Re-thinking cultural authenticity in Mulan (1998): through the lens of classical Chinese poetry

Abstract Disney's Mulan (1998) is a paradigmatic case of cross-cultural adaptation that reconstructs traditional Chinese culture for contemporary audiences. However, its reinterpretation of the classical literary text, the Ballad of Mulan, has raised concerns about cultural authenticity. Unlike narrative-oriented or historical accuracy-driven models used in existing studies, this study proposes a framework that foregrounds lyricism as the defining aesthetic through which classical Chinese poetry expresses its cultural authenticity. By analysing the thematic representation and cultural elements in Mulan (1998), this article reveals that while the film conveys multiple thematic layers, its goal-oriented narrative structure constrains the open-ended, evocative aesthetic power. Moreover, most cultural elements in the film remain superficial, losing some opportunities for deeper poetic resonance and imagistic depth. The poetic-based approach offers a valuable tool for evaluating animated adaptations in a way that deeply resonates with poetic lyricism traditions while accommodating media-specific characteristics and contemporary developments.