Mulan
The Disney film "Mulan" exists in two primary movie versions: the 1998 animated musical and the 2020 live-action adaptation. Both films tell the story of Hua Mulan, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her elderly father's place in the Imperial Army to fight against invaders. The animated version is a G-rated family musical featuring a comedic dragon sidekick, Mushu, and touches on themes of honor, duty, and self-discovery amidst mild fantasy violence. It is generally suitable for younger audiences, though some themes and implied content may warrant parental discussion. In contrast, the 2020 live-action film, rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, presents a more mature and serious tone. It foregoes musical numbers and Mushu, focusing on realistic martial arts and a more significant depiction of war. This version also introduces a powerful witch character and emphasizes Mulan's innate 'chi' as a magical ability, leading to more intense action and thematic content. While both versions celebrate female empowerment and courage, the live-action adaptation features intensified violence, more overt supernatural elements, and nuanced portrayals of gender identity that distinguish it significantly from its animated predecessor.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe level of violence significantly increases from the animated (1998) to the live-action (2020) film. The 1998 version features cartoonish battle sequences and implied deaths without gore. The 2020 film, however, depicts more numerous and realistic battle scenes with weapons, explicit one-on-one combat, and scenes of dead soldiers, though it largely remains bloodless.
In the 1998 animated film, battle scenes include characters being hit and kicked, an avalanche burying the Hun army, and implied deaths where numerous bodies lie on a snowy field. Shan Yu is killed by a large explosion from a firework rocket. The 2020 live-action film includes numerous battle scenes with arrows and swords, showing dead bodies on battlefields and soldiers charging on horseback. Mulan engages in intense martial arts combat and a witch character, Xianniang, uses talons to attack people, drawing blood in one instance.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighThe 1998 animated film features ancestor veneration and a benevolent dragon spirit. The 2020 live-action version significantly amplifies supernatural elements with a powerful witch, Xianniang, and Mulan's innate 'chi' as a magical force, leading to more pronounced occult themes.
In the 1998 animated film, Mulan's ancestors are depicted as spirits residing in the family temple, awakened by Mushu, a small dragon who acts as a guardian spirit. The 2020 live-action film introduces Xianniang, a witch who can shapeshift into a hawk or flock of birds and possess people. Mulan herself possesses an abundance of 'qi,' portrayed as a magical power granting superhuman abilities, which is limited by dishonesty.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe 2020 live-action film contains significantly more intense and potentially frightening content compared to the 1998 animated version, primarily due to its more realistic portrayal of war and the presence of a powerful, menacing witch.
In the 1998 animated film, scary elements include the creepy appearance of the Huns, particularly their leader Shan Yu, and the scene where the army discovers a burnt village strewn with bodies. The 2020 live-action film features a fierce villain, Bori Khan, with a scarred face, and the witch Xianniang who transforms into a bird of prey and has long talons. Intense battle scenes, a huge avalanche, and moments of peril, such as Mulan balancing over molten lava, contribute to the high intensity.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighBoth films feature elements that may conflict with a Christian worldview, primarily ancestor veneration. The 2020 live-action film further introduces the concept of 'chi' as a supernatural, almost magical, power and features a prominent witch, which Christian reviews specifically identify as 'false religious' or 'occult content,' and 'demonic' according to biblical interpretation.
In the 1998 animated film, Mulan's family practices ancestor worship, with Mushu awakening the spirits of the ancestors in the family temple to guide Mulan. The 2020 live-action film heavily features the concept of 'chi' as an internal, magical life force that grants superhuman abilities, a concept that Christian reviews categorize as 'false religious, occult content.' The presence of the witch Xianniang, who uses overt magic, is also cited as contributing to the 'witchcraft and false religion' concerns.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumBoth films contain elements interpreted by LGBTQ+ communities as allegorical or representative of queer experiences, despite no explicitly LGBTQ+ characters. The 1998 film's character, Li Shang, is widely considered a bisexual icon due to his apparent attraction to Mulan both as a man (Ping) and a woman. The 2020 film, while removing Shang, still features queer subtext in interactions between Mulan (as Hua Jun) and fellow soldier Honghui, and in the complex relationship between Mulan and the witch Xianniang.
In the 1998 animated film, Captain Li Shang develops feelings for Mulan while she is disguised as 'Ping,' a male soldier, and these feelings persist after her true gender is revealed. This has led many fans to interpret Shang as bisexual. The song 'Reflection' is seen by some in the trans community as representing gender dysphoria. In the 2020 live-action film, interactions between Mulan (as Hua Jun) and Chen Honghui are described by some as having a 'more homoerotic' subtext. The antagonist, Xianniang, a powerful witch, tells Mulan 'We are the same' and shares a deep understanding of Mulan's hidden power and identity, reading as a 'queer' dynamic.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumBoth films contain mild romantic elements and implied nudity, though without explicit sexual content. The 1998 animated film features scenes implying male nudity during communal bathing. The 2020 live-action film includes mild romantic tension and brief implied nudity during bathing scenes.
In the 1998 animated film, Mulan bathes in a pond and quickly hides when male soldiers join her, with bare legs visible and nudity implied. Other soldiers are seen bathing naked, with implied full frontal nudity via camera angles, and Mushu bites a soldier's bottom for a distraction. The 2020 live-action film features Mulan bathing naked in a river (body blurred, from behind) and a scene where a male soldier drops his towel in front of Mulan (nothing explicit shown). There is also mild romantic tension between Mulan and fellow soldier Honghui, including a brief moment of hand-holding.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumBoth films center on Mulan's act of rebellion against strict societal and familial expectations, a core plot point that drives her heroic journey. While her initial actions are disobedient, they are consistently portrayed as motivated by honor and love for her family.
In the 1998 animated film, Mulan defies her family's expectations for a traditional wife and disobeys her father by secretly taking his place in the army, an act that could lead to instant death if discovered. The 2020 live-action film also depicts Mulan chafing at rigid gender roles and going against her father's will to join the military. Her deception is acknowledged by the witch Xianniang who states it limits her 'qi.'
Profanity
LowProfanity is minimal to non-existent in both film versions. The 1998 animated film includes infrequent, mild name-calling, while the 2020 live-action film is noted for having no foul language.
The 1998 animated 'Mulan' contains infrequent name-calling such as 'stupid' and 'insubordinate ruffians.' The 2020 live-action 'Mulan' has been explicitly noted by multiple parental review outlets as containing no foul or coarse language whatsoever.
Substance Use
LowSubstance use is extremely limited across both versions of 'Mulan.' The 1998 animated film shows one instance of a character smoking a cigarette, while the 2020 live-action film contains no explicit substance use.
In the 1998 animated film, one minor character is shown smoking a cigarette. The 2020 live-action film has been explicitly stated by parental guides to have no drug or alcohol content.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The 1998 animated 'Mulan' is recommended for ages 7+, with parental guidance for children aged 5-7 due to mild violence and themes. The 2020 live-action 'Mulan' is recommended for ages 10 and up, with parental guidance for children aged 8-13, given its PG-13 rating for sequences of violence, increased realism in battle, and more intense scary elements.
Additional Notes
The live-action 'Mulan' (2020) makes notable departures from the 1998 animated classic, including the absence of musical numbers and the comedic character Mushu, aiming for a more historically grounded and serious tone. This results in a film with a higher intensity in its action sequences and a more direct exploration of war themes. The live-action version also faced controversies regarding filming locations and comments by its lead actress. Parents should be aware of these differences as they contribute to a more 'adult' viewing experience compared to the animated film.
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