Mulan
With the recent arrival of the live - action version ofMulanlanding on the small screen , many fans of the original film are revisit the renovate classic . Mulanwas historical in many way , include that it was the first Disney animated film to feature a character reference of East Asiatic descent .
While rewatching the original 1998 film , there are many easter eggs and moments to enjoy . We ’ve collect a leaning of essential minute , bits of trivia , and cover easter nut you need to know as you watch the originalMulan . With both picture show cyclosis on Disney+ , there ’s no reason not to plunk in and research allMulanhas to offer .
It Almost Earned A PG Rating
Mulanwas a groundbreaking film for many grounds , but to this day , it ’s the only Disney animated film to have an implicitly LGBTQ+ storyline . At the very least , on the airfoil , Mulanprominently boast a girl cross - dressing as a male child . Reading deeply , " reflectivity " can be read as a song about gender dysphoria and call into question identity element .
Disney is notably reticent with making open sociopolitical statements in their photographic film . Nevertheless , it ’s the only Disney animated movie to expend the parole " crossdresser " and it almost earned an MPAA PG evaluation as a result .
Tai Chi Easter Egg
Early on in the film , Mulan ’s Church Father is ensure drill Tai Chi before he injures his leg and is further endangered for conflict . An internal , meditative warlike art , Tai Chi has many different forms and variations .
As it reverse out , the specific form of Tai Chi Mulan ’s father practice is Mulan Quan Tai Chi , a feminine form of Tai Chi name after Mulan herself and considered to be fluid and refined . Mulan Tai Chi focuses on bod and artistry , rather than the belligerent postures seen in other soldierlike liberal arts movements .
Donny Osmond Is The Singing Voice of Li Shang
The production ofMulantried its best to be knowing about casting Asian actors . While Li Shang was voiced by BD Wong ( Law and Order : SVU , Jurassic Park , Mr. Robot ) , former 1970s tyke star and heartthrob Donny Osmond provided Li Shang ’s singing voice after previously auditioning forHercules .
Fans of " I ’m a Little Bit Country " will agnize Osmond ’s vox on Li Shang ’s training montage song , " I ’ll Make a Man Out of You . “Osmond jokedthat his children felt he had in the end " made it " after being in a Disney movie .
The Origin Of Mushu
Throughout the storyboarding and development process , Mulan ’s animal sidekicks took on many unlike forms . ab initio , the energizer were self-effacing to apply a Draco , due to their imposing and fearsome repute .
However , one of the writers , Robert D. San Souci , pointed out that according to Chinese tradition , dragons could be any size of it , top toMushu ’s " change of location size , " as he jest in the movie . Additionally , Mushu was Eddie Murphy ’s first vox work part , who later went on to wager Donkey in the hugely popularShrekfranchise .
Mulan Launched Christina Aguilera’s Career
For some 90s nipper , it can be hard to remember a time before Christina Aguilera was inThe Mickey Mouse Cluband launch to stardom from her djinn bottle . While she has had a hugely successful pop career , Aguilera ’s single " Reflection , " from theMulansoundtrack , was , in fact , the first of her career .
Indeed , the contemplative and standout song fromMulanled to Aguilera sign a contract with RCA Records . " Reflection " has become such a fabled part of Aguilera ’s canyon that she re - recorded the birdcall for theMulanreboot .
Gender Bending Behind The Scenes
While the story ofMulaninvolves a woman dressing and position as a man , many of the male vocalization actors in theMulancast also played characters with alike stories . BD Wong , who voiced Li Shang , won legion laurels for develop the role of Song Liling , a man pretending to be a womanhood , inM Butterflyon Broadway .
Harvey Fierstein , who vocalize Yao , is an out gay actor who fiddle Edna Turnblad inHairsprayon Broadway . Additionally , Soon Tek - Oh and Gedde Watanabe fiddle woman in the 1976 musicalPacific Overtures .
Look For The Magnolias
RepeatMulanviewers will likely notice that magnolia are a common motif throughout the motion picture , seen most notably in Mulan ’s formal hair comb she leaves behind with her parent . This was likely knowing on the part of the energizer , as Mulan entail " wood orchidaceous plant " or magnolia in Chinese .
There are also several magnolia flowers surrounding Mulan ’s home , many of which can be seen throughout the " Reflection " number . Additionally , magnolias are cite in the dialog itself , when the Emperor refers to Mulan as a bloom .
Mulan Was Originally A Romantic Comedy
In its original conception , Mulanwas conceived as an animated spin onTootsie . Mulan was originally guess to have been married to Shang without ever having met him . The central conflict would revolve around Mulan ’s black sheep tomboy nature and her inability to fit in with everyone else before finally setting out to pursue her own fate .
However , when one of the screenwriters , Chris Sanders , came onto the project , he take the level back to the root of theoriginal Mulan legendand orient the case around Mulan ’s altruistic desire to protect her father .
Szechuan Sauce Promotion
After a chain of letdown at the box office withHerculesandThe Hunchback of Notre Dame , Disney took a different , more scale - back approach with its promotional material forMulan . Part of this unique marketing included a partnership with McDonald ’s to liberate specialMulanHappy Meal toys , along with a crybaby nugget Szechuan dipping sauce .
In a flaky turn of events , Rick and Mortyinadvertently reignite the popularity for the Szechuan sauce in its season three premiere , leading to manyRick and Mortyfans involve that McDonald ’s have the sauce once again .
A Violent Disney Princess
Mulanis the first Disney animated celluloid to focus so thematically and specifically on war and battle . As a result , Mulan has far more on - screen kills than any other Disney princess , due to her character reference ’s goals and conflicts in protect China from the invading Huns .
Additionally , many other Disney princess before Mulan are mostly internally focused , looking for a prince to wed . While Mulan discovers she has a crushed leather on Shang , their amatory relationship is not at the head of the film , her heroism is , which is what ultimately saves the mean solar day .
NEXT : Mulan : 10 Hidden Details You Never Noticed About The Disney Animated Classic
