Comparing Home Releases Cover Arts

[Disney's Divinity]

Hmmmm.... yeah, but the ying-yang symbol was never part of this film!

I know.

And Disney Divinity... sorry, I will disagree on one thing: I don't think Disney's Aladdin lent itself well to a live action adaptation. The original story of Aladdin does... not the adaptation of the animated version, in my opinion. I felt a lot of the charm and magic were stripped away from it.

Well, I only think that Mulan lends itself well to live-action, too, but the actual product we'll end up with in Mulan (2020) is most likely garbage, so... *shrug* It was the only part of the thought I did agree with, and I was trying to be positive.

[Marce82]

Wait, Disney Divinity.... why do you think Mulan 2020 will be garbage?? what makes you think that?

And btw.... disagreeing with someone is not being negative. It's just part of healthy conversation. We are all here generally very respectful of one another, even when we disagree.

[Disney's Divinity]

And btw.... disagreeing with someone is not being negative.

Again: I know. Thank you.

[Farerb]

Wait, Disney Divinity.... why do you think Mulan 2020 will be garbage?? what makes you think that?

And btw.... disagreeing with someone is not being negative. It's just part of healthy conversation. We are all here generally very respectful of one another, even when we disagree.

Marce82, my input on Mulan's remake is that it won't be good, but that's what I've come to expect from Disney after all the remakes, and from interviews it seems like the filmmakers either didn't understand the original or didn't watch it. For instance they commented on Mulan and Shang's relationship and how problem it is because she is his subordinate. However the truth is that they don't have a relationship until the very end where she only invites him over for dinner. That is literally it, so problematic. That kind of thinking is how the Beauty and the Beast remake got made - "Belle's not feminist enough", "Mrs Potts looks old enough to be Chip's grandmother, not mother", "Where is Belle's mother", "Belle has Stockholm Syndrome", "Belle crying?! Problematic!", etc....

Anyway, I actually don't mind that the songs are cut and there's no Mushu, which I thought was the weakest part of the original anyway since he always seemed like he came from a different film and got stuck in Mulan. Sometimes the comedic sidekick doesn't work and it didn't in Mulan in my opinion.

[Disney's Divinity]

I liked the whole cast of characters from the original film, personally. Mulan, Khan, Mushu, Cri-Kee, Chi-Fu, The Emperor, Shan-Yu, Shang, Fa Zhou, Grandmother Fa, the soldiers and ancestors, etc. Of those, only Mulan, Mulan's parents, and the Emperor still exist--maybe Khan (technically)? Fa Zhou and Fa Li don't come across much like the characters in the animated film even though they are also technically presnet. Just for reference, when it comes to comedy relief of the Renaissance films, I prefer Mulan's to Flounder, Scuttle, Pegasus, Pain & Panic, Meeko, Percy, Flit, Terk, the gargoyles, and Timon & Pumbaa personally. I like the Aladdin comic relief characters and Tantor, but not quite as much... I feel like a rare bird these days for actually liking the original film. Who knew?

[Marce82]

Fareb.... I agree with 100% everything you said in that last message. From Disney's approach to their current remakes, to your opinions on the original Mulan.

That said, just cause I haven't liked their approach so far doesn't mean it will continue no matter what. These films do get different writers/directors.

As much as I like the original Mulan, I don't consider it to be a 10. I think there IS room for improvement. That is why I think this remake has a bit more of a reason to exist. I doubt anyone thinks the remakes of TLK, Aladdin or BATB are better than the originals.

[Farerb]

Yes I agree. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King (and I would even add The Little Mermaid) are groundbreaking films who influenced animated films and the way people see them. While I like Mulan, I don't consider it in the same vein, so a remake of it isn't as offensive to me as the others.

Yes, they have different writers and directors, but I fear Disney has a huge control over their properties and doesn't let direct and writers creative control. I know Cruella's director is the same one who directed I, Tonya and the writer wrote The Favorite, so I expect Cruella to be more sophisticated than other Disney live action films, hopefully.

[Marce82]

Hi Fareb,

Oh, I would put TLM in that same list. The reason I didn't is because there hasn't been a remake.... yet. I know it's coming though.

I understand your apprehension about the Mulan remake.... I share it. But I don't want to assume the worst based on past efforts. I would rather wait and be pleasantly surprised... even if the odds are against me.

Side note: not just those 4 films... I dont think any of the remakes have been even close to being as good as the originals. If anything, I would say the movie Ever After (with Drew Barrymore) is a very interesting version of the Cinderella story. But it is not a remake of the Disney one at all.

[D82]

I've found some more covers for Mulan: the Disney Movie Club Limited Series tin case, a French slipcover (same art as the DMC Exclusive, but with different background) and the French 2-Movie collection pack.



And though very late, here are two Hercules covers that haven't been posted, the tin case edition and the French slipcover:



Also, the Sing Along VHS and the Read Along DVD:

[D82]

Welcome back, D82!!

