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145-583: Disney Princess , also called the Princess Line , is a media franchise and toy line owned by the Walt Disney Company . Created by Disney Consumer Products chairman Andy Mooney , the franchise features a lineup of female protagonists who have appeared in various Disney franchises. The franchise does not include all princess characters from the whole of Disney-owned media but rather refers to select specific female lead characters from

290-465: A jian called "Sword of the Ancestor" for regular combat, and her combination attacks include Red Rocket and other fire attacks, thanks to Mushu. She goes under her pseudonym (Ping) for the majority of Sora's first visit to her world, which follows the storyline of the film, but has abandoned it by the time of their second visit, which follows a new story where they come into conflict with Xigbar and

435-580: A princess by way of either marriage to a prince or through herself descending from a monarch or tribal chief. Exceptionally heroic characters who do not have a royal title can also be included. Marketability is a key factor in whether a character is chosen for inclusion in the Disney Princess line. Characters from unsuccessful Disney franchises are never seriously considered. In the case of Elsa and Anna , they are eligible by Disney standards but have only sporadically been included (particularly in

580-599: A British nonprofit organization that maintains the State Rooms. On May 11, 2013, Merida became the first Pixar character as well as the eleventh member of the franchise series in a coronation ceremony in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Orlando , Florida , United States of America . In May 2019, Moana was added to the line-up as the twelfth member of

725-532: A Disney Princess franchise extension, with the release of the Palace Pets toy line in August from licensee Blip Toys. The line was also selected by TimetoPlayMag.com for its Most Wanted List Holiday 2013. In 2015, Disney Publishing released the animated short series Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets . The short journey to the magical world of Whisker Haven, a secret realm deep in a fairy tale land between

870-481: A Halloween costume", Mooney told The New York Times . Concerned by this, Mooney addressed the company the following morning and encouraged them to commence work on a legitimate Disney Princess franchise in January 2000. Walt's nephew, Roy E. Disney , objected to the creation of the line, as the company has long "avoided mingling characters from its classic fairy tales in other narratives, worrying that it would weaken

1015-446: A bit more emotive", she still overall described it as "lovely" and that "the steeliness and physicality she displays make her a convincing fighter." Unlike the generally positive reviews received by Mulan, critical reception towards the character's romantic relationship with Li Shang has been largely negative, drawing much speculation from critics who accused Mulan of having "a typical girl-hooks-up-with-boy ending." Roger Ebert of

1160-465: A boy named Ping, enlisting in the army on his behalf. Upon learning of Mulan's departure, the ancestors order the small dragon Mushu, a disgraced former guardian, to awaken the "great stone dragon" so that he may retrieve Mulan, only for Mushu to destroy the statue. Mushu decides to join Mulan in the army and help train her in the hopes that the ancestors will crown him a guardian once again. Reporting to

1305-544: A chance to gain the license, given their work on Star Wars , which led to a Descendants license. DCP was also attempting to evolve the brand by marketing them less as damsels and more as heroines. In September 2014, Disney announced that Hasbro would be the licensed doll maker for the Disney Princess line starting on January 1, 2016. The June 2013 release of the Disney Princess Palace Pets app from Disney Publishing led DCP to turn Palace Pets into

1450-431: A different Princess Aurora story and had a Belle story rather than a Princess Jasmine story. Disney made this change without any sort of notice. The series was cancelled, and only Follow Your Dreams exists. The TV series Once Upon a Time , which aired on Disney-owned ABC , featured live-action versions of Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Mulan, Ariel, Rapunzel, Merida, Jasmine, and Tiana. Snow White and Belle are

1595-485: A franchise can even be created, which ultimately leads to the creation of brand worlds. Since the creation of Disneyland in 1955, bringing fictional media franchises to life through the theme parks slowly became increasingly popular as the way to perfectly blend tourism and real-life involvement with media itself. Similar to transmedia, the concept of bringing fictional media into a non-fictional space where fans can immerse themselves in real-life versions of elements from

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1740-423: A girl named Kilala and her adventures to find her kidnapped friend with the help of the first six Disney Princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine). However, Kilala herself is not considered part of the franchise. On February 24, 2016, a Disney Princesses anthology ongoing comic book's first issue hit the stands. The series is published by Joe Books. Joe Books expanded Disney Princess to

1885-593: A good little subservient wife, despite her sighing parents' wishes." Jo Johnson, in contribution to the book Queers in American Popular Culture Volume 1: Film and Television , wrote that "Unlike other Disney heroines, Mulan is immediately coded as a tomboy," observing the way in which the character speaks using a full mouth. Johnson additionally noticed several ways in which Mulan's design and personality differ from those typically associated with traditional Disney heroines and princesses, citing

2030-452: A graphic novel line as an exclusive for Target along with a Hasbro figure line and a Hybrid Promotions apparel line. Disney Princesses have appeared in various other media, such as video games, including Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey , Disney Princess: Magical Jewels , and Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure . Multimedia franchise A media franchise often consists of cross-marketing across more than one medium. For

2175-409: A human character, it's not going to look realistic ... the balance is finding an appealing way of drawing using the visual tools that you have in the design to convey the believable emotions that you want to get across." In addition to Mulan, Henn was also responsible for animating Fa Zhou, Mulan's elderly father. He described the complex relationship between the two characters as "the emotional heart of

2320-535: A lesser capacity than the other princesses. In January 2022, Mattel regained the license to produce lines of toys and dolls for the brand. To be included in the Disney Princess line, a character must be a protagonist or main supporting character in an animated theatrical film produced by a studio owned by The Walt Disney Company that is the first film in its franchise (thus excluding characters introduced in sequels, direct-to-video films and television series), must be human in her standard form and in general should be

2465-405: A man in the army with a Barbie -style figure." Henn revealed that he was drawn to "Mulan's story [because it] was so unique and compelling that it just captivated me from the beginning". Animating the characters' distinct emotions using the traditional Chinese style turned out to be somewhat challenging for Henn. The animator explained, "We don't create realism in the sense that if you're doing

2610-500: A man in the form of Mulan's male alter-ego "Ping" was rather unconvincing, and ultimately replacing Salonga with Wen. Six years prior to Mulan , Salonga provided the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin (1992) on behalf of American actress Linda Larkin . While auditioning for Mulan, Salonga asked jokingly, "Why do I have to audition? ... I was already a princess before. Wasn't that enough?" The film's screenplay

2755-424: A modeling agency, several television shows ( Playboy's Penthouse , in 1959), and even its own television channel . Twenty-five years later, Playboy released private clubs and restaurants, movie theaters, a radio show , direct to video films, music and book publishing (including original works in addition to its anthologies of cartoons, photographs, recipes, advice, articles or fiction that had originally appeared in

