Fa Mulan

DisneyChar
name = Fa Mulan


caption =
first appearance ="Mulan" (1998)
created by = Robert D. San Souci
voiced by = Ming-Na (speaking)
Lea Salonga (singing - Both Movies)
aliases = Fa Ping

Fa Mulan is the protagonist of the 1998 Disney animated film "Mulan" and its direct-to-video sequel, "Mulan II". She also appears in the Disney/Square Enix Playstation 2 game "Kingdom Hearts II". She is inspired by the legendary Hua Mulan from the Chinese poem "The Ballad of Mulan". She is voiced by Ming-Na in all three titles (singing voice provided by Lea Salonga), and is one of the nine Official Disney Princesses. In the Japanese dub of the movie, Mayumi Suzuki does both her singing and speaking voices.

Role in Disney canon

At the beginning of this play, Mulan is sent to the matchmaker to find her a husband. The Huns, led by Shan Yu, invade China, and Mulan's war veteran father, Fa Zhou, is called up to fight. Mulan decides to go in his place posing as a man, taking the name Ping (suggested by Mushu, a dragon supposedly sent by her ancestors to protect her; according to him, Ping was the name of his best friend growing up. Mulan barely gets through training (at one point, she is told to leave, and subsequently climbs up a pole with weights attached to her hands to retrieve an arrow shot to the top of the pole for the soldiers to retrieve, which helps her prove herself and gets to stay, immediately improving in everything else) and participates successfully in the war against the Huns until she is injured. Mulan and "Ping" are animated slightly differently from each other, possibly to make Mulan convincing, even to the audience, as a boy. "Ping" loses the color in Mulan's cheeks as well as her lips and "his" eyes are slightly rounder than hers, especially when surprised.

After being treated, "Ping" is discovered to be female - and Captain Li Shang, Mulan's officer, is ordered to kill her, but instead expels her from the army. The battalion moves to the Forbidden City, leaving Mulan behind. A disappointed Mulan and Mushu decide to return home, but after seeing the Huns emerging from snow, they go to the Forbidden City instead.

Mulan's attempts to warn the celebrating Chinese of the Huns' counterattack are ignored. As the Emperor addresses the crowd, the Huns, disguised as parade characters, kidnap the Emperor and lock out would-be rescuers. Mulan devises a ploy with the cooperation of Chien Po, Ling and Yao to dress as women, scale the castle wall and more easily infiltrate the castle interior by pretending to be concubines. A tough battle follows but the Huns are defeated, Shan Yu killed and the Emperor saved (at the expense of the palace fireworks tower).

A peeved but grateful Emperor offers his congratulations, and Mulan returns home to embraces from her family and a visit from her former captain.

"Mulan II"

The sequel finds Mulan and Li Shang preparing to marry, but distracted by a task from the Emperor, who wants three princesses escorted to their own marriage ceremony. Their relationship becomes somewhat strained during the trip, as the couple have differing views on various issues. Mushu meanwhile realizes that if Mulan marries Li Shang, she won't need him anymore as her guardian spirit. Taking advantage of this, he manages to trip the two into breaking up. When bandits attack, Mulan and Li Shang fight them off and Mulan is devastated when Li Shang is seemingly killed trying to save her. To make sure the three princesses aren't forced to marry against their will, Mulan takes their place marrying the son of the ruler of the neighboring land. When Li Shang is discovered alive, Mushu poses as the Golden Dragon of Unity to call off the ceremony, allowing Mulan and Li Shang to finally marry. As thanks, Mulan and Li Shang unite their shrines, allowing Mushu to remain Mulan's guardian spirit.

Personality

Mulan is generally determined and strong-hearted for her friends and family, especially after her training in the army. Unlike most young women in her time, Mulan shows many talents and qualities, such as horse-riding, being very clumsy, and most notably, being outspoken. However, she has extraordinary ingenuity which enables her to solve nearly any difficulty quickly and efficiently.

Mulan loves and respects her family, but struggles with the culture's traditions and how they conflict with her own views; she doesn't think that she can be a perfect daughter for her family (as depicted in her signature song "Reflection"). When she returns home as a great hero, she finally feels that she has brought her family honor and knows that she'll see 'someone worthwhile' in her reflection.

Disney Princess: Dance with the Clone Trooper

In the special features of "Winx Club: The Island of Crystal Skull" DVD, Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, Aurora, Cinderella, Snow White, Mulan and Pocahontas will dance with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Aayla Secura, Luminara Unduli, Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, Army of Clone Troopers in the Jungle and the song is called "Pokemon Johto Theme"; Much like the Dancing Flubber.

Other Disney media

*Mulan is featured in the Disney on Ice shows "Princess Classics" and "Princess Wishes", again, as a princess despite her lack of royal ties, while strangely, Pocahontas, who is an official Disney Princess with royal ties, is not featured in either show.
*Mulan makes cameo appearances in various episodes of the "Disney's House of Mouse" television series and the direct-to-video release "".
*Mulan appears regularly for meet-and-greets, parades and shows at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
*On the Disney Cruise Line ships, Mulan and Shang appear in the stage show "The Golden Mickeys". Mulan is also known to come out for meet-and-greets on the ships as well.
*Mulan is to make an appearance in the second installment of the Disney Princess Enchanted Tales series of DVDs with Cinderella. It is to premiere in 2008.
*Mulan and Mushu (as a kite) make cameo appearances in the Hong Kong Disneyland version of It's a Small World.

Kingdom Hearts II

In "Kingdom Hearts II", Nihongo|Mulan|修ラン|Muran is part of the Land of the Dragons world. She aids Sora in battle, taking the place of either Donald or Goofy. She uses a Chinese sword for regular combat, and her combination attacks include Red Rocket and other fire attacks, thanks to Mushu. She goes under her pseudonym.

ignificance

Mulan is one of three Disney Princesses that was not born into royalty. She also never marries a prince. She came close in the sequel but it never happened. The only other Disney "Princess"es not to descend from royal blood are Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella.

References