Fa Mulan

Fa Mulan (Chinese: 花木蘭) is the titular main protagonist of Disney's 36th full-length animated feature film and its sequel .
She is the daughter of a Chinese war veteran who strived to uphold the honor of her family. When her father is called into battle, she decides to protect him by disguising herself as a soldier Ping.
She was voiced by with doing her singing voice, six years earlier she had originally done the singing voice of Princess Jasmine. Wen also voiced Ellen Yin in The Batman, played Melinda May in Agents of Shield and Fennec Shand in the Star Wars franchise.
In the 2020 live-action remake, she is portrayed by in the live-action reboot of Mulan, and she was also portrayed by , who also played Go Go Tomago in Big Hero 6, in the television series Once Upon a Time.
==Personality==
Unlike the previous Disney Princesses who were feminine, sweet, caring, classy, clever, kind, and gentle, 18-year-old Mulan is tomboyish and is more courageous, strong and self-reliant. And while most Chinese women at the time were expected to be graceful, quiet, and shy, Mulan was independent and outspoken. However, Mulan can be a bit clumsy, like when she tries to impress a matchmaker. She is tough, smart, intelligent, selfless, and determined, especially when it comes to joining the army in her father's place to save his life and her family, showing Captain Li Shang how brave a warrior she is, and defending China and the Emperor from Shan Yu and the invading Huns.
Her character was praised by critics and audiences and is one of those Disney heroines who broke the gender barriers.
==Abilities==
*Martial Arts: As part of her training, Mulan displays mastery over kung fu and eventually becomes very proficient in hand-to-hand fighting.
*Swordsmanship: Mulan possesses skills in the use of her father's sword and is an expert swordswoman, easily holding her own against even Shan Yu.
*Marksmanship: Mulan has developed skills with ranged weaponry, from using bows and arrows to gunpowder cannons.
*Expert Rider: Mulan is an excellent equestrian, further enhanced by her bond with her loyal steed Khan.
*Strategist: Mulan is intelligent, cunning, and resourceful, shown on several occasions. This is seen when she was first to climb a pole and retrieve an arrow embedded in the top successfully during her training. Knowing her unit was vastly outnumbered, she was able to quickly think of using the last cannon to cause an avalanche to wipe out the entire Hun army, quite literally stopping them cold. She later lured Shan Yu into Mushu's firing range and when she pulled out her fan, she acted as though she was in shock from having nothing left to fight with, when all along she planned to disarm him with it.
==Appearances==
===Mulan===
Mulan is the only child of Fa Zhou, a former war veteran, and Fa Li. Mulan is forced to go to the town Matchmaker to find her a husband, which ends in humiliating failure, mainly thanks to Grandmother Fa providing Cri-Kee to help Mulan out. Shortly after, the Chinese Emperor's counsellor, Chi-Fu, arrives in her village to announce that the deadly Huns, led by Shan Yu, have invaded China after breaching the Great Wall and that one man in every family must serve in the war. Despite her protests, her father says that he will go in spite of his old age and old war wounds. After witnessing that her dad won't be able to fight without meeting his demise, Mulan decides to go in his place impersonating a man; cutting her long hair with a sword, stealing her father's armor, and riding away on her horse, Khan, to prevent her father from doing something that isn't worth his life.
On her way to the army camp, Mulan meets Mushu, a small red dragon who claims to be a guardian sent by her ancestors. He agrees to help her pass as a soldier. Though Mulan fails the army training at first, she uses her intelligence and becomes the first soldier to solve a puzzle set by Li Shang, her unit's commanding officer. This comes after Shang decided that Mulan was unsuited for combat due to her poor performance in the training and told her to go home, dismissing her from the camp. However, once Mulan solved his puzzle, a shocked Shang was convinced to give her another chance. Afterwards, she rapidly progresses to become one of the best soldiers in the unit. She also befriends Yao, Ling and Chien Po, three fellow soldiers, though she is forced to hide her gender. Through the machinations of Mushu, the soldiers are called to the war front.