2900-735: A prince. She is the franchise's first and currently only East Asian member. Mulan appears regularly for meet-and-greets, parades and shows at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts , including at the Chinese Pavilion at Epcot . Mulan and Mushu, as a kite, make cameo appearances in the Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort versions of It's a Small World . In most of the parks she is most commonly found alongside Li Shang and Mushu in Adventureland . As

3045-483: A prince. While an argument could be made that Pocahontas is still technically a princess since she is a chieftain's daughter, Mulan quite literally is not, but is included in the lineup nonetheless. She also became the first one of East Asian descent as well. She is the last Disney Princess to be developed during the Disney Renaissance . Mulan's supervising animator was Mark Henn , who deliberately designed

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3190-631: A separate franchise from their original films. Mooney decided that, when featured in marketing advertisements such as posters, the princesses should never make eye contact with each other to keep their individual "mythologies" intact. "[Each] stares off in a slightly different direction as if unaware of the other's presence." In an unconventional manner, Mooney and his team launched the Disney Princess line without utilizing any focus groups and with minimal marketing. By 2001, Disney Consumer Products (DCP) had generated about $ 300 million, but by 2012,

3335-583: A show featuring "Lords" and "Ladies" who taught young boys and girls the proper etiquette to be a Prince or Princess and featured appearances from the Disney Princesses. In 2010, Rapunzel was given a Tangled meet-and-greet location. The Carnation Plaza Gardens bandstand, adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle , was closed to replace a new Fantasy Faire area in the Spring of 2013. The Fantasy Faire area at Disneyland officially opened on March 12, 2013, as

3480-527: A sister, who was not featured in the original movie, and she reconsiders joining the Emperor's Guard after returning home. A phoenix also serves as a guardian to her instead of Mushu. Mulan appears in the short film Once Upon a Studio . She sings with Snow White and Asha near the end of " When You Wish Upon a Star " and sits next to the Prince in the group photo. Mulan is the eighth official member of

3625-451: A task from the Emperor, who wants his three daughters escorted to their own marriage ceremony. Their romantic relationship becomes somewhat strained during the trip, as the romantic couple has differing views on various issues. Meanwhile, Mushu realizes that if Mulan marries Shang, she will not need him anymore as her guardian spirit , and decides to trick the two into breaking up. When bandits attack, Mulan and Shang fight them off, but Mulan

3770-443: A total of seven daughters. This further inspired the filmmakers to portray Mulan as a unique heroine who is "not another damsel in distress " in favor of having her resemble "a strong female Disney character who would truly be the heroine of her own story" instead, essentially a "female role model . The characteristics of strength and courage were a must for Mulan." In an interview with The Christian Post , Bancroft elaborated on

3915-729: A tribute, there is a portrait of her along with the other Disney Princesses at the Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom . On the Disney Cruise Line ships and in Hong Kong Disneyland , Mulan and Li Shang appear in the stage show The Golden Mickeys . Mulan is also known to come out for meet-and-greets on the ships as well. She is also featured in the Disney on Ice shows Princess Classics and Princess Wishes . Mulan makes cameo appearances in

4060-453: A young woman who leads China to victory using her quick wit, pride, and a strong sense of family honor—all while masquerading as a man named Ping. Even though Mulan (as Ping) gains the respect of the army commander and her comrades, once they discover that she is a woman, her army commander and potential love-interest, Shang, loses respect for her and even hates her. "Ping" had been doing an even better job than Shang, but when Shang finds out Ping

4205-456: Is a clear improvement on the standard-issue drippy princess." Liu's portrayal as Mulan in the 2020 film was generally well received by critics. Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times described Liu's performance as "star-turning" as well as "a boundaries-shattering, stereotype-defying hero-warrior for her time and for ours." Writing for IndieWire , Kate Erbland found Liu, "engaging" as Mulan and adding, "she delivers, easily inhabiting both

4350-402: Is a woman, his stupid male ego breaks on impact. Mulan is sentenced to death, and Shang, the macho man of the film, ultimately gets to decide her fate. The only reason she survives is because Shang decides he'd rather just send her home. Wow. To add insult to injury, at the end of the film, Shang fixes up his shattered ego by claiming Mulan as a suitor. Even as Mulan is being praised and cheered in

4495-459: Is an excellent heroine, perfect for the young female demographic the studio is most anxious to attract", additionally calling her a "more likable and resourceful role model than Pocahontas ". Although largely well-liked, Mulan's characterization has drawn some mild criticism and speculation, inspiring a series of generally mixed to positive reviews from some film critics. Entertainment Weekly 's Owen Gleiberman wrote, "Far more than Beauty and

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4640-586: Is devastated when Shang is seemingly killed trying to save her. To make sure the three princesses are not forced to marry against their will, Mulan takes their place marrying the eldest son of the ruler of the neighboring land. Shang survives the accident and arrives in time to stop the wedding but ultimately Mulan is saved by Mushu who, posing as the mighty Golden Dragon of Unity, frees the three princesses from their vows, and marries Mulan and Li Shang himself causing Mulan to forgive him for his actions. Afterwards, Mulan informs Li Shang of Mushu's existence and he combines

4785-436: Is muted and subtle." Throughout the movie they are constantly working towards helping each other change into better and truer versions of themselves in order to achieve their true potential. Mulan's speaking voice is provided by actress Ming-Na Wen . Because the character "represented [traditional] Chinese values" and is depicted as being "dramatic ... close to her father, very respectful," Bancroft believed that Wen possessed

4930-482: Is often credited with establishing the successful musical career of American recording artist Christina Aguilera , who famously recorded a pop rendition of the ballad prior to the release of her platinum-selling self-titled debut album in 1999, on which the song is featured. Additionally, the song peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In 2011, Salonga

5075-540: Is provided by actress Ming-Na Wen , while singer Lea Salonga provides the character's singing voice. Created by author Robert D. San Souci , Mulan is based on the legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan from the poem the Ballad of Mulan . Her name "Fa Mulan" is inspired by the Yue Chinese name for the character, which is pronounced Fa Muklan. The only child of an aging war veteran , Mulan disregards both tradition and

5220-459: Is reinstated as a Fa family guardian by the ancestors amid a returning celebration. When Mulan thanks Mushu, she kisses him on the forehead, followed by her dog, Little Brother, and a herd of chickens bursting into the Temple, with a Great Ancestor calling Mushu's name, ending the film. One whole month after the events of the original movie, Mulan and Li Shang prepare to marry but are distracted by

5365-636: Is set inside a partial recreation of the fortress/castle at the Norway Pavilion at Epcot . Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and the Queen can also be met at "Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White" at Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge . Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ariel and Rapunzel, along with Prince Eric and Flynn Rider, could also be met at the " Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast" at Trattoria al Forno at Disney's BoardWalk Resort , but it

