10 Movies & Shows Like Mulan (1998)

Description: An epic tale of conflict between nature and industrialization, featuring a fierce female lead and themes of environmentalism and redemption.

Fact: The film was the highest-grossing in Japan until Titanic surpassed it. It was one of the first anime films to use a significant amount of computer animation alongside traditional hand-drawn techniques.

Description: A visually stunning martial arts epic that explores themes of honor, love, and sacrifice, with a strong female warrior at its core.

Fact: The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film. The bamboo forest fight scene took weeks to film and required precise wirework choreography.

Description: A fantastical coming-of-age story with a young female protagonist navigating a magical world, filled with rich symbolism and themes of courage and resilience.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first and only hand-drawn and non-English film to do so. The bathhouse setting was inspired by a real location in Japan.

Description: A beautifully shot martial arts film that delves into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the greater good, with a narrative that unfolds through layered storytelling.

Fact: The film uses color-coding to differentiate between the various versions of the story being told. It was China's most expensive film at the time of its release.

Description: A historical drama that explores the clash of cultures and the preservation of honor and tradition, featuring intense battle sequences and a deep emotional core.

Fact: Tom Cruise performed many of his own stunts, including horseback riding and sword fighting. The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, blending Western and Japanese musical elements.

Description: A magical adventure with a strong-willed female protagonist, exploring themes of war, love, and self-acceptance through a visually enchanting narrative.

Fact: The moving castle's design was inspired by a steampunk aesthetic. The film was loosely based on a British novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones.

Description: A romantic martial arts drama with breathtaking visuals and choreography, focusing on love and betrayal amidst a backdrop of rebellion.

Fact: The film's echo game scene, where a character interacts with beans scattered on drums, was achieved without CGI. It was shot on location in Ukraine and China.

Description: Combines martial arts action with a heartfelt story of an unlikely hero rising to meet their destiny, featuring themes of perseverance and self-belief.

Fact: The film's animation team studied various martial arts styles to accurately depict the fight scenes. Jack Black ad-libbed many of his lines as Po, adding humor to the character.

Description: Centers around a determined and hardworking female lead who defies societal expectations, blending elements of magic and folklore with a strong sense of cultural identity.

Fact: This was Disney's first animated feature to feature an African-American princess. The film is set in New Orleans, and its jazz-inspired soundtrack pays homage to the city's musical heritage.

Description: Features a strong, independent female protagonist on a journey of self-discovery and heroism, set against a richly detailed cultural backdrop with themes of duty and identity.

Fact: The ocean in the film is a character that interacts with Moana, requiring a unique animation approach to give it personality. The film's music was co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina.