Now that Disney's latest live-action remake of one of its animated classics is here, fans
are digging into every frame of Mulan to find all the amazing Easter Eggs. But while some
of them are obvious like the lucky soldier named Cricket, the discussion among the about
what girl is worth fighting for, and the cameo by original Mulan voice actress Ming-Na Wen
others are a bit more subtle. Here's a look at some Easter Eggs you missed in the live
action Mulan.
In the animated Mulan, a falcon is a spy and scout for the villain, Shan-Yu, who leads
the Hun army to attack the Emperor. The bird is a prominent accomplice, even beginning
the whole film by signaling the attack against the Emperor's troops. The live-action version
gives villain Böri Khan a similar aerial accomplice in a hawk, which provides reconnaissance
and perches nearby as he organizes his troops.
The animated bird didn't speak to Shan-Yu, but the live-action version communicates well
after transforming back into her human form. Veteran Chinese actor Li Gong plays a sorceress
who, like this version of Mulan, is strong with the power of chi, described in the film
as, quote, "boundless energy for life itself." The makeup, props, and costume design keep
the bird motif throughout, from her talon-like throwing stars to her headdress and flowing
sleeves that almost look like wings all a callback to the original film's animated avian.
In the animated film, Mulan's family guardian is a great stone dragon, which the ancestors
urge Mushu to awaken to protect the young woman once she leaves for the battlefield
disguised as a man. While trying to rouse the beast to transform from a statue, Mushu
inadvertently breaks off the statue's ear, then shatters it. Out of guilt and self-preservation,
the little dragon sets off to assist Mulan instead.
In the live-action film, Mulan's family emissary is the phoenix and early on, Mulan accidentally
breaks their phoenix statue, just like Mushu.
Her father finds her outside after dark, trying to fix it, and delivers a lesson about the
power of rebirth. Considering how Mulan sees the colorful stand-in for Mushu at several
key points later in the movie, the phoenix clearly doesn't hold a grudge.
The name Mulan means "wood orchid," and this film like the animated version uses floral
imagery to refer to the main character. Notably, in both versions, when Mulan goes to meet
the local matchmaker, she has a comb with a jeweled flower in her hair. Then when Mulan
decides to join the army in her father's place, she leaves the comb on her parents' nightstand
in both films to say goodbye.
The live-action film has additional references, too. As Mulan's mother and sister help her
dress for the meeting with the matchmaker, the soundtrack plays the melody of the animated
film's song "Honor to Us All," whose lyrics refer to Mulan as being "like a lotus blossom,
soft and pale." Plus, Mulan's makeup is more elaborate here than in the animated version,
with a lotus blossom adorning her forehead.
Later, as Mulan secretly bathes away from the troop garrison, the camera focuses on
the blossoms of a nearby tree calling back to a very special father-daughter moment in
the animated film when Mulan's father points out a tree blossom that hasn't opened.
"Look, this one's late! But I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful
of all."
The theme of the animated Mulan, depicted through the standout soundtrack song "Reflection,"
is being true to yourself. As the lyrics say, "When will my reflection show who I am inside?"
As she sings, Mulan wanders into the temple where her family prays to her ancestors, seeing
her reflection in the memorial stones there. She later looks at her reflection in her father's
sword, then uses the sword to slice off her long hair before she joins the army.
The live-action Mulan doesn't cut off her hair before wearing her disguise, but she
does look at her reflection in the sword at a few key moments. Etched on the sword are
figures for Loyal, Brave, and True, three virtues representing her family's honor and
qualities Mulan aspires to exemplify. Whenever she looks at her reflection in the sword,
the audience knows she's wondering if she's reflecting these virtues.
"I will bring honor to us all."
During the climax of the animated version, Mulan saves the Emperor by helping her colleagues
spirit him to safety. She then faces off against Shan-Yu on a rooftop. As he lunges at her
with his sword, she disarms him, catching the blade in a hand fan and then pointing
it back at him a bit of visual irony about outwitting him with her feminine wiles.
The live-action Mulan also battles the villain during the climax of the movie, of course
and in a fun visual callback to the original, she also races across the rooftops. And…
well, we can't say much more without spoiling the ending, but at one point they even end
up facing off on top of a giant wooden beam, just like in the original.
You might even say that with all these fun easter eggs, the new Mulan is a loyal and
true reflection of the original.
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