Regarding the characters, Mulan is a spectacular one. She is everything you want and expect from a Disney leading character. Her character evolution is tremendous, allowing us to become emotionally invested in her life every step of the way. Mulan is strong, independent, and an excellent role model for everyone of both genders. When Mulan asks Shang, "You said you'd trust Ping. Why is Mulan any different?" the theme of Mulan is perfectly captured in that one plea, and it all works because of Mulan's characterization. Speaking of Shang, he is a fine supporting character that truly shines during the "I'll Make a Man Out of You" number. While his character arc is not as sensational as Mulan's, he does experience a significant change in character from beginning to end, culminating in his visit to Mulan's house to "return her helmet." However, it is Eddie Murphy's Mushu that will probably leave the biggest impression. We all know how hilarious Murphy is, and his talents combined with animation is a match made in heaven akin to Robin Williams in Aladdin. Mushu is not just the comedic sidekick, though. Like Williams's Genie, Mushu brings a certain heart to the film that expertly compliments Mulan's character. Our villain, Fa Zhou, is rather unmemorable, marking the only flaw in this otherwise perfect film, but in the end, the villain in this film is not a person or an army; it is society, and that is what makes Mulan a film for the ages.
Compared to other Renaissance soundtracks, Mulan's music falls short of that supreme standard, but that should not diminish the excellence that is found within the film's songs and score. Mulan's defining moment, "Reflection," is quite a powerful number that is more than likely applicable for everyone's life in some way. Chills travel up my spine constantly during the song, especially when Mulan looks at her reflection while wiping the makeup off to reveal her true identity. It is the theme song for the film, and it works beautifully. The number you will leave singing is the aforementioned "I'll Make a Man Out of You." If "Reflection" is Mulan's chance to shine, this is Shang's moment, and the result is one of the most manly songs in Disney history. After hearing it, I always feel the need to just find something to punch for some reason. It is a great addition to the soundtrack and a fantastic way to move the story along. The delightful "A Girl Worth Fighing For" is really underrated, in my opinion. Sure, it is not the most necessary song in the world, but it is just fun, affording a host of characters an opportunity to steal the show for a moment. All in all, Mulan's soundtrack is truly a diamond in the rough (wait, that's the wrong film).
The primary reason Mulan is a timeless classic, though, is because of its story and themes. Tackling issues such as honor, bravery, gender roles, warfare, and many more, Mulan is a film that creates a dialogue. You cannot finish watching Mulan and avoid conversation. It begs for a conversation to be ignited, and that is why it is a classic. I have watched Mulan countless times, and even during my most recent viewing, I found additional treasures to unpack and ponder. Therein lies the mastery of Mulan. Plus, it has all the essentials of a classic Disney film: hilarity, show-stopping scenes, powerful moments, and legendary characters. Mulan is a film worth fighting for.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: As is the case with most legends, different interpretations exist. One version of Mulan's story contains Mulan's little brother being drafted into the army with Mulan taking his place. In the film, obviously, Mulan takes her father's place, but that different version of the story is honored in the film by Mulan's dog being named Little Brother. The version of the legend in which the film is based on is from an ancient Chinese poem called "The Song of Fa Mu Lan." It was first written in the fifth century AD by a woman named Tzu-Yeh, according to Elisabetta LeJeune. Disney was originally planning on going in an entirely different direction with the story, basing the initial idea as an animated short called "China Doll," in which a miserably oppressed Chinese girl is whisked away to the West by a British prince. However, Disney was advised to adapt the poem instead, and the result was Mulan.
Behind the Scenes: Mulan and Shang feature two different voices for singing and speaking parts. Ming-Na Wen (Marvel's Agents of SHIELD) provides Mulan's speaking voice while Lea Salonga is her singing voice. Salonga originally auditioned for the voice of Mulan outright, but her voice was considered to not be deep enough for when Mulan is suppose to speak like a man. Disney cast Wen in the role as a result but kept Salonga on board to sing. BD Wong (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) provides Shang's speaking voice while Donny Osmond belts out the music. Osmond has noted that his children never acknowledged his success in entertainment until he worked on a Disney film.
Favorite Character: Mulan is one of Disney's greatest creations. Her characterization is so complex that every scene adds more and more layers to the unfolding story. You know how much I love a good character arc, and Mulan experiences one of the most complete and amazing character arcs in Disney history. When we are first introduced to Mulan, she is a clumsy, shy character trying to simply make it through the day, but by the time the credits begin to roll, Mulan has transformed into a confident role model for the world to see. Ming-Na Wen and Lea Salonga deserve an immense amount of credit for bringing dimensions to this fantastic character. The trend of excellent leading characters in the Disney Renaissance continues triumphantly with Mulan.
Favorite Song: This was a close call, but I have to go with "I'll Make a Man Out of You" for this section. Donny Osmond truly shines in this scene as Shang's character is developed rather nicely in this scene. In fact, all of the characters are developed rather nicely in this scene. Once again, Disney uses a song to entertain while also progressing the story. Instead of allowing the film to get bogged down in unnecessary scenes about the army's training, Mulan shows the training occurring in a unique and inventive way in this show-stopping number. It is a brilliant way to connect the first half of the film to the second half, meaning it serves a multiple of purposes. The song will finish and you will undoubtedly be entertained, but you also will not feel as if your time has been wasted because how well the story has progressed. That's Disney magic.
Favorite Scene: I almost went with "Reflection" as my favorite song, and while it fell just short in that category, my favorite scene in Mulan is the scene featuring this song. Continuing the inward thought song trend (and this time without the assistance of Alan Menken, surprisingly), "Reflection" is a superb way of developing Mulan's character in a genuinely emotion manner. Additionally, the animation on display here is breathtaking, especially when Mulan enters the temple and sees her many reflections. It is a powerful scene aided by a chill-inducing song, and it is the highlight of this classic film.Updated Ranking: In my estimation, it seems as if Mulan is vastly underrated. To me, it is one of Disney's finest gems.
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion King
- Aladdin
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Hercules
- Mulan
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- Pocahontas
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
So, how do you follow-up a groundbreaking masterpiece? That is the question Pixar was asking after the unprecedented success of Toy Story. Next up in our Summer of Magic, Pixar finds the answer in A Bug's Life!
-Cody Fleenor
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