Thanks, Marce82!

My favourite cover is the Spanish one because I grew up with it. I remember that in some commercials made for spain they used the gold collection cover but in the last commercials they used the true one.

I remember that too! Personally, I was disappointed that they replaced the cover at the last minute because the first one they showed was original art created for the home video release while the one we got was recycled from the theatrical poster. And I didn't like that the drawing style didn't fit with the other Disney covers in my collection, but it's actually a great cover and I soon became fond of it too. Like Sicoe Vlad said, we also got the US cover for the DVD in Europe. I didn't have a DVD player then, though (I'm always late at having the latest technology ), so I didn't bought the DVD until much later. Speaking of that, was Mulan the first Disney movie to be released at the same time on VHS and DVD, or was the DVD released later? I don't remember it now.

By the way, I think I hadn't noticed before that you we also from Spain, Thumper_93! Thanks for posting those commercials, they bring back good memories to me.

Mulan's jaw was angular as Ping in order to give her a more mature/masculine look (if i recall correctly). One of the directors explained that.

Yes, you're right. Other differences are that they don't show her eyelashes when she's in disguise and her lips are not red. In this image I found on the Internet the differences can be seen quite well:

[Farerb]

Her eyebrows are thicker as well.

[Disney's Divinity]

https://i.imgur.com/4VH6143.jpg

This Read Along DVD cover has Hercules in the pose I imagined when I described my idea of a perfect cover. Flying, with sword held outwards. They could've thrown Megara on there holding his waist, and it would be even nicer.

The French slipcover artwork reminds me of that aborted Disney Heroes children's franchise. I still think it's a shame they didn't go through with that, even if it didn't do as well as Disney Princesses or Disney Fairies.

[D82]

Here's my ranking for Mulan:

1. Spanish and Swedish VHS/Zavvi Steelbook: I was doubting between this, the Japanese DVD and the Gold Collection for my top spot, but I think I prefer the first two over the domestic one because they're more epic. Like Marce82, I prefer Mulan centered like in the steelbook or the Swedish cover, but I also like the layout for the Spanish one and the fact that Shan Yu appears in the background. One minor issue I've always had with this art is that Mulan doesn't look exactly like in the movie. Perhaps it's that her eyes are too big, but it's actually really well drawn.

2. Japanese DVD: Beautiful and epic. This art is also from a theatrical poster.

3. Masterpiece VHS/Gold Collection DVD/Limited Issue: This is a great cover too. I really like the concept and Mulan looks really good here.

4. Special Edition DVD: I don't like how Mulan looks here and the sword is not as cleverly used as in other covers, as others have said, but it's not a bad cover either. I usually don't like when a character is featured twice in the same cover, but here I think it's justified given that they show Mulan as herself and as Ping.

5. Heroes Cover: I've always liked this clipart too. It's a simple cover, but at least Mulan is on-model and well drawn.

6. DMC Exclusive Blu-ray/French slipcover: Cri-Kee looks quite bad, but Mulan and Mushu are acceptable, in my opinion. I like their poses, but Mulan's expression not so much and it's true that the yin-yang symbol doesn't have much to do with the movie. I prefer the background in the French slipcover.

7. Japanese VHS: It's not too well drawn, but I like the style and the colors.

8. Blu-ray (2-Movie Collection) Personally, I find it a bit too busy and I don't like the colors of the background. They remind me more of the colors of the US or the French flag than the colors of China. Plus, I tend to dislike the combo packs because I'm not a fan of the DTV sequels. Though Mulan 2 is one of the few I haven't seen yet.

9. DMC Limited Series tin case

10. Villains Cover

11. 3-Disc Collection DVD

12. French 2-Movie Collection

13. Musical Masterpiece DVD: This one's even worse than the Pocahontas Musical Edition. That arm! And apart from the faults others have mentioned, Mulan looks too feminine as a warrior in the fan, and the blue piece of cloth is over the green one in the right side when it should be the other way around.

[Marce82]

Hey D82!

You know, your posting and ranking got me thinking....

1) I think I have a mild bias when the cover is recycled poster art. The posters usually get better artwork than the covers, but reusing it is a bit of a "cheat" for me. It's like... we are judging covers, not posters. If if they recycle it, then Disney gets to cheat us of more original artwork. I mean... it's fine. I will still judge all the covers, but I think I tend to judge the recycled posters a little lower because of that.

2) The Mulan blu ray... like I mentioned with a previous movie... yeah, I hate the cheapquels, and I hate that they are included in the blu rays of the real films. But I cannot deduct points from a cover for advertising both films (cause it's accurate!)... I have issues with the concept of bundling the movies together, not the covers themselves.

3) Interesting about some of the Hercules covers you just posted. Why do they have Hercules doing a bicep pose??? He never showed off like that in the movie (ok ok... maybe once during the training song with Phil, but that was more about showing his progress more than showing off). That pose is more Gaston than it's Hercules....

