Mulan (1998), directed by Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook, is one of my personal favorite Disney movies. Along with beautiful animation, as is frankly expected of a high end Disney movie, Mulan also displays amazing character work, cast, writing, and a stunning story. However, looking at the movie through a modern perspective, one of the most prominent aspects of the film is it’s celebration of women.independent

Mulan follows a young Chinese woman by the same name as she goes to war in place of her father. The crux is that the army does not allow women to fight and so Mulan must pretend to be a man to take her father’s place, breaking the law, and losing the respect of her father and ancestors. Throughout the middle of the film, Mulan successfully poses as a man and even quickly surpasses her fellow soldiers and proves herself as a strong worrier. However, eventually Mulan is found out and is ostracized by Li Shang, her superior and subtle love interest. This marks the low point of the film and Mulan’s most desperate movie, but in-spite of her being kicked out the army she still manages to come and save the day in the climax of the film, defeating the leader of the Hun army, Shang Yu.

The film ends up celebrating Mulan as a strong and independent woman, and a role model for young girls.

Mulan is just an absolute classic and will always be one of my favorites. Overall I would give it a 9/10