Mulan (1998)
★★★½ — Mulan (1998)
Mulan arrived near the tail end of what critics and industry observers had taken to calling the Disney Renaissance, that run of hand-drawn animated features stretching from The Little Mermaid (1989) through to Tarzan (1999), during which the studio reclaimed its cultural dominance at the box office. Directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, both veterans of Disney's animation department rather than established feature directors, the film draws loosely on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a story with roots stretching back to a sixth-century poem. Production was partly based at Disney's Florida studio in Orlando, a facility the company had been quietly building up as a secondary animation hub. With a $90 million budget and a voice cast led by Ming-Na Wen alongside Eddie Murphy in a breakout comedic supporting role, it opened to strong returns and performed particularly well internationally.
There’s no denying the heart and ambition in Disney’s 1998 animated Mulan. It stands out in the late-era Disney canon for its bold themes (duty, identity, and a woman defying tradition to find her own part) all wrapped in a story that’s more about courage than romance. The film moves with energy, blending humour, action, and emotion in a way that feels balanced and sincere. And while it sticks to some familiar beats, it also quietly subverts them: Mulan isn’t saved by a prince, she saves her people, and earns respect on her own terms. The animation is strong, especially in the battle sequences and the sweeping Chinese landscapes. The use of colour, composition, and traditional motifs gives it a visual identity that feels more distinct than many of Disney’s other films from the time. The music, while not packed with show-stoppers like earlier classics, has charm. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is both funny and rousing, and “Reflection” is a genuine emotional anchor, sung with quiet strength. It’s not flawless. Some of the comedy, especially from Mushu, veers into dated territory, and the character’s exaggerated antics sometimes undercut the film’s more serious moments. And while Mulan herself is compelling, the story doesn’t always dig as deep as it could into her internal struggle. It’s a good film. Spirited, respectful of its inspiration, and meaningful for many viewers, but not quite a masterpiece. My girlfriend loves it, and I can see why. I just don’t quite feel it all the way. Good, yes. But not great.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 1998 | Watched: 2025-07-29
Related on Movies With Macca
More from the 1990s: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · Blue (1993) · Cemetery Man (1994)
More animation: Fantastic Planet (1973) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025)
More family: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Wonder (2017) · Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anastasia (1997)