[D82]

I wonder if that shot of the Huns is taken directly from a cel of the film just like the shot of the sword is identical to the moment in the moment? Either way, I like that they show Shan-Yu leading the charge.

I've watched the battle sequence again and I think the Huns part is taken from two different shots. These (or some similar ones) are the frames I believe they used as inspiration for the drawing:

Her eyebrows are thicker as well.

When she's not pretending to be a man but doesn't wear makeup, her eyebrows are thick too; but probably you're right and they're a bit thicker when she's in disguise.

[Disney's Divinity]

I've watched the battle sequence again and I think the Huns part is taken from two different shots.

Yes, you're right, it's two different shots from the mountain scene spliced together.

When she's not pretending to be a man but doesn't wear makeup, her eyebrows are thick too.

I noticed that as well. Perhaps her final look in the film is intended to be a medium between her two other identities. Even the choice of blue as the dominant color of the outfit, when thinking about it, isn't blue between pink/purple and green on the color wheel?

[D82]

I think I have a mild bias when the cover is recycled poster art. The posters usually get better artwork than the covers, but reusing it is a bit of a "cheat" for me. It's like... we are judging covers, not posters. If if they recycle it, then Disney gets to cheat us of more original artwork. I mean... it's fine. I will still judge all the covers, but I think I tend to judge the recycled posters a little lower because of that.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Now that we're judging covers that have been released long ago, I don't think of it, but when a new movie is released on home video it's always nice to get new artwork and not a recycled one. And it actually has more merit when they create something new, but I can't help but choose the ones that use posters many times over the others because of how superior they usually are.

The Mulan blu ray... like I mentioned with a previous movie... yeah, I hate the cheapquels, and I hate that they are included in the blu rays of the real films. But I cannot deduct points from a cover for advertising both films (cause it's accurate!)... I have issues with the concept of bundling the movies together, not the covers themselves.

Yeah, me neither. And I try to be objective too, but what I was trying to say is that I may be a bit biased when it comes to those covers because of how little I like the sequels.

Interesting about some of the Hercules covers you just posted. Why do they have Hercules doing a bicep pose??? He never showed off like that in the movie (ok ok... maybe once during the training song with Phil, but that was more about showing his progress more than showing off). That pose is more Gaston than it's Hercules....

That's true. And also Meg is shown swooning over Hercules in the Sing Along cover when she never does that in the movie either.

I noticed that as well. Perhaps her final look in the film is intended to be a medium between her two other identities. Even the choice of blue as the dominant color of the outfit, when thinking about it, isn't blue between pink/purple and green on the color wheel?

I think you're right, but her eyebrows are also thick at the beginning. It's just the outfit and the hair that look less feminine at the end in my opinion.

[Marce82]

Oh woah.... I hadn't noticed the swooning Meg on that sing-along cover. Ugh.... terrible.

I think Mulan's eyebrows are mostly hidden by her hair at the beginning of the movie... and that's no accident. No eyelashes, thick eyebrows, angular jaw are masculine traits when it comes to animation.

It's particularly interesting in the shot in the movie where Mulan reveals herself to Shan Yu... she pulls her hair back, and as she does, her face morphs into the Ping face.

D82.... thumbs up on all you just said. I totally get where you are coming from.

One last thing.... I don't know if it's the design or the voice... or both. But does Mulan remind anyone else of Sandra Bullock???

[D82]

I think Mulan's eyebrows are mostly hidden by her hair at the beginning of the movie... and that's no accident.

Oh, you're right. Good point!

No eyelashes, thick eyebrows, angular jaw are masculine traits when it comes to animation.

It's particularly interesting in the shot in the movie where Mulan reveals herself to Shan Yu... she pulls her hair back, and as she does, her face morphs into the Ping face.

It's true, and come to think of it, her ears are also hidden most of the time when she has her hair down.

One last thing.... I don't know if it's the design or the voice... or both. But does Mulan remind anyone else of Sandra Bullock???

It has never reminded me of her, but I think I've never seen any of her films in English, so if it's the voice what's similar, I couldn't have noticed it.

Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King (and I would even add The Little Mermaid) are groundbreaking films who influenced animated films and the way people see them. While I like Mulan, I don't consider it in the same vein, so a remake of it isn't as offensive to me as the others.

I feel the same way. Usually, the more I like the original, the less I want it to get a remake. I don't consider Mulan to be at the same level as those films either, but I think it's still a really good movie and better than most of the animated films made today.

Side note: not just those 4 films... I dont think any of the remakes have been even close to being as good as the originals.

I completely agree.

[Farerb]

Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King (and I would even add The Little Mermaid) are groundbreaking films who influenced animated films and the way people see them. While I like Mulan, I don't consider it in the same vein, so a remake of it isn't as offensive to me as the others.

I feel the same way. Usually, the more I like the original, the less I want it to get a remake. I don't consider Mulan to be at the same level as those films either, but I think it's still a really good movie and better than most of the animated films made today.

I agree.