Hayabusa the Falcon

### Animators

Pres Romanillos, Trey Finney, Travis Blaise, Anthony Ho Wong, James A. Harris, Dan Tanaka, Tracy Mark Lee and Chad Thompson

### Owner

Shan Yu

2020 Live-action Film

**Hayabusa the Falcon** is the secondary antagonist of the 1998 film Mulan.

## Background

### Personality

Hayabusa is Shan Yu's pet falcon and sidekick. The bird often acts as a warning signal, alerting China's victims that Shan Yu is nearby. He appears to be similar to his master: strict, ruthless, and vicious. He latches onto his prey or whatever he needs to carry with his steely talons (as he did with Shan Yu's sword when Shang handed it to the Emperor). Though not as anthropomorphic as Cri-Kee or even Khan, Hayabusa has exhibited an understanding of his evil deeds—first when Shan Yu "congratulated" the Imperial scouts for finding the Hun army, and again when Shan Yu and the surviving Huns emerged from the avalanche and began their pursuit of the Emperor. In both cases, Hayabusa was shown smiling wickedly.

## Film Appearances

### Mulan

At the film's opening, Hayabusa is first seen soaring over the Great Wall of China and knocking off the helmet of a guard, alerting the Chinese guards that Shan Yu is leading his army in an invasion of China. The falcon returns to his master, who has allowed a guard to light a watchtower (leading to other watchtowers being lit).

Hayabusa is next seen flying overhead after the Huns have torched a village. Later on, Hayabusa collects a doll from a Chinese village. By analysing the doll, Shan Yu and his Elite Huns realize that the Imperial Army awaits them in a small village located in the quickest passageway to the Imperial City.

The falcon later joins Shan Yu and the Huns during the snowy mountain battle. When Mulan prepares to launch a cannon into the side of a mountain to stop the advancing Huns, Hayabusa knocks her down, nearly stopping her from defeating the army of invaders. Hayabusa later escapes the avalanche caused by Mulan and searches the snow for his master.

Once found, Hayabusa settles down on Shan Yu's shoulder and joins the other surviving Huns in their trip to the Imperial City. Amid the victory celebration where Li Shang attempts to present the sword of Shan Yu to the Emperor as proof of the Hun leader's death, Hayabusa snatches the sword in his talons and delivers it to Shan Yu, who is hiding up on the palace roof in the shadows.

During a plan created by Mulan to stop Shan Yu and save the Emperor, Hayabusa attempts to alert the Elite Huns of the impending rescue mission. However, before the falcon can alert them of Li Shang's presence, Mushu breathes fire on the falcon, burning off his feathers. The now-naked falcon is then briefly seen as a mode of transportation for Mushu. Hayabusa's fate afterwards is not clear or shown, however it is likely he died sometime later off-screen due to not being able to survive because he was unable to fly and also due to his master's death meaning there was nobody to look after him anymore in his vulnerable state.

### Mulan (2020)

In the Niki Caro remake, Hayabusa is renamed Xianniang and is a powerful female witch who has the ability to shapeshift into a falcon. She can also possess people and shapeshift into those she possesses. She fights alongside Böri Khan in his goal to invade China. Like Mulan, Xianniang has a very strong qi, however hers is unbalanced giving her great powers. Impersonating the Emperor's chancellor, she convinces China to gather troops to fight the northern invaders and lead them into traps. One such battle she took part in was in a valley against Commander Tung's unit. During the conflict, she learns that Mulan is actually a woman and comes into direct conflict with her, taunting her about her false identity.

When Mulan is forced to leave the army, Xianniang tells her of the imminent attack on the Imperial City. As Mulan leads the army to rescue the Emperor, she confronts Mulan in the throne room of the Palace. Admiring the way Mulan leads the army while staying true to herself, Xianniang sacrifices herself to protect Mulan from Böri Khan's arrow and dies in Mulan's arms.

**Music:** Mulan (Soundtrack) | Mulan II (Soundtrack) | Mulan (2020 Soundtrack)
**Video Games:** Disney's Mulan | Animated StoryBook: Mulan
**Books:** The Art of Mulan | Reflection (A Twisted Tale)