After finding that the Chinese Army, led by Shang's father General Li, has been completely destroyed by the Huns, Shang leads Mulan and the other soldiers to stop them. Despite the unit being outnumbered, Mulan can defeat the Huns by starting an avalanche and burying them by way of the last rocket in the army. She sustains an injury from Shan-Yu, which results in her true gender being revealed. She is spared death (the punishment for a woman joining the army), as Shang's way of repaying the debt from the risks that Mulan took to save him during the previous battle.
Mulan is left behind by the army and prepares to return home. However, she discovers that Shan Yu and his five generals have survived and are heading towards the Imperial City. Mulan attempts to warn Shang, but she is ignored because she is a woman. However, when Shan Yu captures the Emperor, Shang, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po join her in a rescue attempt. Mulan disguises herself, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po as concubines and takes out the Hun guards, allowing Shang to reach Shan Yu and the Emperor. Yao, Ling and Chien Po escape with the Emperor, but Mulan remains behind after Shang is knocked unconscious by Shan Yu.
She reveals herself to the ruthless leader of the Huns as the soldier who took down most of his army, which angers Shan Yu. While running from Shan Yu, she comes up with a plan to kill him utilizing fireworks. While Mushu goes to get the fireworks, Mulan faces Shan Yu on the roof of the Emperor's palace. She disarms him with a paper fan and uses his sword to pin him to the roof, allowing Mushu to fire fireworks at Shan Yu, presumably killing him. Mulan is oppressed by Chi Fu for the final time when he arrogantly says that as a woman, she is unworthy of being called a hero or being worth anything.
Mulan is then confronted by the Emperor with her various crimes, having heard about them from Chi Fu. At the same time, he acknowledges that she saved all of China and bows to her out of respect. His gesture results in all the gathered people bowing as well. The Emperor first offers Mulan a council position then a job as consul, both of which Mulan refuses. The Emperor instead gifts her with his crest and Shan Yu's sword. Mulan returns home and can reconcile with her father. The end of the film shows Mulan inviting Shang, who had followed Mulan under the guise of returning her helmet, to dinner.
===Mulan II===
Taking place one month later, Li Shang, now promoted from Captain to General, proposes to Mulan, and they begin preparing for their wedding. However, the Emperor tasks them both with escorting his three daughters to the neighboring Chinese kingdom of Qui Gong in an attempt to form an alliance. Should the alliance fail, the Mongols would invade China just like the Huns did.
Mulan and Shang ask Yao, Ling, and Chien Po to accompany them. Shang and Mulan's relationship becomes somewhat strained during the trip, as the couple has differing views on various issues, particularly on the subject of the arranged marriages the princesses are being forced into. Meanwhile, Mushu is informed that if Mulan marries Shang, he would cease to be a guardian, instead of being returned to his former job of Gong Ringer. Mushu takes advantage of Mulan and Shang's differences and tries to break them up. However, Mulan soon discovers Mushu's plans and tries to reconcile with Shang.
Before she can talk to Shang, bandits attack the group. Shang and Mulan can save the princesses but are left hanging from a broken bridge. Shang chooses to sacrifice himself, as the bridge can only support one. Mulan and the princesses continue towards Qui Gong. Seeing that the princesses have fallen in love with Yao, Ling and Chien Po, and believing that Shang is dead, Mulan prepares to offer herself as a bride in their places. However, Shang is revealed to have survived his fall and travels to stop her. Mushu can fix things by masquerading as the Golden Dragon of Unity and forces the King to stop the wedding. The joyful princesses are released from their vows, and Shang and Mulan are informally married. They later hold an actual wedding at the Fa family home, although it is not known how much time has passed.
At the end of the film, it is revealed that Mulan has told Shang about Mushu and that Shang has combined the family temples, allowing Mushu to remain a trusted advisor and guardian to Mulan; much to the Ancestors' chagrin and annoyance.
