Mulan
Who is that girl I see?
This is the question Mulan asks herself in the song "Reflections" and essentially this film seeks to answer this question. Who is Mulan? Initially Mulan is a very clumsy character, someone who apparently will bring dishonour to her family due to her unsuitability to be a wife or to be "very demure very mindful". Mulan feels that being a wife is essentially someone she cannot be, it is not her, it would be a martyr for her to be just a wife. Through a series of events, as the Huns invade northern China, Mulan takes her father's place and under disguise as a man becomes a soldier. Mulan becoming a man was a major moment in the film, it truly changed her. The military lifestyle shaped her and made her learn discipline and strength. Mulan transforms from being clumsy and troublesome to being admired and being very smart and capable. Mulan is strong but saying just that sells her short, she is a very complex female character, one who is equally compelling, vulnerable and strong both athletically and mentally. She has to be one of the best written female characters ever. And there's a sense of relatability that anyone, of any gender, any ethnicity, any sexuality can relate to her. She is in a sense relatable. Her character arc is insanely one of the best and she's such a dynamic character that speaks volumes. There's other characters but seriously Mulan is literally the focus. Mulan is voiced by Ming-Na Wen who is just so good, I love her. Anyways I loved Li Shang, he has a very impressive physique and he's a very great male character who's a very interesting one and a very good guy. Loved Mushu a lot, he actually adds so much comedic charm to this film, he's played by Eddie Murphy who just was perfection. U loved the cricket tbh! And the horse is kinda iconic nobody appreciates him! The sassy grandma like LOVE HERRR. And the musical numbers like LOVE it, I loved the songs reflection and I'll make a man out of you SM, I did like the others honour to us all and a girl worth fighting for. Mulan is literally Disney's magnum opus, I really don't care what anyone else says, films like Beauty and the Beast are magical and I find The Lion King a tad bit dramatic but Mulan is the perfect balance, magical, with a touch of drama and action with splashes of comedy. And the greatest Disney princes ever is Mulan love her!