Psychology of a Hero: MULAN 

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I love how "A Girl Worth Fighting For" ends promptly on the sight of a destroyed village and a little girl's doll, saying that the real "girl worth fighting for" is the one that gets to grow up in a world free of war.

One thing I didn't notice in the movie until recently: in "Honor To Us All" they sing about how having 'a tiny waist' will make Mulan more appealing (as they practically corset her into a waist wrap), and then the matchmaker takes one look at her and tells her she's too skinny. So even when she was trying to meet society's expectations, she still had to deal with impossible and sometimes contradictory standards. It's subtle, but it's there.

In Fa Zhou's defense, he *couldn't* just say "Hey, don't talk to my daughter like that." He was getting an official conscription notice from Hi Fu, the Emperor's Counsel and a high-ranking military official. If he had stood up for her in that manner, they probably would've killed him for sure, and possibly his whole family for disrespecting the Emperor so much. He did everything he could in that situation and by telling Mulan she dishonored him(which was true because of society and her actions, not him personally but his position as family Patriarch), he at least placated them so the family would be left alone. Context is important.

"Why does this music give me chills" Because it's properly communicating that Mulan is making a difficult choice, that she knows is the right thing to do, but also knows it's seriously risky and could end extremely badly for herself AND her family. It's not a purely empowering melody, it's got that extra flare of anxiety/fear that really adds depth to Mulan's decision.

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most beautiful and rare" was my senior quote

A thing I love about this movie is when Mulan confronts the villain, he's not surprised/angry that she's a woman, he's surprised that she's the soldier from the mountain. Historically, among the Huns, women were renowned warriors.

I love the double meaning in the line "Men will surely go to war for you," in "Honor to Us All". By the end of the movie, the men aren't going to war for her to gain her affection. They're going to war for her as her comrades.

I love too how Mulan is given the opportunity before climbing the pole to jump ship - no more worries about revealing her identity or dying in a war, no more missing home - but she decides under her own power to stay and prove to herself that she belongs before receiving any outside validation. Love her 💜

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" "Would you like to stay forever?" - I love granny Fa

I dont know if you guys didn't notice or just didn't want to talk about it or it was super obvious, but the sequence of mulan getting ready to take her dad's place is a parallel to her getting ready for the matchmaker. Getting her hair ready, tying a sash around her waist, her reflection in a mirror and in the sword. She's getting ready to do battle both times and I really love that little bit of detail

I saw the last scene a little differently. He *did* look at the sword and the crest... he looked at them sadly instead of meeting her eye immediately. It was like he didn't know what they were supposed to mean to him, and then he looks at her and sees that she thought this what was necessary to bring the family honor. There's a little bit of sadness and remorse in him as she hands him the gifts. When he hugs her, he goes to her instead of pulling her to him. That hug was as much an apology as it was telling her that he sees her worth as she is.

That scene with the late-blooming blossom just...gets me. Every time. I sometimes lament that because I transitioned, it meant that I'm just living life perpetually delayed, because I didn't have the childhood I should've had, I just feel like I wasted 26 years playing the role everyone expected of me...but when Mulan's father says "Look, that one's late. But I bet, when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all." I can't help but get teary. Because if I look in the mirror, and realize just how happy I am with who I've become? It doesn't matter if I'm behind everyone else's schedule. I'm still blooming.

What i love about Mulan was, she was almost feel like a regular girl rather than princess, being considered not enough for the standard of being an "ideal" was pretty hitting close to home. Her journey from a whole carefree girl who doesn't took herself seriously to actually show she wants to try and in the end, brought honor ( to us all ) for herself. Until this day, she still is my favorite Disney princess.

Fun fact: In the chinese original Mulans surname is Hua, so when she introduces herself to Shang as Ping she says ''my name is Hua Ping'' which translates to Flower Vase and that's why shang is so bewildered because it's a silly name.

Why doesn't anyone ever talk about how Mulan had the opportunity to go back with no consequences, and while she felt her weakest. Instead, she wanted to overcome her weaknesses, and be a part of something, and probably most of all, just prove she could do it. It's epic.

