37 of the biggest differences the live-action 'Mulan' makes from the animated movie

Kirsten AcunaSep 4, 2020, 17:00 IST

Mulan goes by a different name when she joins the army in the live-action movie and faces off against a new adversary.Disney

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for Disney's live-action "Mulan."
The remake adds a new foil for Mulan and changes around some of her comrades and family members.

Disney's live-action "Mulan" is available to purchase on Disney Plus and in some theaters worldwide. If you tune in, you'll notice the movie, while true to the animated film, has some key differences from the original.

From a brand new character who acts as a foil to Mulan and some nods to cut scenes from the 1998 picture, keep reading to see the biggest changes the live-action movie makes from Disney's animated classic.

1. The new film is narrated, in part, from the perspective of Mulan's father.

Hua Zhou opens the film from an omniscient point of view. Jasin Boland/Disney Enterprises, Inc.

2. This version of Mulan wields the power of Chi and feels more like a superhero than a Disney princess.

This Mulan has more in common with Captain Marvel than her animated counterpart as she soars across rooftops, does flips on horses, and kicks spears at her opponents. Walt Disney Studios

3. The 2020 movie shows us a young Mulan.

The film starts out with a rewind. Disney

4. The live-action film emphasizes Mulan's relationship with her father more.

You can tell Mulan and her father are extremely close in the live-action film. Disney

5. Mulan doesn't have a pet dog named Little Brother. Instead, she has a younger sister, Xiu, in the new movie.

Mulan's sister can be seen on the right. Disney

6. Mulan's grandmother doesn't make an appearance in the new movie.

Mulan's grandmother presents her with Cri-Kee in the animated picture. Walt Disney Animation

7. The live-action movie gives us a completely new villain.

Bori Khan leads the Rouran army in the live-action movie while Shan Yu led the Hun army in the 1998 film. Disney/Walt Disney Animation

8. The live-action movie introduces a second villain, Xianniang, who is a perfect foil to Mulan.

Xianniang represents one of two paths Mulan could follow and becomes a tragic figure in the new film. Walt Disney Studios

9. The live-action movie isn't a musical, but it does reference several of the songs from the animated picture in clever ways.

"Honor to Us All" can be heard early in the film as Mulan gets ready. Disney

10. The matchmaker finds Mulan a husband in the new movie.

Mulan's mother tells her the good news in the live-action film. Disney

11. A spider, instead of Cri-Kee, spoils Mulan's matchmaker session.

The cup of tea with Cri-Kee in it accidentally ruins Mulan's morning in the animated film. Disney

12. Mulan's father doesn't leave his walking cane with his wife when he retrieves the Chinese army's order to go to war.

Mulan's mother restrains Mulan in the new film. Walt Disney Animation

13. Mulan doesn't speak back to the army recruit in defense of her father.

Mulan is prevented from speaking out in the new film. Walt Disney Animation

14. Mulan doesn't sing "Reflection," but the song is at the heart of the film.

"Reflection" was the first song written for the animated movie. Walt Disney Animation

15. A phoenix replaces Mushu as Mulan's family guardian.

The phoenix watches over and guides Mulan in the film. Walt Disney Studios

16. Mulan doesn't chop off her hair.

Mulan cuts her long hair to disguise herself in the animated movie. Walt Disney Animation

17. Mulan's lucky cricket, Cri-Kee, isn't in the movie. Instead, he's introduced as one of Mulan's comrades in war.

Cricket is one of Mulan's friends in her battalion. Disney

18. The live-action movie splits Li Shang into two characters.

Honghui is, essentially, the live-action movie's Li Shang. Disney

19. Mulan goes by a different name when she goes undercover in the army.

Mulan decides to call herself Hua Jun in the new film. Disney

20. Mulan sleeps in a tent full of men in the new film.

In the animated film, Mulan has her own tent. Walt Disney Animation/Disney

21. The battalion isn't tasked with retrieving an arrow from the top of a pillar in the new film.

Li Shang fires the arrow in the animated movie. Walt Disney Animation/Disney

22. Po drops his towel in front of Mulan instead of Yao.

Yao calls himself the King of the Rock in the animated movie. Walt Disney Animation

23. Mulan purposefully avoids showering in the new film by standing watch for guard duty.

Mulan's comrades start telling her she smells in a running gag. Walt Disney Studios

24. Honghui interrupts Mulan when she bathes instead of the gang of three.

The three try to start over with Mulan. Walt Disney Animation

25. Commander Tung wants Hua Jun to marry his daughter.

Donnie Yen plays the new character in the live-action movie. Disney

26. Honghui doesn't have a father in the war in the new film.

Honghui has a military background, but we never meet any relatives he has in the war. Jasin Boland/Disney

27. The big avalanche sequence happens differently.

Mulan causes the avalanche on her own in the animated picture. Walt Disney Animation

28. Mulan is never injured by the film's villain.

Shan Yu slices Mulan with his sword. Walt Disney Animation

29. Mulan has complete control when she reveals her true identity in the live-action movie.

The reveal of Mulan's identity is completely different in both films. The Chancellor calls Mulan a treacherous snake in the animated movie. Mulan walks calmly out of a shroud of mystery in the new film to approach her battalion. Walt Disney Animation/Disney

30. Mulan leads her comrades into battle against Bori Khan at the film's end.

Mulan bids farewell to Honghui and the others before going after the Emperor. Disney

31. Ling, Po, and Yao never dress up as women to help save the Emperor.

This was one of the better changes. Walt Disney Animation

32. The Emperor doesn't sit idly by as he's threatened by the film's villain.

This Emperor isn't a sitting duck. He shows off some moves of his own. Walt Disney Studios

33. The entire showdown with the film's villain doesn't happen at the Emperor's palace.

Bori Khan holds the Emperor hostage at the future location of a palace that's being constructed in the name of the Emperor's father. Disney

34. The whole kingdom doesn't bow down to Mulan when the Emperor tells her she has saved everyone.

The entire crowd at a festival bows down to Mulan in the animated film. Disney

35. In the new film, the Emperor invites Mulan to join his guard.

The Emperor is in debt to Mulan. Walt Disney Studios

36. The Emperor bestows Mulan with different gifts when she turns down a chance to join his elite guard.

Mulan brings the gifts to her father in the animated movie. Walt Disney Animation

37. Honghui never meets Mulan's family.

Near the film's end, Honghui bids farewell to Mulan after she takes his hand briefly. Disney

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