Abstract: Fa Mulan is a legendary female in traditional Chinese culture. She is a respectable female image by the Chinese people because she is brave, honest and dutiful. Mulan, Disney’s 36th animated feature movie, released in 1998, is based on the traditional Chinese folk tale and it has won unanimous praise by the filmgoers. This thesis aims to analyze and contrast the two Mulan’s in Chinese culture and the Hollywood cartoon films, and explains the reasons behind the differences. The thesis concludes that Mulan is a brave honest and filial character in Chinese culture while the Hollywood version of Mulan embodies individualism and feminism.

Key words: the image of Mulan; individualism; feminism

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1

1.1 The Legend of Mulan

1.2 The Hollywood Movie Mulan      

1.3 Literature Review

2. The Different Images of Mulan4

 2.1 The Different Personalities

 2.2 The Different Motivations for Military Service     

 2.3 The Different Attitudes towards Emotion

3. Conclusion8

Bibliography.10

Acknowledgements11