Let’s start by showing trailers, shall we?

—

Initial Thoughts

Mulan (1998) is one of the most mature, intense, and beautifully crafted animated films in Disney’s entire lineup. It doesn’t just hold up—it thrives. The tone balances humor, action, and heavy emotional stakes better than most live-action dramas do. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll yell “dishonor on your cow!” It’s that kind of movie.


—

Non-Spoiler Plot Rundown

Let’s talk about the beginning, because this film doesn’t waste time. The opening is eerie and tense, setting the mood immediately. The Huns invade China by scaling the Great Wall under the moonlight, and the guards light the beacon fire. That shot of the fire racing down the Great Wall is still iconic.

Here’s the clip.

From there, we’re introduced to Fa Mulan—strong, intelligent, underestimated. She struggles with the expectations forced on her as a woman and fails her matchmaker test in one of the most painfully awkward (and hilarious) sequences in Disney history. When her injured father is conscripted for war, she takes his armor and horse, and goes off to join the army in his place. Disguised as a man. Yeah. It’s about to get real.


—

Characters

Mulan (Ming-Na Wen / singing voice: Lea Salonga) – Zero cons. She’s courageous, smart, and constantly evolving. Her journey is as empowering as it is emotional.

Captain Li Shang (BD Wong / singing: Donny Osmond) – No cons. Confident, principled, and layered. He has a strong arc and grows alongside Mulan without overshadowing her.

Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po (Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe, Jerry Tondo) – The comic relief trio. And they’re actually funny. No cons.

Chi-Fu (James Hong) – This man is the outdated male stereotype. Misogynistic, uptight, and completely oblivious. He’s the butt of the joke every time, and rightfully so.

Mushu (Eddie Murphy) – A walking conundrum. Some viewers love him, others find him a bit much. He’s loud and comedic, but undeniably iconic.

Cri-Kee (Frank Welker) – A literal lucky cricket. No cons. He’s adorable.

Grandmother Fa (June Foray) – Hilarious, wise, and chaotic. No notes.

Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh) – Mulan’s father. Quiet strength personified. The emotional foundation of the film.

Shan Yu (Miguel Ferrer) – Menacing without needing monologues. A monster in human form. His glowing eyes, massive build, and brutal efficiency make him terrifying.

The Huns – Silent, efficient, brutal. No bumbling henchmen here. Their presence alone carries weight. They don’t need jokes—they are the fear.

The Falcon – Not just a bird, but a character in its own right. Sharp, cold, and deadly.

In shorter terms, Shun Yu and the Huns are Terror Incarnate.

The Emperor (Pat Morita) – Regal and calm, with some surprising moments of savage wit. (We’ll get to that in spoilers.)



—

Maturity and Darkness in a Disney Film

Mulan is surprisingly mature for a Disney film. Yes, it’s animated. Yes, it has singing dragons. But its tone is grounded in war, identity, and duty. One of the darkest moments in the film comes when the soldiers march through the snow singing “A Girl Worth Fighting For”—and then the song is abruptly cut off as they stumble into a burned-down village full of corpses. That tonal shift is brutal—and necessary. It doesn’t sugarcoat the consequences of war.


—

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Excellent pacing and character development

Stunning animation and visuals (especially the avalanche scene)

Empowering message and strong protagonist

Amazing music

Terrifying villain that feels like a real-world threat


Cons:

Mushu might be hit-or-miss depending on your taste

The third act leans harder into cartoon logic, like the hawk clucking like a chicken after getting singed by Mushu



—

Oh also, here’s a few of my other favorite clips and soundtrack moments from the film.

Clips:

Soundtrack:

Let’s talk about the music real quick. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” isn’t just a Disney bop—it’s a motivational anthem. It elevates Shang’s arc and shows how the ragtag army turns into warriors. It slaps. Still. To this day.


—

Final Thoughts

Mulan is a film that defies Disney norms. It’s a story of defiance, bravery, honor, and love—not romantic love, but love for family and one’s country. The tone balances humor and heartbreak with grace, and it remains one of the most powerful Disney stories ever told.

Rating: 10/10


—

Spoiler Warning: From here on, we’re diving into the spoilers!

Let’s start with this upbeat musical number: “A Girl Worth Fighting For.” You know what’s coming if you read the non-spoilers… wink wink.

That moment the music cuts off and the soldiers find the burned village? Gut punch. Especially when they discover the helmet of Shang’s father. No dialogue. Just heavy silence. And a doll. That scene is why this film hits harder than most live-action war dramas.

Now to the avalanche scene—Mulan, using smarts and strategy, causes an avalanche with a cannon. The tension is insane as she races to save Shang, Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, and others. She gets injured in the process, leading to the big reveal.

Also here’s the avalanche scene.

The team finds out Mulan is a woman. And the silence? Heartbreaking. Shang spares her life out of respect but leaves her behind. That scene hurts.

Oh—and the Huns survive. Not all of them, but Shan Yu and five others (three bulky ones and two thin ones) crawl out of the snow.

If u ask me the film should have ended with the avalanche scene because how do u go any further after that scene? The villians should all been wiped out.

Here’s the clip.

Shan Yu’s new plan? Assassinate the Emperor during the city celebration. Mulan, realizing the danger, tries to warn everyone. No one listens. So her old crew disguises themselves as concubines, and they sneak into the palace to help her. It’s chaotic and amazing.

Shan Yu realizes who Mulan is in a brutal face-off. Here’s the clip. (Insert confrontation clip here)

He charges after her, ready to kill. But Mulan, with Mushu’s help, uses fireworks to blast him into oblivion. Literal fireworks. Boom. Done.

After Mulan defeats Shan Yu by literally blowing up the emperor’s palace (because why stop at subtlety when you can go full fireworks finale?), the Emperor is brought out from the wreckage by her team. And what does he do?

He walks up to Mulan.

Pauses.

Then bows.

Not a nod. Not a handshake. A full, formal, head-down-in-respect bow. In front of all of China.

He thanks her for saving them all—and then pulls the ultimate uno reverse:

He gives her his medallion, symbolizing honor and imperial recognition

Then gifts her Shan Yu’s sword, the very weapon of the man she defeated


It’s this perfect cinematic “WE STAN” moment, but also slightly insane when you realize he’s just… totally cool with the fact she blew a hole in his roof.

But of course… enter bitter man-shaped stain: Chi-Fu.

Even after watching her save the entire empire, Chi-Fu still clutches his sexist pearls and snarls about “rules” and “tradition.” Man’s really out here acting like Mulan broke curfew, not stopped a war.

Thankfully, the Emperor shuts him down with the power of Dad Energy and centuries of royal side-eye. But it’s worth noting: Chi-Fu never actually apologizes. He just storms off, humiliated—his outdated ideals crumbling like the very palace Mulan just obliterated.

And somehow… that makes the victory taste even sweeter. 🍵💅

Then comes the reunion with her father—emotional, warm, perfect.

Now about that romance “controversy.” Some fans whined that Shang dating Mulan post-war was inappropriate since she was a soldier under him. But the movie makes it clear he doesn’t pursue her until after the war is over. The man just shows up awkwardly with flowers. Calm down.


—

Still a masterpiece. Still a legend. Still worth fighting for.