As noted in Article 2 of this tour, Mulan has been criticized on a variety of issues and has had a disappointing reception from audiences (Wang, 2021). In the debate over the authenticity of Mulan, it has been said, especially by Chinese audiences, that Disney made Western stereotyped Mulan. Even though much effort has been put into the Chinese element of live-action Mulan, it also inevitably incorporates Western elements to make it more acceptable to a wider audience (Liu, 2022; Wang, 2021).
To some, the representation of Mulan's bravery and her attempts to find herself in the movie was described as individualistic, and self-aggrandizing (Liu, 2022). For example, in the film, Mulan questions herself about who she is and how she wants to be many times. Mulan's attempts to find her "true self" against the restrictions imposed by the Chinese patriarchal system show the American elements of liberal and individualistic views (Liu, 2022).