In the live-action film, Xian Lang leads Mulan to where the Emperor was being held, and sacrifices herself so that Mulan can complete her mission. She fights on top of a partially built structure, and kills him disarming him. Meanwhile, her friends fight the remaining Rouran to keep them from following her.

In the animated version of the same sequence, the soldiers infiltrate the Emperor’s palace in drag, and keep the Huns at bay while Mulan fights Shan Yu. After she disarms Shan, it’s Mushu who kills him with a massive firework.

The live-action emperor, played by Jet Li, is framed as a chi master himself, and is able to catch arrows midair. He seems a lot more able to take care of himself than the animated Emperor, who’s portrayed as an older, weaker man.