Through much of the movie, and the early scenes especially, Mulan is shown gazing at her reflection. Her appointment with the matchmaker is nothing short of a disaster, demonstrating that she’s just not cut out for the fair maiden life. She holds little regard for the matchmaking ceremony, jotting notes down on her arm and arriving unfashionably late to the beautician’s. That last trait doesn’t do her much good in imperial China, where young women are prepped and preened in the most ladylike of manners to bring honor to their future husbands, and talking in public without permission is strictly frowned upon.Īs the movie makes abundantly clear in its opening minutes, Mulan doesn’t care much for this mold. As voiced by Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May on Agents of SHIELD), she exhibits a bright and exuberant personality, with occasional flashes of tomboyishness. The first thing that strikes you about the character of Mulan is how un-princess-like she is. There’s none of that “Someday my prince will come” cutesiness here. The story centers on Fa Mulan, a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to join the Chinese army and fight the invading Huns. Released near the end of the period many enthusiasts dub “the Disney Renaissance”, Mulan was an innovative breakaway from the typical “Disney princess” fable that had been the studio’s forte for several decades. But at its most intricate, Mulan is a tale of female empowerment, one as sly and subtle as has ever been put to film. Taken at a deeper level, it’s a telling story about family duty and the preservation of honor. Taken at its simplest level, Mulan is a well-made and highly entertaining animated feature based off an ancient Chinese legend. “You don’t meet a girl like that every dynasty.” – The Emperor
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