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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 |
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Perhaps you saw Disney’s 1998 animated feature Mulan. It’s based on an ancient Chinese tale about a courageous young woman who disguises herself as a man to serve in the army in place of her ailing father. |
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Yesterland Paris has an entirely different interpretation of Mulan. It all happens in Videopolis, the climate-controlled theater and counter-service eatery in the park’s Discoveryland. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2001 Hyperion airship at the entrance to Videopolis |
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A troupe of Chinese circus performers and the main characters from Mulan recreate memorable moments from the film, dazzling the audience with dance, acrobatics, juggling, and feats of super-human skill. You know you’re in for a spectacular show when the Hun’s men tumble onto the stage. |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 The show’s opening, featuring the Hun’s men |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Spinning plates to an orchestral version of “Honor To Us All” |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Look at the plate spinners in the background |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Mulan demonstrating her diabolo skills |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2001 Mulan and her diabolo, with the plate spinners |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Army training to an orchestral version of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2001 Mulan at the center and top |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 1999 On the huge stage of Videopolis |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 More army training |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Confrontation! |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 1999 White flag representing snow |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 1999 Mulan and Mushu |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2001 Acrobatic lions |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Big furry lions! |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Maybe this wasn’t part of the movie, but it works here |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Human wall |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Cast of 50 performers, although not all at the same time |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 1999 Half-hour show, but it goes by quickly |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 1999 Finale |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Final curtain |
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Photo by Ian Parkinson, 2000 Curtain closed, with Mushu bathed in light |
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Not only is Mulan, The Legend a spectacular display of Chinese acrobatics with great choreography set to an evocative orchestral interpretation of the movie’s soundtrack, it also works as a dramatic story. By eliminating spoken dialog and singing, the show communicates to the international clientele of the Paris park, regardless of which languages each guest speaks. For guests who had seen the movie Mulan, the orchestral music conjures up the plot of the movie. It’s a wonderful show! |
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Mulan: The Legend premiered at the Videopolis Theatre at Disneyland Paris on November 28, 1998. According to the official Disneyland Paris website during the show’s run, “From the heart of ancestral China, a legend has come to us: Mulan. Come and discover this legend on the Videopolis stage through the arts and traditions of Chinese acrobatics.” The popular show enjoyed a long run until early 2002. No other Disney theme park in the world presented Mulan: The Legend or any other stage show based on the 1998 animated Disney feature Mulan. Two Disney parks in the United States presented the Mulan Parade, which relied on floats to tell the story. After opening at Disneyland Park in California and Disney-MGM Studios in Florida in June 1998, the Mulan Parade ended at the former in November 1999 and at the latter in March 2001. The next show at Disneyland Paris’s Videopolis Theatre after Mulan: The Legend was Minnie’s Birthday Surprise. Somehow, that seems like a letdown compared to what it replaced. Personal note from Werner Weiss: Over many decades, at a lot of Disney theme parks, I’ve seen a lot of shows. Many were very good. Mulan: The Legend was the best of all of them. |
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© 2024 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated March 1, 2024 |
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