The 1998 Disney adaptation of Mulan introduced many to the legend of Mulan, but there are significant changes between the Disney classic and the original legend. The 2020 live-action adaptation of Mulan is slightly closer to the original Chinese poem "The Ballad of Mulan." However, even with a conscious attempt to be closer to the legend, Mulan 2020 also alters from the source material. While Mulan 2020 takes out the musical numbers and the talking dragon Mushu, the film still contains many mystical elements that were absent from the original.
"The Ballad of Mulan" is the first known record of Hua Mulan and is dated back to 400 AD. The poem most likely began through oral tradition and was passed down for a century before it was finally preserved in the written form during the Tang dynasty. All retellings of Mulan come from the original poem which details Hua Mulan disguising herself as a man and joining the army to take the place of her elderly father and younger brother. Focusing solely on the poem, Disney actually hit a lot of the major story points. However, there are parts of the legend that both Disney adaptations took liberties with.
The Original Mulan's War Lasted Much Longer
In both the 1998 animated film and the 2020 live-action Mulan, Mulan is only at war for a few months. In the original legend, Mulan was battling in disguise for 12 years. Not only would it be harder to explain how Mulan was able to keep up the appearance of being a man for twelve years in a feature film, but it would risk children losing interest. Without a significant time jump, a 12-year war isn't viable for a kid's film without confusing children and distancing audiences from the story at hand.
Mulan Isn’t An Only Child In The Original Legend
While the 1998 animated Mulan features an adorable dog named Little Brother, Mulan didn't have any human siblings in the Disney classic. In "The Ballad of Mulan," she has a younger brother who is too young to fight in the war. In both the Ming dynasty play "Mulan Joins the Army" and the Qing dynasty novel Fierce and Filial, Mulan has a five-year-old brother and nine-year-old sister. Mulan 2020 also gave Mulan a younger sister named Hua Xiu. While some tellings of the legend depict Mulan as an only child, it is likely Disney chose to simplify the story and keep Mulan an only child like many of the other Disney Princesses.
Mulan Originally Was An Experienced Fighter Before The War
In the original legend, Mulan is already an experienced archer and fighter before she joins the war. This is very different from the Disney animated film which depicts Mulan learning to be a soldier. While Mulan is taught by her father in the original poem, Mulan 2020 introduces Hua Mulan as a naturally talented fighter who is adventurous from a young age. Unlike in "The Ballad of Mulan" where Mulan's skills are a source of fatherly pride, Mulan 2020 depicts her skills as a disappointment to her parents.
Likely, the creators of the original animated movie knew it would be more compelling to watch Mulan rise to the occasion. This instinct proved successful in the popular Disney song "I'll Make A Man Out of You." The "I'll Make A Man Out of You" sequence contains one of the most iconic training montages and one of the most memorable scenes in Disney history.
The Original Legend Doesn’t Include A Love Interest
Both Disney adaptations contain a love interest for Mulan. In the animated film, Li Shang plays Mulan's love interest as well as the highest-ranking leader of the Imperial Army. While the love story is less pronounced in Mulan 2020, she still has a love interest by the name of Chen Honghui. While some versions of the Mulan legend contain an arranged marriage, the original legend doesn't include a love interest. It wasn't until the 1939 film Mulan Joins the Army that romance was introduced to the legend. Following the Disney formula, it makes sense that the 1998 film would give Mulan a love interest with the rest of the Disney Princesses.
The Original Legend Doesn't Include Any Mystical Elements
The most striking deviation from the original poem is present in both Disney adaptations. The original Mulan isn't aided by a talking dragon and a lucky cricket as in the animated film. The film also contains sequences of the ancestor ghosts who seem to have magical powers. Instead of ancestor ghosts and Mushu, Mulan 2020 introduces a shape-shifting witch named Xianniang. The witch works with Böri Khan and tries to convince Mulan to become allies with her. In addition to the magic of Xianniang, Mulan is guided by a mystical phoenix who helps her escape the canyon and shows up in the final battle between Mulan and Khan.
Disney Princess protagonists usually include a talking animal sidekick, so it makes sense that Disney would continue this trend with Mulan. While the 1998 adaptation benefited from Eddie Murphy's Mushu, the mystical elements of Mulan 2020 seem to add little to the story. Mulan 2020 attempted to present a more grounded version of the legend of Mulan but ultimately betrayed that vision with the inclusion of magical elements.
Mulan Originally Isn’t Discovered Until She Returns Home
After the war ends in "The Ballad of Mulan," Hua Mulan returns home where she reveals to the army that she is a woman. The Disney animated movie reveals Mulan's identity after she is injured in battle. This discovery prompts Li Shang to consider executing her. Mulan 2020 depicts Mulan willingly revealing herself as a woman. After an interaction with Xianniang, Mulan decides to shed her father's armor and let her hair down. She tells the army that she is willing to be executed for her betrayal. In both Disney films, Mulan isn't executed and is discharged from the army instead.
The Disney Ending Has A Happier Ending Than The Original
In the original tale, the emperor offers Mulan a position in his Imperial Guard. Mulan declines and wishes to return home swiftly. Mulan 2020 follows this ending but also hints that Mulan may reconsider the emperor's offer. The 1998 Disney adaptation has the happiest ending with the Imperial City bowing to her, her father announcing he is proud of her, and her love interest Li Shang following her home. Additionally, Mushu is reinstated as a Fa family guardian and the ancestors throw a party to celebrate. While this ending doesn't seem to alter much from the original, there is a far darker Mulan retelling that is also popular.
One of the most famous retellings of Mulan can be found in Romance of Sui and Tang by Chu Renhuo. Mulan's story is found in only one of the 100 chapters and contains a very different fate for Mulan. In this version, Mulan's father dies while she is at war. When it is discovered by the khan that Mulan is a woman, he is determined to take her as a concubine. Once Mulan realizes she must submit to his demands, she asks to visit her father's grave first. She then slits her throat at her father's grave and declares she is loyal to no man other than her father.
Luckily, both Disney adaptations chose not to scar audiences with this grim ending. While Mulan 2020 attempted to be faithful to the original legend, it still took liberties with the story and failed to have the emotional core of the animated classic. The 1998 animated Mulan may be less accurate than the live-action remake, but it served as an introduction to the legend and a memorable film that lives in the hearts of many.