Although Mulan is the only Disney Princess of East Asian descent, the original Mulan cartoon was a massive flop in China. Disney pulled out all the stops to make the movie a hit and even had Jackie Chan perform "I'll Make a Man Out of You."

Was Disney Mulan popular in China?

China blocked the release of Disney's animated “Mulan” for eight months in the late 1990s after the company backed Martin Scorsese's “Kundun,” a film seen as sympathetic to the Dalai Lama. The animated “Mulan” bombed in China as a result.

Is Mulan 1998 culturally accurate?

Although the whole film told a Chinese story, it actually still showed huge differences between the film and genuine Chinese ancient culture. First, in the film, there are several Chinese elements misunderstood.

How much did Mulan make in China?

With $40 million in China, Mulan has ironically essentially tied Tenet's $41 million (as of Sunday) domestic gross.

Was Mulan well received?

The film was well received by critics and the public, who praised the animation, plot, characters (particularly the title character), and musical score. It grossed over $304 million worldwide against a production budget of $90 million.

EVERYTHING CULTURALLY RIGHT AND WRONG WITH MULAN 1998

Why was Mulan not popular in China?

Disney's classic 'Mulan' flopped in China because audiences didn't think the heroine looked Chinese enough.

Why wasn t Mulan popular in China?

Why was the animated Mulan movie not well received in China? - Quora. It was a combination of factors, which can be summed up to three points: collateral damage for Kundun, the limited release, and the foreign-looking story.

Why is Mulan so expensive?

So, why the higher price? Well, there are a few factors. For starters, Mulan is an expensive film and cost $200 million to produce. Disney's also spent a lot on marketing (including, a pricey TV spot at the 2020 Super Bowl), so they needed to find a way to cover at least some of their investment.

Why is there no Mushu in Mulan?

Mushu was seen as trivialising the Chinese culture

USC Professor Stanley Ronsen also told The Hollywood Report that the character was seen as a trivialisation of the culture in China. “Mushu was very popular in the US, but the Chinese hated it,” he said. “This kind of miniature dragon trivialised their culture.”

Why did they change Mulan's name?

Mulan's surname was rendered as the Yue Chinese (aka Cantonese) "Fa", though this was to pay respect to the poem being originally written in that language.

What was historically incorrect about Mulan?

Mulan's Feet Were Not Bound

Disney never shows this practice, although it is assumed in the ballad that she unbound her feet before heading off on her journey into the heat of battle. This is definitely one of the biggest historical inaccuracies in Mulan but was left out for understandable reasons.

Is Mulan culturally correct?

Mulan's Origins - Mulan's legend started as folksong amongst non-Han Chinese - its fictional, so there is no historical accuracy to speak of. The earliest surviving record is a relatively short story/poem of less than 400 Chinese text/characters .

Why is Mulan important to Chinese culture?

Under the idea that boys are preferred to daughters in ancient China, Mulan can join the army for her father and eventually become a heroine. Disney incorporated this idea of equality between men and women into the film, fully showing the equality of the people and strong national consciousness.

Did China like the new Mulan movie?

Chinese critics, both at home and abroad, said they were disappointed with the film's inaccurate and stereotypical portrayals of Chinese history and the main character, infused with nationalist tropes. Others were not as bothered.

What did China think of Kung Fu Panda?

Upon leaving theaters, “Kung Fu Panda” had not only become the most successful American animated film in Chinese history, but the most successful animated film in China, period. This success was commercial as well as critical.

Is Mulan a true legend in China?

Mulan is a fictional folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century AD) of Chinese history. According to the legend, Mulan takes her aged father's place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as a man.

Why was Li Shang removed from Mulan?

In reality, the filmmakers claimed that they were influenced by the #MeToo Movement, finding it inappropriate for Mulan's love interest to be her commanding officer. Considering how poorly the animated film performed in China, Disney made an active effort to appeal to the Chinese market in its live-action film.

Why is Eddie Murphy not in Mulan 2?

A clause in Eddie Murphy's contract for doing Shrek 2 (2004) forbade him from reprising the role of Mushu in this film, therefore having his other voice actor Mark Moseley (a man best known for filling in for Murphy's characters like Mushu and Donkey in their TV and Video Game appearances) fill in for this film.

Why was Mushu controversial?

Believed to have been written out of the film due to being "deemed culturally inaccurate and racist", some academics and culture critics defended Disney's decision to remove Mushu, describing it as their attempt "to represent Chinese culture and history in a more authentic manner".

How much money did Disney lose on Mulan?

Mulan (2020)

All in all, Mulan is estimated to have lost the studio between $140 million (£107m) and $150 million (£114m), with some experts even suggesting that audiences have grown tired of live-action remakes of beloved Disney classics.

How much did Disney charge for Mulan?

A lot riding on this new strategy. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Disney tested a new movie release strategy in September when it put Mulan on its streaming service, Disney+, and required subscribers to fork over $30 to access the movie—in addition to the $7 they already pay each month.

Why are people boycotting Mulan?

The boycott centers on two Chinese issues: The treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region -- where some of the film was shot -- and China's crackdown of freedoms in Hong Kong.

Was Mulan's remake a flop?

Although the live-action movie of Mulan was a flop, at least the cartoon was one of the two Mulan movies that was a hit. The cartoon Mulan on IMDb got a star rating of 7.6, and the live-action received a star rating of only 5.4.

What is the Disney China controversy?

The poor performance of Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Chinese box office has reopened questions on Hollywood's increasing difficulties in the world's second-largest economy and the role racism has played in the film's reception.