5510-517: Is strong and independent, whose fate does not depend upon a male character. Thus, the relationship between Mulan and Captain Li Shang was relegated to that of a minor subplot , while Mulan's bravery and strength were emphasized in order to ensure that she remained the hero of her own story. She became the eighth Disney Princess and the first one who isn't actually a princess in her film, as she wasn't born of royalty nor did she become one by marrying

5655-534: Is the "Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure" at Napa Rose at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa . At Walt Disney World , the Princesses are available for meet-and-greets in more specific locations. Character dining for multiple Princesses is located at Cinderella's Royal Table at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, which is named after Akershus Fortress in Oslo and

5800-484: Is the Japanese term for a transmedia franchise. The term media mix gained its circulation in late 1980s and is first used to describe adaptations of Sakyo Komatsu 's Japan Sinks , but the origins of the strategy can be traced back to the 1960s with the proliferation of anime , with its interconnection of media and commodity goods. Some of the earlier popular Japanese franchises such as Vampire Hunter D in

5945-624: Is yet to resume. Similarly, the Perfectly Princess Tea party at the Garden View Tea Room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa featuring Aurora is also yet to resume following the pandemic. In April 2024, 1900 Park Fare at the same resort reopened with "Wish Makers Enchanted Dining" featuring Cinderella and Tiana, among others, including Aladdin and Mirabel from Encanto after having previously hosted "Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner" (formerly known as

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6090-426: The Ballad of Mulan , an ancient Chinese poem about Hua Mulan – a Chinese woman who replaces her ailing father in the army by disguising herself as a man. Fascinated by Hua Mulan's story, San Souci suggested the poem to Disney; the studio hired San Souci himself to write the film's treatment and story. Mulan explores the age-old theme of remaining true to oneself, with co-director Tony Bancroft summarizing

6235-624: The House of Mouse television series and the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse . She was scheduled to appear in the second installment of the Disney Princess Enchanted Tales series of DVDs along with Cinderella. It was to premiere in 2008 but was cancelled due to poor sales of the first DVD. In August 2014, Ming-Na Wen and Lea Salonga reprise their roles as Mulan for

6380-472: The Chicago Sun-Times observed, "The message here is standard feminist empowerment: Defy the matchmaker, dress as a boy, and choose your own career. But Mulan has it both ways, since inevitably Mulan's heart goes pitty-pat over Shang, the handsome young captain she's assigned to serve under. The movie breaks with the tradition in which the male hero rescues the heroine, but is still totally sold on

6525-424: The Disney Princess franchise, a media franchise marketed towards young girls. For children, Mulan demonstrates the positive aspects of never giving up, not being restricted to gender roles and the importance of family and honor. These aspects of the film are more in keeping with a traditional Chinese perspective on cultural value, such as the importance of family and honor. On the official Disney Princess website,

6670-541: The Disney Princess Collection , a series of compilation VHS cassettes containing episodes from Aladdin and The Little Mermaid , as well as two Beauty and the Beast specials. A later DVD series, Disney Princess Stories , featured content similar to the previous release. Belle had her live-action television series Sing Me a Story with Belle . The first eight Disney Princesses also appeared on

6815-621: The Great Wall . The Chinese emperor orders that the army protect his citizens over himself, general mobilization , issuing a conscription that one man from each family to join the Chinese army. After Mulan's meeting with the matchmaker goes horribly awry, Chi Fu arrives at her home to enlist her father. Although she protests knowing her veteran father can not survive another war, Mulan is silenced by both Chi Fu and her father. That evening, Mulan takes her father's old armor and disguises herself as

6960-448: The eponymous 2015 film . Emma Watson is seen as Belle in the 2017 film Beauty and the Beast . Naomi Scott stars as Jasmine in the 2019 film Aladdin . Liu Yifei appears as Mulan in the eponymous 2020 film . Halle Bailey plays Ariel in the 2023 film The Little Mermaid . Rachel Zegler has been cast to portray the title character in the upcoming 2025 film Snow White . Catherine Laga'aia has been announced to play Moana in

7105-491: The fantasy and science fiction genres. Similarly, fantasy, science fiction films and television shows are frequently adapted into animated television series , video games, or both. A media franchise does not have to include the same characters or theme, as the brand identity can be the franchise, like Square Enix 's Final Fantasy or the National Lampoon series , and can suffer from critical failures even if

7250-703: The "Cinderella's Gala Feast Dinner") featuring Cinderella, Prince Charming, Anastasia and Drizella before the pandemic. Several Princesses are also found in their respective pavilions around the Epcot World Showcase, such as Snow White in Germany, Mulan in China, and Belle and Aurora in France. On September 18, 2013, a new meet-and-greet attraction called Princess Fairytale Hall opened in Fantasyland at

7395-533: The "perfect" voice for Mulan, which he additionally described as "very Chinese." Born and raised in Macau, China , Wen was very much familiar with both the legend of Hua Mulan and the Ballad of Mulan at the time of her audition for the role, having grown up being read the poem by her mother. Wen explained, "I think every Chinese kid grows up with this story," additionally likening the poem's popularity in China to that of

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7540-423: The 1980s and Pokémon in the late 1990s, acted as benchmarks in the country's transmedia dominance. The latter in particular began as a video game available on Nintendo 's Game Boy , and crossed through the media of television, film, news, and other non-media related realms, such trading cards, merchandise, and more. A number of Japanese media franchises have gained considerable global popularity, and are among

7685-748: The Beast or the stolidly virtuous Pocahontas , Mulan showcases a girl who gets to use her wits ... a testament to the power of mind over brawn." However, Gleiberman continued, " Mulan finally falls a notch short of Disney's best ... because the heroine's empowerment remains ... an emotionally isolated quest." Similarly, Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times hailed Mulan as "a strong, engaging character who, unlike many of her Disney counterparts, needs no one to rescue her from danger," while questioning her personality, asking, "was it really necessary to bestow Mulan with self-esteem problems? Because she seems so confident and intelligent, her sad statement that she wants to 'see something worthwhile' in

7830-512: The Chinese army." Similarly, in 2013, Mulan was ranked the greatest animated Disney heroine according to a poll conducted by Jim Vejvoda of IGN . In 1999, Mulan 's theme song " Reflection ", performed by Mulan, was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 56th Golden Globe Awards , but ultimately lost to Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli 's " The Prayer " from Quest for Camelot (1998). "Reflection"

7975-584: The Disney Princess kingdoms. Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media launched the Princess Comics line, which was started with Princess Comics graphic novels by Joe Book, in August 2018 at Target with Hasbro figures and Hybrid Promotions apparel. This expansion featured Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Pocahontas. On April 27, 2021, Disney launched the Ultimate Princess Celebration. This year-long event brought back

