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Mulan

Mulan
News and insight on Mulan, a character in ancient Chinese folklore that inspired two Disney movies.
Job Title
Fictional Character
A teacher in China has become an online hit thanks to her strong resemblance to the popular Chinese actress Liu Yifei. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin
Trending in China

China actress Liu Yifei lookalike praised for professionalism as teacher, kindness

Much-loved teacher of logic becomes social media sensation because she resembles Mulan star, attracts millions of views online.

China society

The five best movies of Zhao Wei, actress China wants you to forget

Cinema

Netflix’s Over the Moon praised in China but bigger box-office bomb than Mulan

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Mulan gets much wrong, not least about the Witch and Matchmaker

In Chinese history, these figures were despised as part of ‘the three women and six hags’, a phrase still used to describe gossipmongers

Gong Li as the Witch in Disney’s Mulan. Photo: YouTube
Disney

Disney says it had to work with Chinese government on Mulan

In letter to British politicians, company defends its cooperation with entities accused of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Cinema

China’s new Mulan film upsets audiences more than Disney’s

Kung Fu Mulan was pulled from cinemas within three days after opening on Saturday to terrible reviews and poor turnout.

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US-China relations

Mulan example: How to prevent US-China tensions boiling over

China should stop retaliating when Americans exercise free speech in America – without that safety valve, bilateral pressures and controversies can only build up.

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A scene from Disney film Mulan. The massive economic value of bilateral commercial and cultural exchange has developed into a costly silence among Americans and American companies. Photo: Disney via AP

Editorial | A lack of sensitivity to values has left Mulan lost in translation

Disney’s live action retelling of the ancient folk tale has failed at the box office in China, garnering widespread criticism for a host of issues from character stereotypes to historical inaccuracies

American cinema

Liu Yifei a flop as Mulan, but these actresses nailed the role

Chinese-American actress is not the first to play Mulan on screen, and her wooden performance in Disney’s flop has had Chinese fans rewatching other actresses excel as the gender-shifting legend in TV series and films.

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Disney

Opinion | Disney’s Mulan tells women to know their place

While Mulan might claim to be about female empowerment, ultimately this film is about how women will only be rewarded if they know their place.

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This image released by Disney shows Yifei Liu in the title role of "Mulan." (Disney via AP)
Disney

Mulan hit by rampant piracy in China yet again

Mulan was downloaded hundreds of thousands of times ahead of its theatrical debut, mirroring rampant piracy of the animated version in 1999.

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Mulan (Yifei Liu) holds a sword in a scene of Disney's live action remake of “Mulan.” The film is facing calls for a boycott after the company thanked government entities in Xinjiang, a Chinese region where authorities are accused of suppressing ethnic minorities.
Disney

Opinion | Like Mulan herself, Disney pretends to be something it is not. Stop!

In its pursuit of the Chinese audience, Disney fails to understand that they watch Western films about China, such as Mulan, through a magnifying glass, looking for errors and cultural slights.

Disney

Disney walks US-China tightrope with ‘Mulan’ and loses its balance

The studio is battling critics, Covid-19 and its own questionable decisions, including filming in the Xinjiang region and thanking agencies involved in the Uygur crackdown for their help.

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American cinema

Disney’s controversy-ridden Mulan set to bomb in China

Disney’s live-action Mulan has been boycotted over scenes filmed in Xinjiang and Liu Yifei’s comments about the Hong Kong protests, the cinematic release was cancelled because of Covid-19, and presales figures are disastrous.

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Liu Yifei in a still from Mulan. Disney’s most expensive remake is set to bomb in China.
Xinjiang

Calls to boycott Disney’s Mulan grow over scenes filmed in Xinjiang

US$200 million film was already embroiled in political controversy after star Liu Yifei voiced support for Hong Kong’s police amid protests in city.

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Liu Yifei stars as the title character in Disney’s Mulan. Photo: Disney via TNS
American cinema

Review | Mulan: Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen in Disney’s visually gorgeous remake

Coming to cinemas in Hong Kong and mainland China, and Disney+ where it’s available, Mulan stars Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen and Gong Li and is one of the most beautiful films you’ll see all year.

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Chinese language cinema

Gong Li on being in Mulan and her favourite film roles

Chinese actress, who plays the witch Xian Lang,in Disney’s Mulan, teases that her character is not all bad; enthuses about Saturday Fiction, in which she also stars; and reveals her favourite roles in a career bookmarked by Zhang Yimou films.

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Disney

Mulan release delayed globally because of coronavirus pandemic

Covid-19 has forced movie theaters in China to close, but not in the US

Disney’s live-action Mulan remake cost US$200 million to make, so it’s been banking on success in China. (Picture: Disney)
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