Mulan is one of the best Disney films ever made. It was one of the company’s first ventures into the feminist narrative that is now a frequent feature of their output, and it employed a distinctive animation style that was reminiscent of earlier Disney films. Based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, it was praised for everything from its score and songs, to its plot and characters.
With a live-action remake set to appear very soon, here are a variety of films that will tide fans of Disney's Mulan over until its release.
Mulan II
Obviously, the most obvious film to watch if anyone likes Mulan is Mulan II. The 2004 direct-to-DVD film reunited almost all of the original cast (minus big names like Eddie Murphy and Miriam Margolyes) and told a story that picked up after the events of the first film and Shang’s proposal to Mulan.
Fans get all of the trademark humor and beautiful animation, making for a film that holds up to the original. It's a great option for the first Mulan film.
Frozen
If anyone is looking for a movie with strong female leads and an absolutely exceptional soundtrack, then there aren't many much better options than Frozen.
Elsa and Anna lead viewers through a beautiful snowy landscape via a tale of empowerment and perfectly timed comedy. And Olaf is clearly the Mushu of the 3D animated Disney world.
Beauty And The Beast
Beauty And The Beast doesn’t have quite the same level of female empowerment as Mulan or Frozen, but visually, it’s a treat, and it's clearly a Disney animated film classic.
Like looking at the pages of the most delightful book, Beauty And The Beast tells a magical story of unexpected love, all the while delivering great songs over and over again.
Kill Bill
Over the course of Mulan, the audience sees her transform into an impressive warrior who is capable of fending off the Huns. In Kill Bill, The Bride is already a fierce warrior who learned her trade long before the audience was ever introduced to her.
Obviously, Kill Bill is rife with the violence and brutality of Tarantino’s mind, but there is still a huge overlap in the strength of the female protagonist at the heart of the story. It's a great movie for anyone who loves strong female leads.
The Lion King
If someone likes Mulan, there is an almost 100% guarantee that they’d be a fan of the original version of The Lion King. It is often considered to be one of the greatest films Disney ever produced, breathing life into the African wilderness and its colorful characters.
Despite being animated, it delivers some astonishing visuals, heart-breaking moments, and perfectly placed lines filled with exceptional humor. It's a timeless Disney classic.
Mulan: Rise Of A Warrior
It might start off with a very similar name to the Disney classic we are used to, but Mulan: Rise Of Warrior is vastly different in execution. There are very clear overlaps in the story as both take from Chinese legend, but this film is live action, with visuals coming from a place of rather extreme creative license.
If anyone enjoys the story of Mulan, though, this well-received film would make for an interesting comparison, as they are two films inspired by the same legend.
Moana
Much like Frozen, Moana is one the modern-day equivalent to Mulan. It fixes the mistake of Mulan by giving the roles of native islanders to actual native islanders (rather than mostly whitewashing the cast), while providing a barrage of exceptional music and an empowering story where the woman is in charge.
Moana herself is the switched-on and intelligent warrior of the story, with her being the one to ‘save’ Maui.
House Of Flying Daggers
There are a few things that connect Mulan to the Chinese film House Of Flying Daggers. The main one that doesn’t, is the violence. Don’t watch this one expecting anything as soft and sweet as a traditional Disney film.
If the story is all that matters, then this could be the perfect film; it combines a strong female lead character with an impressive ability for fighting as well as a heartfelt love story.
Tarzan
Just like The Lion King, Tarzan is a stone-cold Disney classic. Tarzan and Jane’s love story is all about that unexpected connection, while it follows a quest to overcome adversity, just like Mulan.
By the end of the film, Jane has taught Tarzan a new outlook on the world, as well as an understanding of the English language. Tarzan is a great option for someone who is interested in a classic Disney story that isn't just a straight up fairy tale.
Mulan (2020)
It might not have been released on schedule thanks to COVID-19, but the live-action Mulan remake is looking to hit cinemas very soon. It has done away with the magical comedic presence of Mushu and looks to be a more gritty retelling of Mulan’s journey.
Whether we’ll see the same level of humor in this film as the original remains to be seen, but we won’t be getting any singing, that’s for sure. Visually, however, it promises to be a treat. It's a perfect option for fans of the original Mulan.