8120-744: The Disney Princesses. The Aulani Disney Vacation Club resort at the Ko Olina Resort in Hawaii also hosts Kakamora Chaos with Moana at Aunty's Beach House, its kids club. The experience includes traditional Hawaiian children's games as well as the Kakamora Relay from her homeland of Motunui. Princess Party Palace (formerly known as The Princess Power Hour ) was a programming block on Toon Disney from 2000 until 2007. It used to air episodes of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin . The Disney Princesses' television appearances were compiled into

8265-424: The Disney Princesses. The first film in the series, Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams , was released on September 4, 2007. It is a musical film featuring a new tale about Princess Jasmine and the first new tale about Princess Aurora since the original Sleeping Beauty . Originally, Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: A Kingdom of Kindness was announced as the first film in the series, which contained

8410-488: The Emperor, Mulan lures the Hun leader onto the roof, where she engages him in single combat. Meanwhile, acting on Mulan's instructions and signal, Mushu fires a large skyrocket at Shan Yu. The rocket strikes, and propels him into a fireworks launching tower, where he dies in the resulting explosion. Mulan is praised by the Emperor and the assembled inhabitants of the city, who bow to her in an unprecedented honor. While she accepts

8555-603: The Fairy Godmother and Flynn Rider, it included a procession through Hyde Park concluding with a ceremony at Kensington Palace in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , a residence used by the Royal Family since the 17th century and whose residents included Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon . Disney hosted the event in cooperation with Historic Royal Palaces ,

8700-534: The Forbidden City after she almost single-handedly saves China (this time, as a woman), at the end of the film, the audience is reminded that Mulan is really just another woman looking for a man. Mulan's real victory isn't saving her country from invasion. No, it's marrying Shang." Betsy Wallace of Common Sense Media observed that Mulan "doesn't fit the princess mold, and most moviegoers had never heard of her." Conclusively, Wallace wrote, "it's too bad that in

8845-603: The Internet , said that a film focusing on the Disney Princesses could be made depending on the audience's response and "if there's a good story to be told." In 2021, Disney Channel began to air shorts in the Chibi Tiny Tales series, a loose follow-up to Big Chibi 6 The Shorts , based on the Disney Princess franchise. The first episode, "Moana As Told By Chibi", was released on August 27, 2021. An animated Lego special, Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest ,

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8990-588: The Magic Kingdom behind Cinderella Castle. A meet-and-greet location for a single Disney Princess is located at the Princess Pavilion near It's a Small World. In addition, Paris' Disneyland Park also hosts a Disney Princess character restaurant, L'Auberge de Cendrillon (Cinderella's Inn), beside Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle) in a building similar to a classic French inn and resembling Cinderella's Castle from

9135-512: The Princess on display. In August, the dress was on display at the D23 Expo before being auctioned on November 13 to benefit Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity . Mattel added a Barbie princess-themed line in late 2010 and the fairy tale-based Ever After High in 2013. With these competing lines and an expiration of the brand license at the end of 2015, Disney offered Hasbro

9280-694: The Storm Rider Heartless. In the fourth book in the Twisted Tales series , author Elizabeth Lim asks the question What if Mulan had to journey to the Underworld? In the book, Shang dies and Mulan journeys to the Chinese underworld to save Shang's soul and bring him back to life. The book draws heavily on Chinese mythology . Reception towards Mulan's personality and characterization have been generally positive. Time Out hailed Mulan as "A feisty young go-getter [who] rises above

9425-503: The Western Parson Weems fable in which American president George Washington chops down his father's beloved cherry tree . Mulan served as Wen's first voice-acting role. In an interview with IGN , the actress elaborated on the recording process, specifically the fact that she was required to record the majority of the character's dialogue in isolation, saying, "I just loved the story so much and identified so much with

9570-477: The Western idea of romantic love." The New York Times ' Janet Maslin negatively opined, "For all of Mulan's courage and independence in rebelling against the matchmakers, this is still enough of a fairy tale to need Mr. Right." Citing Mulan's relationship with Shang as an example of sexism , a film critic writing for Teen Ink wrote: "Mulan has been hailed as a feminist Disney movie because it showcases

9715-606: The advantage of a smart, strong heroine—not just a superhot princess figure." Ryan Mazie of Box Office Prophets felt that Mulan "might be the most important and forward-thinking Disney Princess movie made up until that point where the female character solely takes control over her own destiny without the aid of a mighty Prince." In 2012, CNN 's Stephanie Goldberg recognized Mulan as one of Disney's bravest and most heroic animated heroines to-date in her article " Brave 's Merida and other animated heroines," writing, "Mulan bent traditional gender roles when she took her father's place in

9860-425: The aforementioned expanded "Ultimate Princess" line) because the standalone success of Frozen merchandise has made bundling them into the Disney Princess line unnecessary. The official canon of Disney Princesses consists of the female protagonists from thirteen selected Disney films, most of whom have royal ties within their fictional universes . They were given an official number in the franchise line-up based on

10005-569: The animated TV series House of Mouse . Cinderella, Belle, and Snow White also made cameo appearances in the TV animated series Mickey Mouse . The television special The Little Mermaid Live! starred Auliʻi Cravalho as Ariel. The 2022 TV special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration starred H.E.R. as Belle. In early 2007, Disney announced Disney Princess Enchanted Tales , a new series of direct-to-video features that feature new stories for

10150-537: The arena [of a Disney on Ice show], I was surrounded by little girls dressed head to toe as princesses...They weren't even Disney products. They were generic princess products they'd appended to a Halloween costume. And the light bulb went off. Clearly, there was latent demand here. So the next morning I said to my team, "O.K., let's establish standards and a color palette and talk to licensees and get as much product out there as we possibly can that allows these girls to do what they're doing anyway: projecting themselves into

10295-473: The army. Mulan's surname was rendered as the Yue Chinese (aka Cantonese) "Fa", though this was to pay respect to the poem being originally written in that language. Finally, Mulan's true identity is discovered much earlier in the film, soon after the army's initial encounter with the enemy, whereas her comrades remain ignorant throughout their entire 12 years at war until after Mulan has returned home. Unlike preceding traditional Disney animated feature films,

10440-495: The avalanche, and Mulan catches sight of them as they make their way to the city, intent on capturing the emperor. At the imperial city, Mulan is unable to convince Shang about Shan Yu's survival; the Huns capture the emperor, and seize the palace. With Mulan's help, Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po pose as concubines, and are able to enter the palace. With the help of Shang, they defeat Shan Yu's men; as Shang prevents Shan Yu from assassinating

10585-598: The character as "Among the strongest heroines in Walt's cartoon canon ," Ian Freer of Empire enthused, "Mulan's engaging mixture of vulnerability and derring-do becomes incredibly easy to root for." Hollis Chacona of The Austin Chronicle dubbed Mulan a "winning protagonist ." Likewise, the Los Angeles Times ' Kenneth Turan wrote, "As a vivacious rebel who has to be true to herself no matter what, Mulan

