Mulan (2020)

Mulan (2020)

The live-action remake of Mulan called for a working trebuchet — a period-accurate siege engine convincing enough for the camera, durable enough for production, and built to the timeline of a Disney feature shoot.

Human Dynamo Workshop partnered with NZFX, who engineered the structural steel frame underneath. Our team applied the detailed timber skinning, ageing and surface treatment that transforms a clean engineered armature into a convincing centuries-old weapon of war.

The work was largely about craft over fabrication: hand-distressing every visible surface, layering paint and finishes, working through grain direction and weathering so the prop reads as carved timber rather than treated pine. The finished trebuchet looks authentic on camera while remaining robust and safe for on-set use.

Engineering partner: NZFX.