At various stages of development, Mushu was changed from two different dragons who morph into one dragon by the end of the film, to a phoenix, and finally a dragon. Due to constant script revisions, Tom drew generic versions of the character, avoiding poses and facial expressions.

Why was Mushu replaced with a Phoenix?

"Using it as a silly sidekick didn't play very well with the traditional Chinese audience." But perhaps the most significant reason why the new Mulan film features a phoenix instead is due to the symbolism of the mythical bird for Chinese women in particular — or at least according to Caro's vision.

Is Mushu a dragon or lizard?

Mushu is the deuteragonist of Disney's 1998 animated feature film Mulan. He is a pint-sized, fast-talking, self-absorbed Chinese dragon and the self-appointed guardian of Fa Mulan.

Why did Disney remove Mushu from Mulan?

Though the director shared that Mushu was removed to allow Mulan to better enhance her relationships with her fellow soldiers, his absence may have also been more about not offending viewers, who found Mushu to be insensitive in the 1998 animated feature.

Why did the Chinese ban Mulan?

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.

Mulan 2 brushing my teeth scene

Who replaced Mushu in Mulan?

Although Mushu and the phoenix are both guardians of the ancestors, and both are stone statues brought to life for Mulan's protection, the phoenix is never a true replacement for Mushu. Mulan and the phoenix never really interact, compared with Mushu's constant involvement in the animated film.

Why couldn t Mushu wake up the dragon?

Ultimately, this would mean that Mushu couldn't awaken the Great Stone Dragon because it was awake all along. In this way, Mulan and the spirit of the Great Stone Dragon are one and the same, and that's just one more reason I'm proud to call this rebellious Disney princess my favorite.

What is Mushu supposed to be?

Mushu is a fictional character in Disney's Mulan franchise, first appearing in the 1998 animated film of the same name. A small Chinese dragon, Mushu was a guardian of Mulan's family before being demoted for failing to protect an ancestor.

Why did Mushu turn evil?

If any of you watched Mulan 2, for exapmle buying it on DVD, Mushu turns evil after losing his pedastol, so he tries to tear apart Mulan and Shang, which worked.

What does the dragon name Mushu mean?

Mushu, Mulan

Although this dragon's name may have been inspired by the Chinese dish moo shu pork, the characters of his name (Mù and xū) translate to “wood” and “necessary.” Voiced by Eddie Murphy, Mushu appeared in the beloved Disney film Mulan as a wise-cracking, bumbling sidekick.

Is Mushu a trickster?

In reality, his primary interest is to return Mulan's home victorious, so he can be reinstated among the ancestors. Like Donkey in Shrek, Mushu corresponds to the archetype of the Trickster and retains some comic characteristics.

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 not supposed to be the one to help Mulan?

That the dragon is a sign of respect, and of strength and power, and sort of using it as a silly sidekick did not play well with a traditional Chinese audience.” Let's face it: Mushu has no place in a film that seeks to honor and accurately portray Chinese culture.

Is there a Phoenix in Mulan?

This phoenix that appears in the 2020 remake of Mulan is completely different from its common western counterpart - specifically based on the fenghuang of Chinese mythology. The phoenix also serves as a replacement for Mushu in the remake and is said to be a female.

Is Mulan 1998 banned in China?

Finally, after a year's delay, the Chinese government did allow the film a limited Chinese release, but only after the Chinese New Year, so as to ensure that local films dominated the more lucrative holiday market. Box office income was low, due to both the unfavorable release date and rampant piracy.

Why was Mushu removed?

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.”

Who are the Huns in Mulan?

The villains of her story are the Huns––a fierce army of Mongolian warriors bent on conquest. Historically speaking, that's complete B.S. First of all, Mulan would have looked more like the Hun than the Han. Her people, the Xianbei, were a proto-Mongolian tribe of horsemen.

Why do the dragon's eyes glow on Mulan?

The dragon's eyes glowing in the temple symbolizes Mulan's role as the protector of her family awakening, instead of the actual dragon. The reason Mushu couldn't wake the dragon is because the dragon was no longer there. Mulan is implied to be the Great Dragon that protects her family.

Does Mushu have ADHD?

Mushu has ADHD. He is fidgets, always running around or climbing, talks excessivly, and always on the go. Iago has dependent personal disorder by having to be liked by everyone and has difficulty doing things on his own. When the Sultan wants to give him crackers, he lets him shove them in his mouth.

Who is Shan Yu based on?

Shan Yu was inspired by the real-life Attila the Hun. Though while Shan Yu died by the hands of fireworks, Attila died by choking on his own blood the night he was to be wed to his future wife, Ildico. Coincidently the name of the computer system that was used to animate the Hun army charge was called Attila.

Why is Mushu so small?

For better use, the animators shrunk Mushu to a smaller size. Around the time when the music of the film was to be created, the songwriters had written a piece for Mushu for him to sing to assure Mulan that he'll be there to help her.

What happens to Mushu at the end of Mulan?

Mushu, at last, is restored to guardian status in the family temple. Mulan thanks him for his help in her adventurous plan, and the ancestors celebrate that the Fa family is complete again.

What does the Phoenix mean in Mulan?

The phoenix is the Hua family protector. Disney, Walt Disney Animation. In the animated film, Mushu breaks a statue of a stone dragon, which serves as the family's guardian. Mulan's father says the phoenix is the emissary of their ancestors in the new movie.