10730-553: The character for inspiring "a turn of the circle from such age-old Disney classics ... in which passive heroines were rescued by blandly noble princes." McCarthy continued, "Here, it's the girl who does the rescuing, saving not only the prince but the emperor himself from oblivion, and this in a distant culture where women were expected to obey strictly prescribed rules." Similarly, Margaret A. McGurk of The Cincinnati Enquirer lauded Mulan for "solv[ing] her G.I. Jane dilemma by proving that brains can do more than brawn." Hailing

10875-610: The character in her male disguise as "Ping" offered an unprecedented challenge for Henn. In order to solve this unique dilemma, Henn was provided with "the opportunity to adjust her design a little bit so that when she was disguised as Ping, as a soldier, that she was physically a little different in how we drew her than when she was herself as Mulan." Physically, Mulan was also designed to appear less feminine than preceding traditional Disney animated heroines, specifically Pocahontas from Pocahontas (1995) and Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), because "you can't pass as

11020-538: The character of Mulan it was easy for me. I loved using my imagination. I felt like I was a little kid again, being silly with an imaginary sword and riding on an imaginary horse and talking to an imaginary dragon. So it was a lot of fun for me." In spite of the fact that, throughout the film, Mulan shares multiple scenes with her guardian, a miniature Chinese dragon named Mushu who is voiced by American actor and comedian Eddie Murphy , Wen and her co-star never actually encountered each other while working on Mulan due to

11165-400: The character so that she would appear less feminine than her predecessors. Reception towards Mulan's personality has been generally positive, with critics praising her bravery and heroism. However, her romantic relationship with Shang has been accused of compromising Mulan's heroism. Both Wen and Salonga have been awarded Disney Legends for their contributions to the role. Yifei Liu played

11310-459: The character's brief biography reads, "Mulan is a loving girl who is always brave and bold. When her country needs it most, she disguises herself as a man and goes off to fight. She uses courage and determination to win the day." Although Mulan is a member of the Disney Princess franchise, she is not a legitimate princess in the traditional sense, as she was neither born the daughter of a king or queen, nor does she become princess consort by marrying

11455-434: The character's clumsy, awkward demeanor; broad shoulders and muscular limbs; unruly single strand of hair; and choice of everyday attire which usually consists of loose, baggy clothing concealing her "traditionally slim Disney waist." Additionally, Mulan's intelligence has been observed in several professional analyses, with critics often citing the character as "brainy." The Huns , led by Shan Yu, invade China by breaching

11600-415: The character's depiction was too "familiar," reviewing, "Although she looks different from Ariel , Belle , Jasmine , and Pocahontas, Mulan is very much the same type of individual: a woman with a strong, independent streak who is unwilling to bend to the customs of her culture, which decree that the role of the female is to be ornamental. The film isn't very subtle in reinforcing the idea of equality between

11745-479: The character's heroism, ethnicity and disinterest in romance, serving as a departure from traditional Disney heroines and princesses because she "challenged gender stereotypes and offered up an animated Disney experience that isn't princess-centric" as "one of the few strong, self-propelled female characters that Disney has." Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times observed the way in which Mulan's role in

11890-425: The character's respective singing voice, heard in the film's songs " Reflection ", " I'll Make a Man Out of You " and " A Girl Worth Fighting For ", on Wen's behalf. According to Thomas S. Hischak, author of the book Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary , Salonga was originally cast to provide both Mulan's speaking and singing voices. However, the directors eventually felt that her attempt at impersonating

12035-475: The character's role in the film as "the story of a girl who can't help who she is but she exists in a different society that tells her who she is supposed to be." Because the Ballad of Mulan is such a beloved and well-known story, San Souci longed to maintain the character's integrity. However, certain creative liberties were taken with the story in regards to Mulan's role, such as the character neglecting to ask her parents' permission prior to enlisting herself in

12180-589: The characters from the classic movies." —Mooney, on his creation of the Disney Princess franchise as reported by The New York Times Former Nike, Inc. executive Andy Mooney was appointed president of The Walt Disney Company 's Disney Consumer Products division in December 1999. While attending his first Disney on Ice show, Mooney noticed that several young girls attending the show were dressed in princess attire—though not authentic Disney merchandise. "They were generic princess products they'd appended to

12325-415: The chest, and after the avalanche subsides, her deception is revealed when the wound is bandaged. Instead of executing Mulan as the law requires, Shang spares her life, but nonetheless expels her from the army. Mulan is left to follow alone as the recruits depart for the imperial city to report the news of the Huns' destruction. However, it is discovered that six Hun warriors, including Shan Yu, have survived

12470-653: The chronological order in which their films were released, starting with Snow White as the first and original Disney Princess and Cinderella as the second, followed by Aurora and so on. All the princesses are available for meet-and-greets at Disneyland Resort in California. Additionally, in 2006, as part of the "Year of Million Dreams" celebration, the Fantasyland Theater began hosting the Disneyland Princess Fantasy Faire ,

12615-527: The company's animated films, including only protagonists of theatrical animated films from Walt Disney Pictures , with twelve characters from the Walt Disney Animation Studios films and one character from a Pixar film, with the term "Princess" for the franchise being used as a title in a way unrelated to the royal title , being used as a term for specific heroines who have shown notable inspiring qualities. The thirteen characters in

12760-416: The crest of the Emperor, and the sword of Shan Yu as gifts, she politely declines his offer to be his advisor, and asks to return to her family. Mulan returns home, where she presents these gifts to her father, who is overjoyed to have Mulan back safely. Having become enamored with Mulan, Shang soon arrives under the pretext of returning her helmet, but accepts the family's invitation to stay for dinner. Mushu

12905-559: The day-in-the-life episodes of the many different Real Housewives series. Documentaries and docuseries are other highlights of the non-fiction branch of media franchises, such as the popular Planet Earth series, which serves as both a film and television transmedia franchise. Mulan (Disney character) Fa Mulan is a fictional character, inspired by a legendary figure , who appears in Walt Disney Pictures ' animated film Mulan (1998). Her speaking voice

13050-410: The developing romantic relationship between Mulan and Li Shang is treated as more of a subplot as opposed to a traditional central plot, as observed by film critic Andy Klein of Animation World Network . Klein commented, "Mulan isn't waiting for her prince to someday come ; when he does arrive, having known her primarily as a man, and having learned to admire her for her deeper qualities, the romance

13195-526: The diversification of the Disney Princess franchise, introducing "Disney princesses ... portrayed as women of color ." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone commented, "Mulan ... makes a feisty prefeminist ," continuing, "She doesn't swoon over Captain Shang, the hunky officer ... which leaves Shang ... frustrated ... Mulan, let the record show, does not put out." PopMatters ' Jesse Hassenger wrote that unlike other Disney films, "Mulan holds

