The Secret of Mulan
Encyclopedia
The Secret of Mulan is the 1998 entry in the series of Secret films released direct to video by UAV
/Sterling Entertainment, which generally was an adaptation of a popular theatrical animated film released in a given year, such as The Secret of Anastasia and The Secret of the Hunchback. This film, written by Katherine Lawrence
and Christy Marx
, is based on the poem about Hua Mulan
, which had been made as a film by Walt Disney Pictures
the same year as Mulan, and combined with elements from another popular 1998 animated film, A Bug's Life
. The film is notable as an early example of the work of the composer-lyricist team of Megan Cavallari and David Goldsmith
, and some copies were released with a CD soundtrack attached to the back cover.
named Mulan who takes her father's place in war against Mala Khan using the pseudonym
"Hua" (originally the character's surname, which here is pronounced "hoohah"). Eventually she is accused of desertion when she is in her pupa
l stage, but when she returns as a butterfly
, she returns and romances her commanding prince, who, being also a butterfly, understands.
. No overall director is credited.
(in credits order)
UAV Corp.
UAV Corporation or commonly known as UAV Entertainment was an entertainment company founded in 1984 as a small local company located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Its headquarters were located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, before they were in Charlotte, North Carolina.On June 14, 2006, UAV Corp...
/Sterling Entertainment, which generally was an adaptation of a popular theatrical animated film released in a given year, such as The Secret of Anastasia and The Secret of the Hunchback. This film, written by Katherine Lawrence
Katherine Lawrence
Katherine Lawrence was a television series screenwriter and a short story science fiction and children's non-fiction educational books and video game writer.-Biography:...
and Christy Marx
Christy Marx
Christy Marx grew up in Danville, Illinois and is an American writer and a photographer. She has written scripts for various episodes of TV-series, mainly for kids' shows, including Jem, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Conan the Adventurer, G.I. Joe, Hypernauts, Captain Power and others...
, is based on the poem about Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown...
, which had been made as a film by Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
the same year as Mulan, and combined with elements from another popular 1998 animated film, A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
. The film is notable as an early example of the work of the composer-lyricist team of Megan Cavallari and David Goldsmith
David Goldsmith
David John Goldsmith is a former English cricketer. Goldsmith was a right-handed batsman who fielded as a wicket-keeper. He was born in Romford, Essex....
, and some copies were released with a CD soundtrack attached to the back cover.
Synopsis
The film features an anthropomorphic caterpillarCaterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
named Mulan who takes her father's place in war against Mala Khan using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Hua" (originally the character's surname, which here is pronounced "hoohah"). Eventually she is accused of desertion when she is in her pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
l stage, but when she returns as a butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
, she returns and romances her commanding prince, who, being also a butterfly, understands.
Cast
The voice director of the film was Peter FernandezPeter Fernandez
Peter Fernandez was an American actor, voice actor, and director. Despite a career extending from the 1930s, he is probably best known for his uncredited roles in the 1967 anime Speed Racer. Fernandez co-wrote the scripts, was the voice director, and translated the English language version of the...
. No overall director is credited.
(in credits order)
- George Bettinger
- Tom CliffordTom CliffordTom Clifford is a former municipal politician in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.He served twenty-seven years as an elected official as School Trustee for the Toronto Board of Education and as a City of Toronto Councillor representing the East Toronto and Riverdale area.In a 1978 federal...
- Leo BurmesterLeo BurmesterLeo Burmester was an American actor. Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in Passion Fish and Lone Star , and also for directors such as John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ...
- Abigail Revasch
- Gregory Abbey
- Loren Brown
- Lionel G. WilsonLionel G. WilsonLionel G. Wilson , was an American voice actor from New York City. Wilson started acting in 1949 on the series The Aldrich Family as George Bigalow...
- Jack Gwaltney
- Elaine Tse
- Robert Lydiard
- Jeff BergmanJeff BergmanJeff Allen Bergman is an American voice actor, who provides the modern day voices of various classic cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, George Jetson, Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, and Huckleberry Hound.-Life and career:Originally from Philadelphia,...
- Lisa DeSimone
- Jonathan DokuchitzJonathan DokuchitzJohnathan Dokuchitz is an American actor who works mainly on Broadway. He has starred in The Who's Tommy as Captain Walker, and also created the singing voice for John Cusack in Anastasia .- Featured productions :...