My favorite thing about that ending to the Be a Man scene is that in order to reach the top Mulan actually USES the things that were meant to hold her back and make it more difficult as the tools that get her to the top. So powerful.

Fun fan theory I've seen with this movie: the reason that Mushu couldn't wake the Great Stone Dragon is because it had already awakened and was in Mulan.

The two Princesses movies that my dad would allow me to watch growing up were Mulan and Princess Mononoke. I asked "Is it because the princesses didn't marry in the end?" cuz i thought he doesn't want me to get married. And he answered "No, because i want you to be as strong as them. To have your own beliefs, to know the value in them, and brave enough to defend them with or without a man" Because most of the time I don't have anyone nor will i have anyone to count on on every problems that i have.

Fun Fact: Donny Osmond patted my head when I was a toddler. Now I have a full ride scholarship to study opera.

Mulan at it's core is a movie about accepting yourself for who you are and your own strengths. You might not fit in with the stereotypes or status quo for societal expectations, but that doesn't make you any lesser. It just means you are different, and your difference is what makes you truly strong. In a sea of mediocrity, the creative, clever and ingenious will be respected.

1998 Mulan: A completely ordinary young woman who overcomes her challenges, proving herself to those who doubted her. 2020 Mulan: A Mary Sue with inexplicable superpowers.

Jono: "We all have worth." Alan: "Sure!" Jono: "Even the Cricket." Alan: *"No."*

What I love about this that does not get enough credit, is that Mulan's arc is similar to the other character's arcs to a different degree. Mushu is trying to show the other spirits he is also capable and he also deserves his spot, Sheng is trying to prove he is like his father and capable of leading... They all have a similar arc and it is amazing to see it all culminating with Mulan.

My 2D Effects professor, Troy Gustafson, worked on many of the swirly smoke effects in this film and even helped establish its signature style. His scenes included when Mushu was introduced, anytime incense was present, and most likely that fireworks explosion at the end. Professor Troy dressed like a cowboy, had that "grumpy old man" kind of personality, and wore a black trenchcoat in the winter. He was one of those tough teachers that was hard to pass the class for, but he believed in us all, and he never stopped believing even after we all graduated. I don't think he ever stopped believing even right up to passing away a few years ago. Alan, it means a lot to hear you getting a burst of unbridled joy out of that fireworks explosion, and how much you both appreciate the subtle details that often go unnoticed. Every time I see those smoke effects in Mulan, I'm always on the brink of uncontrollably crying. He may be just a name in the credits, but he meant a lot to us. Miss you forever, Professor Troy. 💙

I'd cut the dad some slack too. Like Mulan, he too is bogged down by expectations. He HAS to tell Mulan she dishonors him when she speaks up, because its what society expects from the patriarch of the family. Mulan understands that it reaffirms her decision to leave.

As a kid who really struggled to feel like I belonged and struggled with feeling like I wasn’t worth anything if I didn’t belong, this movie was so defining. The idea of carving the best out of yourself through effort and growth was so wild to me, not to fit into what others expect but to fit into your own

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." This quote in particular stayed with me ever since I watched it as a teenager when it came out. It resonated with my soul then as it does now. It has kept me going through challenging times. Mulan was everything I needed at that time in my life. I had difficulty with my self esteem and worth. As someone who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair, I didn't fit the mold. And while I'll never fit into what society deems as normal, others have seen and accepted me for who I am. Mulan will always be my favorite Disney character.

An extra point for the scene where Mulan offers the gifts to her father, at the start he's silent, he lets her speak without interruption. For me that adds to the respect he has for his daughter where he doesn't think that what he has to say is any more important than what she is telling him so he should listen before responding

The delivery of the line "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter." DESTROYS ME EVRRY TIME. I'm not a dad, but I can only imagine because that line, the intonation and emphasis, breaks me like cheap furniture. Soon-tek Oh, rest in peace, one of the last big roles he had absolutely put the ribbon on Mulan.