13340-476: The division had increased revenue to $ 3 billion, making it the top seller of consumer entertainment products globally. DCP issued princess product licenses to Hasbro for games, Mattel for dolls, and Fisher-Price for plastic figurines in 2000, allowing the franchise to meet the $ 1 billion mark in revenue in three years. Tiana became the first additional character to the Disney Princess franchise officially on March 14, 2010, taking Tinker Bell's short-lived place as

13485-513: The end she still needs to be married off to a 'Prince Charming' who saves the day." In contribution to the book Beyond Adaptation: Essays on Radical Transformations of Original Works , Lan Dong wrote, "Even though Mulan achieves success after she resumes her female self ... it is compromised by Mulan and Li Shang's potential engagement at the end of the film." Mulan is culturally recognized for her unique role in Mulan specifically in regards to

13630-400: The fact that they recorded their respective dialogue at separate times in separate locations. Upon being cast as Mulan's speaking voice, Wen was immediately informed by Disney that she would not be providing the character's singing voice. The actress took no offense to this decision, commenting jokingly "I don't blame them." The directors hired Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga to dub

13775-725: The fictional worlds they love, adds to the overall narrative the franchise creates through its other media. Marvel's Avenger's Campus park is one of the many franchise-based theme parks created in recent times, following the creation of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure and Star Wars' Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland and Disney World . Media franchises tend to cross over from their original media to other forms. Literary franchises are often transported to film, such as Nancy Drew , Miss Marple , and other popular detectives , as well as popular comic book superheroes . Television and film franchises are often expanded upon in novels , particularly those in

13920-470: The film The Matrix Reloaded and the video game Enter the Matrix were produced at the same time, using the same actors on the same sets, and released on the same day. Transmedia franchises occasionally release content through certain media that is not canon to the main or greater story that the franchise is built around, meaning that the elements of said content do not truly exist in the main timeline of

14065-454: The film as "an independent, not completely boy-crazy heroine is somewhat new for Disney." According to Sara Veal of The Jakarta Post , Mulan "promotes self-reliance, determination and is uninterested in marriage or romance ... the film ends on her saving her country, rather than a romantic resolution." Succeeding non-white Disney Princesses Jasmine and Pocahontas, Mulan's characterization as Disney's first East Asian princess assisted in

14210-435: The film. Her new appearance has caused an uproar due to the whitewash of her character. This was particularly troubling as Mulan is one of the few princesses of color . Shavon L. McKinstry of SPARK Movement writes that Mulan's redesign "seem to be directly counter to her personality and character in her film", and also notes how all the princesses of color have been "noticeably pushed to the back or left out completely" from

14355-473: The film. Since 2023, princesses and their princes have greeted guests at the character restaurant La Table de Lumière (Lumière's Table) in the Disneyland Hotel. A Disney Princess meet-and-greet location called Storybook Court is operational and is located at Enchanted Storybook Castle. Hong Kong Disneyland's Castle of Magical Dreams has a meet-and-greet location being The Royal Reception Hall for

14500-467: The financial logic of cost-recovery for expensive productions by identifying that a single medium launch is a lost opportunity, the timeliness of the production and release is more important than its integrity, the releases should raise brand awareness and the cross-ability of the work is critical for its success. American Idol was a transmedia franchise from its beginnings, with the first season winner Kelly Clarkson signing with RCA Records and having

14645-462: The first frame all the way through the end of the movie, her personality, her drive it all stays the same." Visually, the animators were influenced by both traditional Chinese and Japanese artwork. In the specific case of Mulan, "The characters' simple lines ... resemble classic Asian painting". Chinese artist Chen Yi mentored the animators, "helping [them] to come up with these designs." Mark Henn served as Mulan's supervising animator . Animating

14790-673: The first time since Mulan II in the Disney Channel show Sofia the First . In the episode "Princesses to the Rescue," Mulan reminds Sofia and her friends Amber and Jun they are "Stronger Than They Know" in song. Mulan is the 7th Disney princess to appear on the show. Mulan appears as a playable character in Disney's Story Studio: Mulan , an action video game released in December 1999 by Disney Interactive Studios exclusively for

14935-607: The focus on the content of the commodity to "overlapping the commodity image with the character image". The book Anime's Media Mix: Franchising Toys and Characters in Japan, by Marc Steinberg, details the evolution of the media mix in Japan. Long-running franchises were common in the early studio era, when Hollywood studios had actors and directors under long-term contract. In such cases, even lead actors are often replaced as they age, lose interest, or their characters are killed. Spin-offs and adaptations of popular pieces of media within

15080-544: The franchise consist of Snow White , Cinderella , Aurora , Ariel , Belle , Jasmine , Pocahontas , Mulan , Tiana , Rapunzel , Merida , Moana , and Raya . The franchise has released dolls, sing-along videos, apparel, beauty products, home decor, toys, and various other products featuring some of the Disney Princesses. Licensees for the franchise include Glidden (wall paint), Stride Rite (sparkly shoes), Fisher-Price (plastic figurines), Lego (Lego sets), Hasbro and Mattel (games and dolls). Standing in line in

15225-473: The franchise without having a coronation ceremony, but rather being included in new future merchandise. In August 2022, it was announced that Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon would be inducted as the thirteenth member in the franchise during World Princess Week at Disneyland Paris . In January 2023, she was included in some Disney Princess products and has been later added in August that year among

15370-433: The franchise's characters and settings. As one author explains, "For the studios, a home-run is a film from which a multimedia 'franchise' can be generated; the colossally expensive creation of cross-media conglomerates predicated on synergistic rewards provides an obvious imperative to develop such products." The trend later developed wherein franchises would be launched in multiple forms of media simultaneously; for instance,

15515-415: The franchise. Canon content often times breaks continuity, leading fans to speculate or seek to confirm which media are canon and which are not, which can get confusing if the franchise does not provide an answer themselves since entire media can be non-canon to the greater story, with a popular example occurring. On the other hand, specific episodes, volumes or parts of a series can be canon while others in

15660-468: The group of girls ranging from 3 to 6 years old, 30.6% of the group would change their physical appearance if they could. Of these respondents, over half would change their hair and over a quarter would change something about their body, such as skin color. Of all girls surveyed, 8% said they would have to change their hair or skin color to become a princess, stating things like they would "change from brown skin to white skin", for example. The interviewed group

15805-403: The individual mythologies." The original Disney Princess line-up consisted of Snow White , Cinderella , Tinker Bell , Aurora , Ariel , Belle , Jasmine , Pocahontas , Esmeralda and Mulan . Esmeralda was removed soon after. Tinker Bell was also removed; she would go on to headline the sister franchise series Disney Fairies . This was the first time the characters would be marketed in

