Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
On July 7, 2019, Walt Disney Studios released the first trailer for its live-action version ofMulan.
The long-awaited teaser set the Sinophile world abuzz,generating over 175 million views within 24 hours.
It seems that a completely faultless adaptation continues to be unachievable.
Reflection, the song that is the emotional heart of the originalMulan, speaks to experiences like these.
These were the parts ofMulanthat were complicated and messy.
The truth is, no retelling of Mulans story has ever been faithful to the sixth-century source material.
Chinese retellings didnt stick to the ballad entirely either.
Does this mean Chinese retellings are wrong?
But what, then, is authentic?
In reality, Disney has not stated outright that authenticity is the aim of its project.
Will 2020sMulanfall into the same trap?
The thing is, authenticity is a moving target.
And we should remember that Disneys telegraphing of recognizably Eastern details does not amount to authenticity achieved.
But the animated feature will forever be a vital meditation on selfhood and identity.
Dont have Disney+ yet?Youcan sign up here.
