Another strong Disney heroine

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 1999)

Disney's most recent animated film contains fewer of the crowd-pleasing elements that made "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King" into box-office bonanzas (although there is a tiny dragon, Mushu, voiced by Eddie Murphy, and a horrifyingly cute roly-poly dog does make a mercifully brief appearance early on). Instead, "Mulan" tells a surprisingly mature story through beautiful animation in the classic style. From lush gardens to stark snowscapes to ornate temples, the settings frame and complement the storyline beautifully. When her father is injured and unable to represent his family in the emperor's army, Mulan disguises herself as a boy and rides forth to take his place and defend her family's honor. Disney has released a series of animated films with strong heroines ("The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Pocahontas"), and "Mulan" continues the trend. (One might wonder at Disney's agenda; the only central male character in a recent animated Disney film ["The Lion King"] is not human.) Mulan's cross-dressing adventures are fascinating enough to engross child and adult alike (in the end, she manages to include her faithful soldier sidekicks in the joke), and Shan-Yu, the leader of the Huns, is as wicked a villain as anyone has a right to hope for. It all comes to a fine, satisfying conclusion, and the story's emphasis on the value of family relationships makes for a worthwhile shared experience.