15950-410: The law by disguising herself as a man in order to enlist herself in the army in lieu of her feeble father. Disney had originally conceived Mulan as an oppressed young Chinese woman who ultimately elopes to Europe to be with a British prince. However, director Tony Bancroft , who was inspired by the well-being of his own daughters, wanted Mulan to be a different, unique kind of Disney heroine – one who

16095-469: The live-action version of the character in the 2020 live-action adaptation of the original 1998 film, named Hua Mulan . Mulan was originally conceived as an animated short in 1994, in which a miserable Chinese girl elopes to the West to be with a British prince. While developing a series of treatments based on traditional stories and folk tales, children's book author Robert D. San Souci discovered

16240-473: The magazine), footwear, clothing of every kind, jewelry, housewares (lamps, clocks, bedding, glassware), guitars and gambling, playing cards, pinball machines and pet accessories, billiard balls, bedroom appurtenances, enhancements, plus countless other items of merchandise. Non-fiction media franchises also exist in the television and film media, with reality TV being one of the most well-known examples; ranging from competition shows like The Amazing Race to

16385-492: The main characters, while the rest make recurring and/or guest appearances. Beginning in season 7, Cinderella, Tiana, and Rapunzel are the main characters. Many of these characters are patterned after the Disney versions, but a few draw inspiration from older stories. The TV series Sofia the First premiered on January 11, 2013, on Disney Junior . Cinderella appeared in the first film, Once Upon A Princess . Jasmine, Belle, Aurora, Snow White, Mulan, Tiana, and Merida appeared on

16530-402: The main imperial army into the mountains. The reinforcements set out, but arrive at a burnt-out encampment, where they discover that General Li and his troops have been massacred by the Huns. As the reinforcements solemnly leave the mountains, they are ambushed by the Huns, but Mulan cleverly uses a cannon to cause an avalanche, which buries most of the invaders. An enraged Shan Yu slashes her in

16675-480: The male-dominated world in which she lives." Ken Fox of TV Guide wrote, "Intelligent and fiercely independent, Mulan ... runs afoul of social expectations that a woman will be always obedient and duty-bound to her husband." Bridget Byrne of Boxoffice wrote that "Mulan ... has pride, charm, spirit and aesthetic appeal which prevents her from being upstaged by the vigorous and exciting action in which she participates." Variety 's Todd McCarthy praised

16820-400: The media fictional material is unrelated. Non-fiction literary franchises include the ...For Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to... reference books . An enduring and comprehensive example of a media franchise is Playboy Enterprises , which began expanding well beyond its successful magazine, Playboy , within a few years after its first publication, into such enterprises as

16965-494: The mirror comes as a bit of a shock." Critics were not unanimous in their praise. The Phoenix 's Jeffrey Gantz felt that character was unoriginal, inaccurate and Westernized , writing, "[her] costumes (particularly the kimono and obi Mulan wears to the Matchmaker) and hairdos look Japanese ... Give Mulan Native American features and you have Pocahontas." Similarly, James Berardinelli of ReelViews felt that

17110-502: The new Disney merchandise which featured the redesigns. McKinstry argues that Disney "prefers to portray one demographic of princess, simultaneously alienating so much of their fanbase", pointing out that of the "ten Disney Princesses in the brand, six are white". The importance of Mulan and other non-white princesses can be seen in the 2009 study of the effects of children's cartoons on the body image of young girls by doctors Sharon Hayes and Stacey Tantleff-Dunn. The study revealed that in

17255-604: The ninth member. Her "coronation" took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan . Tinker Bell was already heading up another franchise, Disney Fairies , starting in 2005. Rapunzel was crowned and inducted into the franchise as the tenth member on October 2, 2011, during "Rapunzel's Royal Celebration", a special event in London . Also attended by the other Princesses plus

17400-593: The other princesses on their official website. At different points, Tarzan 's Jane Porter , Enchanted 's Giselle , and Frozen 's Anna and Elsa were considered to join line-up but didn't officially join. A line of Disney Fairy Tale Wedding gowns were designed by Kirstie Kelly, based on the Princesses, and were available in January 2008. In 2012, the Princesses were given modern redesigns. While some like Tiana and Rapunzel just had added glitter on their outfits, others like Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine received new hairstyles or modified outfits. The most drastic of these

17545-433: The overarching story and narrative of the franchise itself. A connection between the characters, settings, and other elements of the media franchise do still exist within the different media, regardless of the fact that they are being presented in sometimes completely different ways, such as the shared, interweaving storylines and elements of Spider-Man films, television shows, comics and video games. Espen Aarseth describes

17690-490: The owners, the goal of increasing profit through diversity can extend the commercial profitability of the franchise and create strong feelings of identity and ownership in its consumers. Those large groups of dedicated consumers create the franchise's fandom , which is the community of fans that indulge in many of its media and are committed to interacting with and keeping up with other consumers. Large franchise-based fandoms have grown to be even more popular in recent years with

17835-444: The permanent home for the Disney Princesses, consisting of a Royal Hall, a Royal Theatre, Maurice's Treats food cart, and a Fairytale Treasures gift shop. The theater features two small shows based on Beauty and the Beast and Tangled . The hall is used for meet and greets with the princesses, which have a rotation schedule with three princesses scheduled to appear at a time. The current Princess character dining offering at Disneyland

17980-512: The physical rigors, which Liu had to accomplish with balletic grace." In her review for London Evening Standard , Charlotte O'Sullivan said Liu played, "a Mulan whose fighting skills — and emotional life — dazzle. Liu often looks 13, but is actually 33. She has the kind of face you never get bored of. There's something Meryl Streep -y about her soulfulness and all her moves are magical." While Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com wrote, "Liu's performance might have been more powerful if she'd been

18125-727: The playable characters and figures. Mulan is a playable character to unlock for a limited time in Disney Magic Kingdoms . She is also an unlockable racer in Disney Speedstorm . Mulan appears in the Square Enix and Disney video game Kingdom Hearts II in the Land of the Dragons world, with Ming-Na Wen reprising her role. She aids Sora in battle, taking the place of either Donald or Goofy . She uses

18270-484: The popular Twilight book series that was adapted into the five films of The Twilight Saga . Other neologisms exist to describe various franchise types including metaseries , which can be used to describe works such as Isaac Asimov 's Foundation series . Multimedia franchises usually develop through a character or fictional world becoming popular in one medium, and then expanding to others through licensing agreements , with respect to intellectual property in

18415-596: The princesses' classic designs and included many special events, products, and performances. Despite not being official, Anna and Elsa from the Frozen franchise were included in parts of the celebration; they were removed from their temporary inclusion in the collection at the end of August 2022. When the celebration launched in South Africa on April 29, 2021, Sofia from Sofia the First and Elena from Elena of Avalor were also included in its territory, though in

