c. 1988
China Doll is proposed as a direct-to-video idea. The story involves an unhappy Chinese girl who meets and falls in love with a Westerner and leaves China.
1993
Based on a suggestion by children's author Robert San Souci, Disney begins work on The Legend of Mulan.
JUNE and JULY 1994
June 17 - Disney sends a team of artists to China.
21 - The team visits Datong.
24 - The team visits Luoyang.
26 - The team visits Xian.
28 - The team visits Jiayuguan and Dunhuang.
July 1 - The team visits Guilin.
2 - The team leaves China.
1995
Stephen Schwartz is announced as the composer-lyricist for the project but soon leaves. Matthew Wilder and David Zippel are hired to write the songs. The story undergoes major rewrites.
1997
Jerry Goldsmith is hired to write the score.
JANUARY 1998
Ruff animation, ruff layout, and CGI animation are officially complete.
APRIL 1998
Final checking is complete.
MAY 1998
29 - Mulan merchandise available in The Disney Store.
31 - Disney wrap party at the Florida Animation Studio.
JUNE 1998
2 - Soundtrack released.
JULY 1998
1 - Opens in Brazil
2 - Opens in Malaysia
3 - Opens nationwide in Mexico
4 - Opens in Taiwan
9 - Opens in Hong Kong and Argentina
15 - Opens in the Philippines
17 - Opens in South Korea
17-19 - Passes the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office.
AUGUST 1998
5 - Switzerland premiere (Locarno film festival)
14 - Soundtrack is certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
SEPTEMBER 1998
3 - Opens in Australia
26 - Opens in Japan
OCTOBER 1998
8 - London premiere
9 - Opens in Thailand
16 - Opens in the United Kingdom
23 - Opens in Indonesia (Jakarta)
NOVEMBER 1998
7 - Premieres in Germany and Iceland
11 - Portugal premiere
13 - Opens in Denmark and Sweden
13 - Mulan has 12 nominations and wins 10 at the 26th Annual Annie Awards in California.
19 - Opens nationwide in Germany
20 - Opens in Spain, Austria, Finland, and Poland
25 - Opens in France and Belgium
27-29 - Passes the $200 million mark worldwide.
26 - Opens in Hungary
27 - Opens in Norway, Portugal, Estonia, Iceland, and Switzerland (German-speaking region)
DECEMBER 1998
2 - Opens in Kuwait
3 - Opens in the Netherlands and Slovakia
10 - Opens in Slovenia
17 - Receives two Golden Globe nominations.
25 - Opens in Russia
25 - ABC TV broadcasts the Disney Very Merry Christmas Parade, with Donny Osmond singing a medley including "True to Your Heart" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
JANUARY 1999
6 - Receives two Grammy nominations
15 - Opens in Turkey
FEBRUARY 1999
2 - Released on video.
MARCH 1999
5 - "Michelle Kwan Skates to Disney's Greatest Hits" airs on ABC-TV. Michelle Kwan, Ilia Kulik, Oksana Baiul, and Elvis Stojko skated to programs inspired by the studio's 75-year history of music from live-action and animated films, including "Reflection" (Kwan) and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" (Stojko).
6 - Original cels from Disney's film "Mulan" hit the auction block at Sotheby's and bring in more than $500,000, including a handpainted celluloid image of Shan Yu and his falcon sold for $43,700.
MAY 1999
8 - Chen-Yi Chang wins the Reuben Award for Feature Animation.
JULY 1999
2 - Re-released in Scotland
23 - Re-released in Great Britain
NOVEMBER 1999
11 - Released on DVD.
FEBRUARY 2000
1 - Re-released on video and DVD as a "Gold Classic"
12 - Premieres on the Disney Channel.
MAY 2000
14 - Network TV premiere on "The Wonderful World of Disney."
SEPTEMBER 2000
12 - Christina Aguilera releases her album "Mi Reflejo," including a Spanish version of the song "Reflection."
MARCH 2001
7 - Variety reports a video sequel to Mulan is in the works.
MARCH 2004
Disney plans to close the Florida Animation Studio, where Mulan was created.
OCTOBER 2004
26 - Release date for the 2-disc "Special Edition" DVD.
FEBRUARY 2005
1 - Release of Mulan II on DVD and video.
This page hosted by Geocities. Created Dec. 4, 1998.