I always thought that Mulan's solution to the pole climb wasn't actually that much of an outside the box idea, but that the soldiers were supposed to realize that they needed to use strength and discipline TOGETHER to climb the pole.

I think Mulan has the highest kill count of any Disney character. She wiped out an entire army, with just 1 cannon. Aside from that, she's always inspired me because she has both individuality while still maintaining a strong connection to her own culture and traditional values. The real reason why she's a hero is because she has worked hard for her place, and the ability was earned and respected. Even if the sequel was terrible, she still says that she must continue to train, showing that there is always more to learn. The 2020 live-action didn't have any spirit in it, and the message doesn't show the value of hard work and determination from the 1998 film.

As a kid one of my favorite scenes was Mulans second encounter with Shan Yu. He never outright ever calls her a woman, or even makes a note, he simply calls her "The soldier from the mountain!", he's angry, mad, furious but shows a hint of glee that he would be able to end her wit and skill without ever mentioning her gender. Everyone learns to recognize Mulan's abilities and how she as a woman could perform just as well as a man. But Shan Yu our wonderful antagonist never had any hesitation about it. He saw her put her hair up, recognized and when straight to "I'm gonna end this warrior's life."

I love that her father just dumps the sword and crest on the ground like Mulan is the most valuable thing to him. 😭

This is the timeliest video ever! My 10 year old autistic daughter has been being bullied at school for her disability and is home this week while the school works to find her a new class at a different school so she won’t be bullied. We’re trying to build her self esteem and show her how amazing she is, and when I watched this with her she said,” Mom, I’m like Mulan, aren’t I? I have amazing talents but no one else sees them because I’m different.” She now recognizes her worth because of this video, so thank you! She’s proud of who she is and wants to show her new class how amazing someone with differences can be.

My favorite disney princesses have always been Mulan, Pochohantas and Rapunzel. I love them because they dont come from a life of perfection, and more importantly, they have survival skills like navigation and stealth, hitting things hard with a pan, and straight up being a war hero. They were strong female leads, and they didnt wait for a man to save them and/or make their decisions for them.

This time I cried where Jono cried. Mulan, Lion King, and Tarzan were my favorite Disneys growing up. And I guess, looking back on them, they all touch on trying to be yourself while people expect differently of you (although Simba kinda grows into his expected role, but he DID have a rebelious phase)! It's great when you're finally recognized and appreciated for being yourself and using the skills you've got rather than the ones people think you should have.

One thing I noticed with her father comforting her, he’s still buying into the role that society is pushing on her. He doesn’t say “it’s okay to be different”, he says “you’re not there yet but you will be”. Which isn’t entirely a bad message, and he definitely loves and cares for her, but he can’t see past who she ‘should’ be to who she is, and that’s a trap a lord of people fall into. As you said, he’s human, he’s flawed, and he’s shaped by the society he lives in. He’s trying to be helpful but the message he’s giving isn’t the one she needs to hear (actually, we see the same thing in Moana).

It's been said before by other people, but the little detail about villian recognizing Mulan as the soldier from the mountain and how the huns often had female warriors, is one of the things that make Disney great with their animated movies

I feel like I need "That's a Them Problem" on a tshirt. Or framed in my house. Because that bit of simplicity is something that is so freeing that it deserves to be remembered.

Jon calling Li Shang "THIC" and "well-rounded" were not in my bingo card 😂

I was a tomboy all growing up and always felt out of place with girls and boys. This movie (plus some wonderful parents) taught me that being feminine is also being strong and smart.

The way "Reflection" was the anthem of my teenage years though! As an undiagnosed neurospicy girl, I always felt like I was showing people a mask so that they would accept me and it took a huge toll on me. This song encapsulates that feeling so profoundly and it still speaks to me as an adult. It's phenomenal.