18560-415: The release of A Moment Like This becoming a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100. The success resulted in a nationwide concert tour, an American Idol book that made the bestseller list and the film From Justin to Kelly . A transmedia franchise however is often referred to by the simpler term "media franchise". The term media franchise is often used to describe the popular adaptation of a work into films, like

18705-509: The reticent, shy Mulan and her bombastic evolution into unmitigated badass." Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "Liu is so strong in the role of Mulan that it's only later that you might realize that you were not watching Mulan herself, but someone giving an exceptional performance in a difficult part. In addition to the challenge of portraying Mulan's journey from insecurity to glorious attainment, there were

18850-409: The rise of social media platforms, as many fans seek to interact with one another for discussion, debate and even to create their own fan-made pieces of media revolving around the franchise, on websites like tumblr , Reddit and Fandom . In the case of successful transmedia franchises, each different medium should expand the target demographic and fandom, build the interest of the consumers and add to

18995-525: The same medium are not, such as the fact that only some of the Battlestar Galactica comics are canon, with a large amount of them breaking the continuity of the main story. In Japanese culture and entertainment, media mix ( wasei-eigo : メディアミックス , mediamikkusu ) is a strategy to disperse content across multiple representations: different broadcast media , gaming technologies, cell phones, toys, amusement parks , and other methods. It

19140-535: The sexes". Additionally, some critics, such as Alex von Tunzelmann of The Guardian , have criticized Mulan for her violence, writing, "Disney struggles to make Mulan both a killer and a heroine ... Gingerly, the film attempts to tread a middle path, implying that Mulan annihilates most of the Hun army by causing an avalanche, and having her dispatch Shan Yu with a load of fireworks. Very pretty. But still technically killing." However, von Tunzelmann did conclude more positively, "as Disney heroines go, Mulan herself

19285-407: The show. Ariel and Rapunzel appeared in the TV specials The Floating Palace and The Curse of Princess Ivy , respectively. However, Sofia is a minor princess and not in the royal court. She is voiced by Modern Family star Ariel Winter . In 2017, the TV series Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure debuted with the television film Tangled: Before Ever After serving as the pilot. In December 2020, it

19430-416: The story". Fathering one daughter himself, Henn drew inspiration from his own emotions as well as past personal experiences while animating several intimate scenes shared by the two characters. Several film critics have described Mulan as a tomboy . Andy Patrizio of IGN observed, "In this slightly modernized version of the story, Mulan is something of a rebel and a tomboy. She has no interest in being

19575-413: The temples of his family and hers, allowing Mushu to keep his position. Mulan, alongside other Disney Princesses, appeared in the film Ralph Breaks the Internet , as was announced at the 2017 D23 Expo. Yifei Liu portrays Mulan in a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film. The character's journey through the live-action movie is mostly the same as the animated film. Although she does have

19720-414: The training camp, Mulan is able to pass as a man, although her military skills are initially lacking. Mushu provides clumsy guidance to Mulan on how to behave like a man. Under the command of Captain Li Shang, she and her fellow recruits Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po, gradually become trained warriors. Desiring to see Mulan succeed, Mushu creates a fake order from Shang's father, General Li, ordering Shang to follow

19865-401: The upcoming 2026 film of the same name . The Princesses, along with Anna and Elsa (and Moana, who was not included in the franchise until the following year), make guest appearances in the 2018 film Ralph Breaks the Internet . This film marks the first direct interaction between the characters in an animated Disney feature. Rich Moore and Phil Johnston , the directors of Ralph Breaks

20010-455: The video game console Sony PlayStation . Loosely based on the plot of the original animated film, the video game's concept and premise revolves around "Players ... assum[ing] the role of Mulan on her quest to recover the missing scrolls." Mulan also appears as a playable character in Disney's Mulan , a similar video game released the previous year on October 10, 1998, by THQ for Game Boy . Disney Infinity 3.0 has Mulan as one of

20155-519: The way in which he, as the film's director, continued to consider the well-being of his two young daughters while working on Mulan , having "wanted to make a unique heroine that hadn't been seen before" and provide for them "someone who would be strong on her own, without a prince saving her." Addressing the way in which Mulan differs from traditional Disney heroines and princesses, Bancroft explained, "Most Disney heroines have an outside source that comes in and helps them change. Mulan stays consistent. From

20300-477: The world's highest-grossing media franchises . For example, Pokémon 's penetration into the American market of the franchise along with others of Japanese origin, such as Yu-Gi-Oh! , gave rise to the recognition of what is variously called transmedia storytelling , crossmedia, transmediation , media synergy, etc. Researchers argue that the 1963 Tetsuwan Atomu marked a shift in Japanese marketing from

20445-456: Was Cinderella, who was given side-swept bangs and an outfit with sheer sleeves. With Target Corporation as its marketing partner, Disney held the first National Princess Week on April 23, 2012. During the week, there was the release of The Princess Diaries on Blu-ray and The Very Fairy Princess book. Harrods already has a Disney Store within, followed by their Christmas theme, Disney Princess, by having Oscar de la Renta designed dress for

20590-407: Was constantly being revised and re-written. Naturally, so was Mulan's characterization and role in the film. The writers wanted Mulan to represent a "different kind of Disney heroine," specifically described as one who "didn't need a tiara , but was still just as much as graceful, strong, and courageous." Between the two, Bancroft and his twin brother Tom, an animator who also worked on Mulan , have

20735-537: Was honored with a Disney Legends award in commemoration of her role as Mulan's singing voice. Additionally, Salonga performed a live rendition of "Reflection" at the ceremony. Ming-Na Wen was also named a Disney Legend in 2019 for her role as the speaking voice of Mulan. The 2013 Disney princess redesigns portrayed Mulan with features that differ from her film appearance. The artwork featured Mulan with blue eyes, bigger lips, noticeably lighter skin, and golden clothing which does not resemble any outfit she has worn in

20880-571: Was originally announced that Tiana and Moana would have spin-off TV shows, both airing on Disney+ , with Moana: The Series debuting in 2024 and Tiana set for a later date. However, in February 2024, Moana: The Series was transformed into Moana 2 , which is set for release on November 27, 2024, while Tiana will still be airing on Disney+ at a later date. In the films Maleficent (2014) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019), Elle Fanning plays Aurora. Lily James portrays Cinderella in

21025-540: Was released on Disney+ on August 18, 2023. The special stars Snow White, Ariel, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Moana, in an adventure to stop the evil plans of Gaston (the main antagonist of Beauty and the Beast ). The Princesses, excluding Merida , appeared in the short film Once Upon a Studio (2023) in celebration of Disney's 100 anniversary. In Kilala Princess , a Japanese fantasy/romance manga produced by Kodansha that debuted on Nakayoshi in April 2005,

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