The Ballad of Mulan

The Ballad of Mulan is divided into six chapters and presented on the back of Chinese banknotes in denominations of 1 yuan, 5 yuan, 10 yuan, 20 yuan, 50 yuan and 100 yuan. The visuals on the banknotes are made very vibrant across the board by employing a montage technique of time-space transformation and collaging style. The literary elements in the story — the weaving machine, military books, markets, battlefields, homecoming, male and female rabbits, and others — were translated into visual images. The mood of the bank note visuals changes along with the story arc, symbolised by shifts in colour palette from gloomy blue and heavy grey to outdoor green, bloody red, glorious yellow and spirited purple. The concept reflects both the masculine and feminine energy in Mulan’s character and emphasises how the feminine spirit of women can be a powerful force.
 Red Dot Award: Design Concept | Concept | Visual Communication