Fa Mulan
Encyclopedia
Fa Mulan, later Li Mulan, better known simply as Mulan, is the main protagonist of Disney's thirty-sixth animated feature film Mulan
(1998) and its direct-to-video
sequel Mulan II
. The character is inspired by the legendary Hua Mulan
from the Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan. In both films, Mulan is voiced by Ming-Na
and her singing voice is provided by Lea Salonga
. She is the eighth Disney Princess, and the first of them with an Oriental appearance.
, 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 jian called "Sword of the Ancestor" for regular combat, and her combination attacks include Red Rocket and other fire attacks, thanks to Mushu. She goes under her pseudonym
(Ping) for the majority of Sora's first visit to her world, but later abandons it. In a humorous scene, Sora and Donald are both easily fooled by Mulan's attempt to pass for a man, but Goofy sees through it right away, shocking his comrades.
. Mulan and Mushu (as a kite) make cameo appearances in the Hong Kong Disneyland
and Disneyland Resort
versions of It's a Small World.
On the Disney Cruise Line
ships and in Hong Kong Disneyland
, Mulan and Li 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. She is also featured in the Disney on Ice
shows Princess Classics and Princess Wishes, as a princess, despite her lack of royal ties.
Mulan makes cameo appearances in the Disney's House of Mouse
television series and the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
. She was scheduled to appear in the second installment of the Disney Princess Enchanted Tales series of DVDs along with Cinderella. It was to premiere in 2008 but was cancelled due to poor sales of the first DVD. In addition, Mulan is, naturally, in the Disney's Mulan Jr. musical stage adaptation of the original film.
Mulan
Mulan is a 1998 American animated film directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with story by Robert D. San Souci and screenplay by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney...
(1998) and its direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
sequel Mulan II
Mulan II
Mulan II is a 2004 American direct-to-video Disney animated feature directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerl and is a sequel to the 1998 animated film Mulan. The entire cast from the first film returned, except for Eddie Murphy , Miriam Margolyes , Chris Sanders and Matthew Wilder...
. The character is inspired by the legendary Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown...
from the Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan. In both films, Mulan is voiced by Ming-Na
Ming-Na
Ming-Na is a Macanese-born American actress. She has been credited with and without her family name, but most credits since the late 1990s have been without it...
and her singing voice is provided by Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
. She is the eighth Disney Princess, and the first of them with an Oriental appearance.
Mulan
Mulan is sent to the town matchmaker to find her a husband, which ends in humiliating failure. Shortly after, the Chinese emperor's counselor, Chi Fu, arrives in her village to announce that the deadly Huns, led by Shan Yu, have invaded China, and that one man in every family must serve in the war. Despite her protests, her father, a famed war veteran named Fa Zhou, says that he will go (in spite of his old age and an injured leg). Mulan decides to go in his place disguising as a man named Ping, cutting her long hair short with a sword and stealing her father's armor and rides away on her horse, Khan, so she will keep him from risking his life.Mulan II
The sequel finds Mulan and Li Shang preparing to marry, but are distracted by a task from the Emperor, who wants his three daughters (the princesses) escorted to their own marriage ceremony. Their relationship becomes somewhat strained during the trip, as the couple has differing views on various issues. Meanwhile, Mushu realizes that if Mulan marries Shang, she will not need him anymore as her guardian spirit. Taking advantage of this, he manages to trick the two into breaking up. When bandits attack, Mulan and Shang fight them off, and Mulan is devastated when Shang is seemingly killed trying to save her. To make sure the three princesses are not forced to marry against their will, Mulan takes their place marrying the eldest son of the ruler of the neighboring land. Shang survives the accident and arrives in time to stop the wedding but ultimately Mulan is saved by Mushu who, posing as the Golden Dragon of Unity, frees the princesses from their vows and marries Mulan and Li Shang himself causing Mulan to forgive him for his actions.Kingdom Hearts II
In Kingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts II
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
, is part of the Land of the Dragons world. She aids Sora
Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Square Enix's best-selling Kingdom Hearts series. Introduced in the series' first game in 2002, Sora is a cheerful teenager who originates from Destiny Islands and has been best friends with Riku and Kairi since early childhood. When they plan to...
in battle, taking the place of either Donald
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
or Goofy
Goofy
Goofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
. She uses a jian called "Sword of the Ancestor" for regular combat, and her combination attacks include Red Rocket and other fire attacks, thanks to Mushu. She goes under her pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
(Ping) for the majority of Sora's first visit to her world, but later abandons it. In a humorous scene, Sora and Donald are both easily fooled by Mulan's attempt to pass for a man, but Goofy sees through it right away, shocking his comrades.
Other Disney media
Mulan appears regularly for meet-and-greets, parades and shows at the Walt Disney Parks and ResortsWalt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
. Mulan and Mushu (as a kite) make cameo appearances in the Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005...
and Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
versions of It's a Small World.
On the Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida. The business is run by President Karl Holz. Disney Cruise Line operates the Disney Cruise Line Terminal,...
ships and in Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island. It is the first theme park located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks. The park opened to visitors on 12 September 2005...
, Mulan and Li Shang appear in the stage show The Golden Mickeys
The Golden Mickeys
The Golden Mickeys is a musical revue-style stage show presented in the style of an awards ceremony with characters from Disney films being nominated for awards including heroism, symphony, villains, friendship, and romance. The show originated on the Disney Cruise Line as a replacement for Morty...
. Mulan is also known to come out for meet-and-greets on the ships as well. She is also featured in the Disney on Ice
Disney on Ice
Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from...
shows Princess Classics and Princess Wishes, as a princess, despite her lack of royal ties.
Mulan makes cameo appearances in the Disney's House of Mouse
Disney's House of Mouse
Disney's House of Mouse is an American animated television series, produced by Walt Disney Television, that originally aired from 2001 to 2003-Premise:...
television series and the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse is the first direct-to-video movie spin off from the Disney Channel animated television series Disney's House of Mouse.-Plot:...
. She was scheduled to appear in the second installment of the Disney Princess Enchanted Tales series of DVDs along with Cinderella. It was to premiere in 2008 but was cancelled due to poor sales of the first DVD. In addition, Mulan is, naturally, in the Disney's Mulan Jr. musical stage adaptation of the original film.
External links
- Mulan at Disney Archives