Mulan is my all-time favourite Disney heroine. Not a princess, not a mage, not an angelic feminine cutie - but a clever and crafty girl who's ready to go great lengths for the people she cares about. I haven't seen such a cool female main character in Disney/Pixar ever since. Wish they bring back not the old franchises, but the great characters and storytelling. Huge thanks to Alan and Jono for this video! Especially Alan: I haven't paid attention to the tiny details he mentioned, and now Mulan is even better for me than it was before. Thank you🥰

As someone who doesn't fit her family's desired mold and have never received their validation regardless of my outside accomplishments...I cry every time at the scene with Mulan's dad dumping the emperor's gifts on the ground to hug his returned baby. I know they're incapable of change, and I know that that will never be me. But ohh how much I wish, and I love that he does for his daughter. The meaning of that gesture gets me every time.

Fun Disney fact: Mulan and Jasmine had the same singer in the films. Lea Salonga didn't voice the characters, but she sang for them.

Mulan came out while I was in college, and her story always resonated with me. As an Asian-American (1st gen) woman, my parents - and family - always pushed that beauty was the most important trait in a woman; to find the perfect husband and to make lots of babies. I prioritized my career and happiness, and never got married, nor did I have children. I'm not against marriage or children, but that was not the path I chose for myself. Today, as a 45 year old woman, I am seen as a failure by my family for it. I wept through this whole episode (good tears) and loved all the insights and analysis from the both of you. Thanks CT!

When my kids were little and would put on this movie, no matter what I was doing around the house, I would always stop and go watch the "Mulan in the shrine" sequence. The music always chills me and nearly brings me to tears. It's one of only two Disney movies where I love the score as much as the lyrical soundtrack... and you can't get the entire album, whaaaa!

5:44 I've always understood the line " you dishonored me" as profoundly loving father ... he is trying to protect her, preventing any serious attacks coming to her, insisting in letting himself to obey and serve.

Nah man the montage gets me too and I'm a 90's baby who's never seen Rocky. I get chills every stinking time!

Can we talk about the scene where Mulan and Mushu are talking about their fears of consequences they may face for leaving home? I like that Mushu consoles her that they can face said consequences together. They've been through and had seen so much in this war that Mushu doesn't even care that he'd lose his spot as a guardian This is one hell of a contrast to his character in the supposed sequel

I absolutely love this movie and every time I see clips of it I get emotional. This movie is SO beloved by Asian Americans (especially women), not only because it was one of the biggest kids movie with an Asian lead and story but also because I think the parallel of Mulan not being “feminine” enough, not being “masculine” enough, then finding that her own combination of traits ends up being uniquely valuable is so satisfying to see on screen. Many of us grow up not feeling Asian enough or American enough and struggle to find this place of accepting that it is OK to never fit into those spaces completely. Side note: Mulan is one of the few franchises where #2 is also amazing and deserves an episode of its own!

So glad Jono also geeks out about Mulan’s “going to war” montage. Was always one of my favorite parts of the movie. Still gives me chills

“The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter.”. 😭😭 I cried at this quote because I know it’s something my father will never say to me. I make sure to tell my kids I’m proud of them and will always love them no matter what. Mulan is definitely my favorite “princess” and has been an inspiration since my childhood.

I always liked the detail that Mulan has an invaluable skillset the army desperately needs and drastically undervalues: a sharp mind for tactics that can turn impossible odds.

Man, didn't expect to cry during this episode. I've been really struggling to see my own self worth lately, to the point that I've decided to finally get back into counseling, and this... this was a lot of things I've been needing to hear and realize about myself. Not even past the cold open, I'm already tearing up.

In my Cinema editing and meaning class, we discussed that the cricket represents fate. Like how the cricket was what caused the matchmaking to go arwy. It would have anyway, eventually. The cricket just speeds it along. The dragon represents strength. And the horse, stability.

The cricket is necessary, Alan, because it is the catalyst to the entire movie. If she hadn't tried to get it out of the matchmakers tea, she would have passed her test, even if it wasnt with flying colors and she likely wouldn't have felt the shame that led to her wanting to prove herself and save her father by becoming Ping.

