1998) were retelling the original Chinese poem in which a brave young girl masquerades as a boy and fights the Tartars in the Khan's army. Dong (2011) discussed the narratives and images of Mulan over a long time span—from ancient China to the contemporary United States to Mulan’s counter-migration back to her homeland. As Dong shows, Mulan has been reinvented repeatedly in both China and the United States so that her character represents different agendas in each retelling—especially after she reached the western world.
A brief introduction of Disney movie Mulan 1998
The setting was in ancient China and during that time there was an invasion (Huns) and the emperor commanded a general mobilization wherein the Chinese army will recruit one man from each family. Unfortunately, the only man in Mulan’s family is her father, who is old and his leg was injured; this led Mulan in taking the matter into her own hands by disguising herself as a man in order to take the position for her father. The family quickly learned Mulan’s departure, and her grandmother prayed to their ancestors for Mulan’s safety and their ancestors sent the “Great Stone Dragon” to guide and protect Mulan throughout her journey. However, when a small dragon Mushu was sent to awake the “Great Stone Dragon”, but accidentally destroyed it in the process, he decided to conceal from the ancestors and resolves to protect Mulan himself.
At the training camp, Mushu misguided Mulan on how to act and behave like a man, which caused the disorder. Despite all the chaos that she caused, under the commander Li Shang, she and her fellow recruits became skilled warriors. Later, Mushu creates a fake order form the General to follow them into the mountains to help defeat the Huns, but unfortunately, this led to the revelation of Mulan’s real identity when her wound was bandaged. Although injured and dismissed, she still went to save the life of the emperor along with her recruits and the commander. Fortunately, they won and she was awarded but declined due to the reason that she wants to return to her family, and she did. Lastly, Mushu was reinstated as a Fa family guardian by the ancestors.
Main Characters
Mushu was once a guardian spirit of Mulan's family, but he had been demoted to a position of an incense burner and gong-ringer for the deceased Fa ancestors ever since he failed to protect a family member. When Mushu was awaken by the ancestors he became Mulan’s closest companion throughout the movie, acting as Mulan's guardian.
Fa Zhou
MULAN
A young woman named Fa Mulan didn’t quite fit the mold of young women supposed to be at that time. She found out her father had been drafted while he was dedicated to serve the country; Mulan feared that her father would not survive the wartime. Therefore, Mulan posed as a man and took his place in military service. Mulan and her colleagues saved the emperor and others and she uploaded the honor for her family.
MUSHU
Fa Zhou is Mulan's father. He served the war and got injured. When there was an emergency call from the Emperor, he was steadfast about serving and protecting his country again, even sacrificing his life and body. He believes in family honor deeply.
Li Shang
Li Shang is a Chinese army captain. Shang is the son of General Li, the head of the imperial Chinese army. He is a highly capable leader with a dedication to his cause.