MULAN. One of Walt Disney’s crowning achievements

In the first decades of its activity, Walt Disney expanded its filmography with more titles featuring princesses in the leading roles. The stories of “Sleeping Beauty”, “Cinderella”, and “Snow White” followed the same narrative patterns, placing the titular heroines in almost identical situations. The women helplessly awaited rescue from men, their dream princes from fairy tales. A symbolic kiss would restore order and security to their lives.

These productions were not without their critics. Stereotypical portrayals of characters based on gender and the assignment of predefined social roles still provoke justified controversy. The paradox of Walt Disney lies in the fact that this studio is not only responsible for globally popularizing and solidifying the image of the submissive, defenseless, and timid princess but also for boldly breaking that mold.

The story of “Mulan” is based on a Chinese legend about a brave girl who, out of concern for her aging father’s health, enlists in the army in his place. Of course, women were not allowed to serve in the military. If Fa Mulan were discovered, she would face the death penalty, and her family would be eternally shamed. The conscription is due to the invasion of China by the Huns, led by Shan Yu. The stakes in the film are very high, both in terms of the risks taken by the protagonist (and the potential tragic consequences) and on a broader level. The terror of the armed conflict is intensified by several poignant, even brutal, scenes—rarely seen in Disney’s otherwise family-friendly repertoire.

Today’s audiences are no longer surprised by strong, uncompromising, independent-thinking protagonists like Moana from “Vaiana” or “Zootopia”. But this was not always the standard. This evolution is owed to feminist and equality movements that gained momentum in the 1960s and have since regularly resurfaced. Naturally, these ideas made their way into cinema. Walt Disney rightly recognized their significance and creatively wove them into the ideological fabric of its animations. A strong voice of this trend was “Pocahontas”, but “Mulan” seems to address the issue of gender in a more innovative way: how it is expressed and how it is represented. These themes manifest in the shift of the narrative perspective to the female side and in the open exploration of topics related to sexual identity. Thanks in part to this, “Mulan” remains one of Walt Disney’s most ambitious films to this day.

The central theme of “Mulan” is the repeated and juxtaposed sequences of transformations, forming a visual refrain throughout the film. The first of these occurs before her visit to the matchmaker. Mulan’s face is adorned with vivid makeup, and her slender figure is dressed in a kimono that restricts her movement. The entire costume is meant to emphasize her femininity and grace. However, the outfit seems unnatural, even caricatured, on Mulan. After the failed meeting with the matchmaker, Mulan escapes from the destiny that is unpleasant to her. She refuses to be confined to the societal roles of wife and later mother.

The reverse of this sequence is the moment when Mulan decides to don her father’s armor and join the military. We see the symbolic cutting of her hair, adopting a masculine posture, and attempts to lower her voice. The second transformation surprises because, in her male disguise, Mulan appears much more comfortable.

These two opposing scenes receive a brilliant conclusion in the finale when Mulan’s army comrades disguise themselves as geishas to infiltrate the palace where the emperor is held captive. These costume changes carry comedic potential, but they also underscore the film’s main message. The directors, Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, point out that there are no traits inherently tied to one gender or the other. Heroism and sensitivity, perseverance and tenderness are qualities shared equally by both women and men. It doesn’t matter if a character is dressed in military armor or an ornate kimono. The screenplay of “Mulan” continually orbits these juxtapositions and contrasts, engaging the viewer in an insightful dialogue.

The creators of the animation eagerly employ a serious, dark tone. The antagonists are portrayed in this style. This time, unlike most Walt Disney productions, their depictions are not softened by situational humor or a lighthearted narrative approach. Shan Yu is a villain in every sense, ruthlessly dealing not only with the imperial army but also with civilians. Two scenes in particular highlight Shan Yu’s methods. In the first, the leader of the Huns asks a rhetorical question: “How many messengers does it take to deliver a message?” The archer next to him doesn’t hesitate for a second, immediately drawing his bow to shoot the retreating imperial messengers in the back.

Another poignant image is the aftermath of a battle in a mountain pass. The charred, still smoldering beams are a reminder of the village that once stood there. A small, abandoned doll on the snow carries tragic news. The local population, including children, was brutally slaughtered by the Huns. The children’s toy is elevated to the status of a powerful symbol, intensely activating the viewer’s imagination. Among the wreckage, frozen and twisted bodies of imperial soldiers are also visible. The landscape is completed by heavy clouds of blood-red color hanging overhead. The piercing, flute-driven musical motif further enhances the sense of defeat. This scene has immense expressive power, showcasing true mastery in staging and atmosphere.

“Mulan” is one of Walt Disney’s crowning achievements, deserving the title of a masterpiece. Its ambition is evident both in the subject matter it tackles and its thoughtful execution, as well as in its bold formal choices. Notably, the film almost completely eliminates the romantic subplot, which is usually a mandatory element in the studio’s productions. If there is any romance to be found between the main character and her captain, it comes with intriguing, ambiguous undertones. The question remains open: did Li Shang fall in love with Mulan when she was disguised as a soldier, or only when he discovered her true identity? It is difficult to overlook this film. “Mulan” captivates and surprises the viewer on many levels.