==Other Media==
===Sofia the First===
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===Ralph Breaks the Internet===
Mulan and her fellow Disney Princesses, along with honorary members Anna and Elsa, are netizens of Oh My Disney in the sequel of Wreck-It Ralph, serving as Cast Members on the site similar to their real life face character counterparts in the Disney Parks and Resorts. During when they are on break from their duties on the site, they are startled by the appearance of Vanellope von Schweetz in their private dressing room as she tried to escape First Order Stormtroopers for illegal pop-up advertising. Believing her a threat from one of their respective Disney Villains, or a user's avatar that had trespassed in a "Cast Members Only" restricted area without permission, similar to a Guest being in the backstage areas of the parks without special authorization or VIP access, the girls move to attack her and subdue her to turn over to the proper authorities, with Mulan arming herself with her father Fa Zhou's sword and letting out a battle cry as she leaps into the fray. Vanellope manages to calm them down by explaining that she's a princess too, but suspicious of her claim, the girls grill her on various trivia from their respective movies. When Rapunzel asks the big question about if Vanellope needs a big, strong man to save her and Vanellope replies in the positive, the girls are convinced she is a princess and stand down, welcoming Vanellope into their group.
After commenting on her casual wear, the girls are soon changing from their regular outfits into casual wear of their own that Jaq and Gus made for them. After spending some time explaining to Vanellope about what she wants out of life with her very own "I Want" song, C-3PO appears to tell the girls they are back on duty for another quiz in a few minutes before they can get another break between shifts. Vanellope takes her leave from them, but the girls appreciate the time they spent with her.
Some time later, Oh My Disney has to be evacuated due to a Denial-of-Service attack caused by the Arthur virus taking Ralph's insecurities and creating hundreds of viral Ralph clones to ravage the Internet. After Ralph makes peace with his insecurities and finds closure, causing the viral clones to vanish, he finds himself falling to his apparent doom. The girls, seeing him in trouble, move to save him. When Ralph comes to later, they girls formally introduce themselves to him, with Elsa assuring Ralph that "any friend of Vanellope is a friend of ours".
===Cameos and other appearances===
Mulan made appearances in the House of Mouse television series and the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse. In "Ask Von Drake", Mulan was seen with Mushu and Cri-Kee during the headcount of all the Disney character guests. In "Salute to Sports", Mulan briefly appeared on stage with Donald to give a martial arts demonstration.
Mulan was also set to make an appearance in the abandoned short, Princess Academy. One piece of concept art for the project shows her elegantly descending a flight of stairs, behind Jane Porter.
==Video games==
===Kingdom Hearts II===
Mulan appears as a party member in her home world "Land of Dragons" in Kingdom Hearts II. Following most of the events of the original film shortly after Mulan arrived outside the camp where Shang was training the recruits under his command after General Li departed with the elite members of the Imperial Army to confront Shan Yu and the Hun army, Mulan is joined by Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who recognize Mushu from when he helped them in the first Kingdom Hearts as a summon. With their help, Mulan is able to prove herself to Shang while in her "Ping" disguise, at least until the climax when fighting Shan Yu, who had an army of Heartless in place of his Huns. After Mulan causes the avalanche to bury Shan Yu and his forces, it is Mushu who ends up exposing her as a woman to Shang, instead of her being injured by Shan Yu and being exposed when having her injuries tended to. Nevertheless, Shang spares her for saving his life from the avalanche instead of executing her according to Imperial law, and departs to return to the Imperial City with Yao, Ling, Chien Po, and the rest of his men, leaving Mulan behind with Sora, Donald, and Goofy, since they knew and never told him about it.
Discarding her father's armor, Mulan decides to head home with Sora, Donald, and Goofy, only to find Shan Yu survived and is heading to the Imperial City. Beating him there, they try to warn Shang, but it is not until he sees Shan Yu himself on the roof of the Imperial Palace that he realizes the Emperor is in danger and sends Yao, Ling, and Chien Po to protect the Emperor, while some of his men end up succumbing to darkness and becoming Heartless, which Sora, Mulan, Donald, and Goofy deal with while Shang goes to aid the Emperor. Once the Heartless are routed, Mulan and the others confront Shan Yu. Once Shang frees the Emperor and takes him inside the Imperial Palace with Yao, Ling, and Chien Po sealing the doors, Mulan and the others face Shan Yu, Hayabusa, and the Heartless that Shan Yu summons to attack the palace doors until they finally slay him. With Shan Yu dead, Mulan is hailed as a hero, and Shan Yu's sword opens the next passage for Sora, Donald, and Goofy to take, but they promise to come back and visit Mulan soon.
