This document provides a compare and contrast essay of the Disney animated films Mulan and Frozen. Both films have similar storylines where the main female protagonists, Mulan and Anna, aim to protect their homelands from threats. The essays also analyzes how both films were inspired by historical poems or stories and how they portray strong, intelligent female leads despite facing misunderstanding or overprotective parents. Overall, the document argues that Mulan and Frozen promote empowering messages about women and eliminating discrimination.

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: LOH WEI SHUEN
STUDENT ID NO: 0317896
FILMS SELECTED: FROZEN & MULAN
WORD COUNT: 876
ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA
SUBMISSION DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2014

2. A genre plays a significant role in a film and it is a main factor in creating a successful
film that engages audience. Genres make audience to aware of what type of film it is and
more likely to go watch if the genre is apparent. There’re a lot of different kinds of film genre
such as comedy, romance and horror. Among the large variety of movie genres, I will always
go with animated musical films because it’s easier to understand the personality of the
characters through songs and illusion. Well now I’m going to compare the similarities of two
of my favourite movies which are ‘Mulan’ and ‘Frozen’. Both are produced by Walt Disney
Animation Studios.
First of all, the storyline of ‘Mulan’ and ‘Frozen’ are similar to each other. Both Mulan
and Anna attempt to protect their motherland and family from the being hurt. Mulan protects
her country from the Huns army although she is a female. She disguises herself into a man
and replaces the posing of her old father. When Elsa becomes the new queen of Arendelle, the
controlling of the magic becomes harder and causes her powers reveal to others. Her power
makes the whole Arendelle into an eternal winter, everyone thinks Elsa is a monster and tries
to kill her. But, for Anna, she believes Elsa will not hurt anyone and offers to bring back Elsa
instead of attack her. Although the storyline of both movie are similar, but they have totally
two different story backgrounds which one is born in provincial family while another is royal
family.
Secondly, both of the main protagonists have misunderstanding parents. Mulan’s
family wishes her to get married soon and finds a matchmaker for her. They do not know
what Mulan wants. When Mulan’s family learns of her departure, they become anxious and
think Mulan should stay in house instead of going for war. Elsa from the movie ‘Frozen’ is
the queen of Arendelle with the magical ability to control the ice and snow. She has two
loving parents which are the rulers of the kingdom and a younger sister named Anna. One
night, Elsa accidentally injures Anna and the royal couple decides to isolate her until she
knows how to control her powers. Elsa shuts herself out of the world, closes all the doors and
avoids Anna because she doesn’t want to hurt those she cares. Even though the behaviors of
their parents are unreasonable, but it is all derived from the parents’ love and care to their
children.
Also, Mulan and Anna share the similar personalities which are brave and intelligent.
Although Mulan left the army after her gender is revealed in the army camp, she stills take the
responsibility to protect her country. From the attack distribution to the rescue plan, Mulan
does a good job which she comes up in a plan to kill the Huns with fireworks. Mulan shows
her intelligence when facing the emperor and declines his offer to be his advisor politely.
When everyone tries to get Elsa by harming her, Anna thinks that she able to persuade Elsa
back to the kingdom and stops the endless cold. Anna shows her bravery while she embarks
on a journey to search for her sister. It’s tough because there’s a lot of unknown crisis and
unpredictable climate. In short, the adventurous spirit of Mulan and Anna actually makes the
movies go to climax and increases the interestingness of the stories.
‘Mulan’ and ‘Frozen’ are both based on poem and storybook. ‘Mulan’ inspired by a
Chinese women named Tzu-Yeh’s poem whereas ‘Frozen’ inspired by Hans Christian
Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen. The poem states Mulan goes to war as a filial duty
and her country but in the Disney movie, Mulan decides to go to war to prove her worth to
her loving parents. Mulan has a younger brother and sister in the poem however in the movie,
Mulan is the only daughter. Gerda from ‘The Snow Queen’ travels far and meets some

3. experiences during the journey to save her playmate, Kay who got captured by the Snow
Queen in the palace like Anna search for Elsa in an extreme weather. Both Gerda and Elsa
use their tears of love penetrate their love’s heart and thaw the lump of ice. The two movies
give us the message that states that sacrificial love of another can change the heart. What if
Disney’s Mulan offers her younger brother to go for the war and Anna actually experiences
few interesting events in the journey? I believe it will be another fascinating story.
The self-righteous of the parents makes Mulan and Elsa want to escape from their
parents although at the end they reunite because of the family loves. ‘Mulan’ and ‘Frozen’ are
good movies and it brings great impacts towards audiences especially young girls. They start
to become less dependent towards the opposite gender and live a life of their own. The society
should help them by avoiding discrimination against women because empowerment of
women is not just self-evident as a result of principles of human rights and equity, it increases
the productivity of societies and countries. (Brundtland. 2013.) As was previously stated,
chances should be given and discrimination should be eliminated.

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