Part 11/13:
When asked about the influence of corporate testing versus creative intuition on character design, the animator emphasized that most changes were driven by creative exploration, with some input from focus testing. However, during the production of Mulan, the team was largely insulated from market testing, and some decisions—like the film's changing title from The Legend of Fa Mulan to Mulan—came as surprises.
Final Reflections
This behind-the-scenes account illuminates the complex, iterative nature of animated filmmaking. From initial sketches to final character models, every stage involved experimentation, collaboration, and sometimes contentious decision-making driven by artistic vision or market considerations.