Something that has come up that I love is Shen Yu’s reaction to realizing Mulan was the soldier who beat him in the mountain pass. He just goes, “The soldier from the mountain…!” He doesn’t react like, “But you’re a woman!” Or anything like that. He just fully accepts it was her and didn’t recognize her because she wore her hair differently 😂 But it is interesting to know the historical concept. The Huns actually allowed greater rights for women, with them actually commonly fighting alongside male Huns. So for him, her gender was irrelevant; he just straight up was shocked to realize she was the soldier and did not recognize her until then

This is my all time favorite movie. I think you missed one of the best scenes that gives so much to what you’ve been saying - after she was left in the snow, exposed and alone and shunned by her peers, she has the most amazing monologue. Why she had taken her father’s place, what she was trying to prove. I will quote: Maybe I didn't go for my father. Maybe what I really wanted was to prove that I could do things right. So that when I looked in the mirror, I'd see someone worthwhile. But I was wrong. I see nothing. That moment in the snow summed what Mulan truly wanted - To show her true value. Everyone thinks she had done it only to save her father, but no, she also had seen an opportunity where she could be more. Also the songs are amazing! Have you noticed that Mulan sings only one song? Reflection is about her deepest desire to be able to be who she really wants to be, while the other songs, are about women status in society (Like Honor to us all) and men status in society (like I’ll make a man out of you) also the last song, a girl worth fighting for speaks of those things. They are incredibly ironic considering those song put women in a derogatory position, and eventually a woman saved China almost single handedly. I have so much to say about this movie but I will stop at that :>

"Dishonor for you, dishonor for your cow" is one of the greatest and most quotables lines ever.

If Mulan isn't my all-time favourite Disney lead, she's damn near close to it 😊

That grandma was a treasure. I love her sass

one thing i also wanna point out animation wise at around ~ 21:15 is that you can see Mulan trembling when she's talking to the emperor.

I love this movie. When Mulan figures out how to climb the pole, i love that the soldiers - eho have been mocking her up yo this point - cheer her on. And then not only has she improved, but the whole army is coming together.

The original animated Mulan is not a movie with any degree of serious cultural accuracy, but it has so much soul and charisma that makes it such a fun watch. The live action should be called a "dead" action b/c it's just utterly devoid of everything that made the animated movie interesting.

I'm physically incapable of not singing along to Make a Man, and absolutely could not take in what was being said at the start of the video. 😂

This has always been one of my favorite Disney movies, and as I get older, it has taken on even more meaning for me. I lost my dad over 14 years ago, and for the longest time it felt like I had lost the one person who always believed in me and saw me for who I am and who I could be. The scenes between Mulan and her father certainly bring up a lot of emotions for me because of my own relationship with my dad. It's actually through therapy over the past year that I've really started to process my grief and loss and also learn to recognize that I can be the person who believes in me the way he did, that it comes from within as well as accepting that even though he's gone, his belief in me still persists. There are a lot of other things about this movie that have meaning to me, but that aspect is definitely a huge part of why it remains a beloved story, and casts Mulan as a role model for me to this day.

I've always loved Mulan because I, as a neurodivergent girl, could relate to being clumsy and don't get into societal expectations. And I loved that by the end, everybody recognize that things could be done differently and value her for her innovative ideas. Thanks for this episode.

FUN FACT ABOUT THE CRICKET: Cri-Kee was the creation of veteran Disney employee Joe Grant, who worked for the studio as far back as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Grant insisted that the filmmakers add a cricket character to the movie; he supposedly slipped various sketches of Cri-Kee through the office doors of the directors. According to animator Barry Temple, "no one wanted him [Cri-Kee] in the movie, the directors didn't want him in the movie, the story department didn't want him in the movie. The only ones who truly wanted him in the movie were Michael Eisner and Joe Grant - and myself, because I was assigned the character."

Not the first time I've been crying with Alan but when Jonathan said "it may take years, it may take decades but there will be people who see you and value your contributions" it really broke me. Thanks guys, that was the reminder I needed today

I love how the emperor just walks away from the hun's swing. Like he heard Shang burst through the door and just moved out of the way. The emperor doesn't get enough credit, he's awesome.

I always loved the 1998 movie but couldn't put my finger on exactly why the original movie resonated with me so much and the live action remake didn't. The cinema therapists really did a good job regarding the explanation of what the heart of the original movie was and also giving me even more appreciation for the original film by pointing out the important animation decisions. Fantastic video and commentary!

