Mulan
Movie, 1998, The Disney Renaissance, Set in Imperial China
Mulan is #11 of 20 in release order and #4 of 20 in chronological order in the Disney Animated Classics.
The story
When Imperial China calls one man from every family to defend the empire from invading Huns, a young woman disguises herself as a soldier to take her ailing father’s place. Facing ruthless invaders, brutal training, and the risk of execution if discovered, she must decide who she truly is— and what she’s willing to fight for.
Mulan recap
When the Huns invade China, the emperor orders one man from every family to join the army. Fa Mulan, who has embarrassed her family at a matchmaker, cannot let her aging, injured father go, so she cuts her hair, takes his armour and joins in disguise as a man, "Ping". Her ancestors send Mushu, a small, disgraced dragon, to protect her, and a lucky cricket, Cri-Kee, follows. At training camp under Captain Li Shang, she struggles at first, then excels. Marching to the front, the unit finds the army destroyed by Shan Yu's Huns, and in the mountain pass Mulan buries the Huns under an avalanche. She is wounded, and the army doctors discover she is a woman. Shang spares her life but leaves her behind.
Mulan ending explained
Mulan saves the emperor from Shan Yu in the Imperial City and returns home a hero, and Shang follows to court her. She finds the Huns survived and races to warn the city. Shan Yu takes the emperor hostage, and Mulan, with her friends disguised as concubines, frees him and kills Shan Yu with a rocket. The emperor bows to her, and her father welcomes her home.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Mulan
Mulan is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Hercules, before Tarzan.
- Chronological order: after Hercules, before The Emperor's New Groove.
What to watch before Mulan
In release order, 10 Disney Animated Classics essentials come before Mulan (1998), from The Little Mermaid (1989) to Hercules (1997).
Cast
- Ming-Na Wen as Mulan (voice)
- Eddie Murphy as Mushu (voice)
- BD Wong as Shang (voice)
- Miguel Ferrer as Shan-Yu (voice)
- Harvey Fierstein as Yao (voice)
- Freda Foh Shen as Fa Li (voice)
- June Foray as Grandmother Fa (voice)
- James Hong as Chi Fu (voice)
- Miriam Margolyes as The Matchmaker (voice)
- Pat Morita as The Emperor (voice)
- Marni Nixon as Grandmother Fa (singing voice)
- Soon-Tek Oh as Fa Zhou (voice)
Directed by Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook.