That's not a deficiency, just an unusual direction for animation today. And, while set in China, the film has less Asian flavor than might be expected. With only five major songs, it manages to pack a punch into each. The story is adapted from Chinese legend. An invasion threatens.
Every family is ordered to supply one male to serve in the army.
To save her father from fatal service, she cuts her hair and masquerades as a young man to train as a warrior. That training looks like another pitfall for Mulan, as she's an inept soldier. She soldiers on and improves. In fact, she becomes the best man, er, recruit in her battalion. Mulan has help.