WIP - Mulan

So, the sketch of the next Disney Princess in my series is done... Mulan!

It's only the second (maybe third) time I draw hanfu... so I apologize if there are horrible mistakes. x_x I could have researched deeper about hanfu, BUT since historical accuracy is NOT the purpose in this series (actually, innacuracies are kind of a "characteristic" in fairytale dresses...) I decided not to try and be correct about a certain time period or style. I mixed visual elements from various hanfu references (so pretty! <3), while trying to stick with the overall base of Mulan's original design...

Mulan is my second favourite Disney princess. It bother me when stories only portray women either as the ridiculous useless "damsel in distress" or some exagerated (and then, also ridiculous) super-brute-kickass (annoying Lara Croft comes to my mind right now...). I guess the main reason why I like Mulan is that she is a both strong and feminine character, intelligent and brave more than just plain "stronger than the guys". 

I tried to show this "delicate and strong" concept in the drawing, balancing the sword and the falling flowers. I'm still not sure if I like her hair, thou...In part I want to give her a more intricate hairdo (just like the ladies in period chinese movies). On the other hand, I'm afraid that will take her characterization as Disney's Mulan, and she will just look like some pretty yet generic princess...

Her original facial features are very unique and pretty,
so it's being fun to redraw them in my style! ^_^