During their second visit following the events in Hollow Bastion regarding Maleficent and Organization XIII, Mulan explains to Sora that a man in a black coat had been spotted on the mountain where they fought Shan Yu previously. When Sora finds him, the man appears to be using Riku's Soul Eater sword that Sora first saw him with in the first game. After Sora wears him down to where he flees, they decide to head to the Imperial City to warn the Emperor of the situation. When they reach the palace, the man in a black coat who they find there reveals himself to not be Riku, but Xigbar of Organization XIII, who sends his personal Sniper Nobodies to keep them busy while he escapes. Shortly thereafter, once they've warned the Emperor, who reveals he already knew due to another black-coated man who defeated Shang and warned him of the threat Xigbar posed earlier, Mulan, Sora, and the others race outside to fight the Storm Rider Heartless that Xigbar had summoned from the mountains to attack the Imperial City. After it is defeated, Mulan is commended by the Emperor for her efforts and offered a position as one of the Emperor's personal bodyguards alongside Shang. She accepts, before bidding Sora, Donald, and Goofy goodbye as they depart to continue their journey.
During the end credits, Mulan and Shang are about to kiss, but have the moment ruined by an eavesdropping Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. As Shang goes to confront them for their behavior, Mulan watches from behind with Mushu in amusement.
===Disney Dreamlight Valley===
Mulan, along with Mushu, joined the game in the June 26th, 2024 update with their own realm door in the Dream Castle. Mushu is first found in the Imperial Army's camp, where he asks the player character to clean up the camp from the earlier training. After that, he has them suit up in a training uniform, whip up Mulan's breakfast of Mushu's Congee, which required garlic, rice, ginger, mushrooms, and eggs, then wake Mulan up by ringing the gong next to her tent. As she emerges, thinking the camp was under attack, she then realizes her mistake upon seeing the player character as they greet her. From there, the player character helps Mulan and Mushu with building defenses for China to use against any threats, and finish their training under Mulan's supervision. However, before they can send out the dragon statues the player crafted, a landslide blocks the path needed for the transport wagon, forcing the player character to help clean it up, plant some new trees to replace the ones that were destroyed, and erect a fence at the base of the mountain to hold back future landslides. Mulan also asks for some sandbags to be made to help protect the camp from flooding. After that's all done, Mulan is willing to come back to Dreamlight Valley, but first needed the player character, with help from Scrooge McDuck's Construction Company, to set up her and Mushu's home back in the Valley. Once built, she returns and joins all the other Disney and Pixar characters currently in the Valley, including her fellow Disney Princesses in Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, and Moana.
==Live-Action Film==
Mulan appears in the 2020 live action remake Mulan as the main protagonist. Her last name is changed to "Hua" in order to avoid contradicting the original ballad of Mulan.
==Quote==
==Trivia==
*She is the 8th Disney Princess in the official lineup.
*Fa Mulan is one of the two Disney Princesses to have her singing voice done by Lea Salonga. The other being Jasmine.
*Fa Mulan is the last Disney Princess to be introduced in the 20th century and the last Disney Princess in the Disney Renaissance Era.
*In Once Upon A Time, she is the only princess who has been presented LGBT, as she crushes on Aurora, changing her sexuality.
*In the ballad of Hua Mulan, Mulan had a brother, while in the Disney version, she has a grandmother featured in the movie.
**In the 2020 remake of the 1998 Disney movie, Mulan has a younger sister.
*She is the second Disney Princess to have both of her parents alive. after Aurora, and the first to have a grandmother.
*Ironically, despite her "Disney Princess" label, Mulan herself actually isn't canonically part of any royal family, whether it's through birth (e.g. Aurora) or by marriage (e.g. Cinderella).
**Because of this, she's the first official Disney Princess who's not a canonical princess herself.
*Fa Mulan's song, "Reflection" is very similar to Hercules' song, "Go the Distance" from Disney's 1997 animated movie, Hercules.
==External Links==
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