“Comparison is the thief of joy” that hit me in the heart because that’s what I do I compare and contrast myself with all kinds of people both in my life and who I watch and say because I’m not that I’m not good instead of saying what do I bring to the table like you said and thank you so much for that

I love the shot of her bracing to cut her hair at 8:32 Back then, Chinese people followed Confucius beliefs like all hair is sacred and shouldn’t be cut after adulthood. (Even though she wouldn’t need to cut her hair since everyone had long hair) it shows that she’s willing to go against her beliefs to protect her family. That’s how I read that scene

As a child of the 90s who has never seen a Rocky movie in my life - I'm with Jono on the music in that montage scene. Chills, every time.

That last scene, where Fa Zhou says that the greatest honour is to have Mulan as his daughter, ALWAYS gets me! 1998 Mulan is seriously my most favourite movie ever.

Mulan is one of my all time favorite leading Disney heroines, Especially because she was one of the first one's who wasn't a princess. In fact sometimes I like to think that Mulan played a huge part in making Disney rethink on how the leading female characters should be portrayed, Because Mulan is proof that not every leading heroine in a Disney movie has to be a princess. I mean I know that there are some classic female Disney characters that didn't start out as princesses, But still.

I always viewed Crickey and Mushu as Mulan's "Angel and Devil" on her shoulder. The dog was her loyalty to her family, and the horse was her "quiet, inner strength"

This is my favourite Disney movie of all time. Mulan has always been my favorite and her journey makes me cry every time. I also went through her journey of looking in the mirror and not seeing the person my parents wanted and who I considered would be worthwhile. I see them now.

I think another reason it's so impactful that he just dumps the sword and crest on the ground is because at the beginning of the movie we see how carefully he treats his armor and sword from his days in the army. Even though he doesn't use them, and can't due to his injury, he still treats them as precious. So these similar items of more "value" being dumped makes an even bigger impact to me, because it's the type of thing he WOULD value.

I know it didn't fit the theme of the episode but I will never forgive you for not talking about the destroyed village scene! Especially you Alan! It is one of the greatest moments in cinema history for the mood whiplash and conveying the sheer horror of war, IN A KIDS MOVIE! I'm forever in awe of that scene.

Not only does her father drop the medal and sword like they are nothing, he himself drops to his knees next to her to hug her Best Disney dad Also the absolute best line in the movie is by far the Emperor "no matter how the wind howls the mountain can not bow to it" while he has a sword to his throat and then bows with a smile to Mulan .... just aaah, I LOVE this movie

The scene with her walking barefoot into the temple and then cutting her hair...the music...its all so incredibly moving to me. Makes me burst into tears every time. She knows she is making a decision to save her father, even though it may likely lead to her own death. Still gets me every time how brave she is. Also the music is so powerful...and ive never seen rocky so it isnt that haha

I could watch an entire series just talking about Mulan. This movie was way ahead of its time and is so underappreciated to this day.

The villian Shan Yu has a bit of an interesting take too ! In the scene when mulan throws the shoe at him to save Shang and says that she was the one that caused all that in the mountains, Shan Yu by then knew she was a woman and when she threw the shoe at him and says "no! I did" and ties her hair up he isn't baffled and offended by the fact that a woman bested him in the mountains he simply calls her "the soldier from the mountains". Freaking out at the prospect of a woman besting him in the battle in the mountains would defo be something all the other men in the show would probably do. But Shan yu, the villain in the story, doesn't care she is a woman, he just cares about the fact she got one over him in the mountains, soldier to soldier. If you want to take this even deeper though, historically the Huns and their armies had women warriors. Bigger built women would be like normal soldiers and even women that were built small would weild bows and arrows. So irl and historically if the movie was historically correct you could also say that is why Shan Yu doesn't see her as a woman first like the other men in the movie and just a soldier first. I just love the prospect of the villian of the movie getting the point straight away rather than all the men on the good side of the story. Its interesting to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️👋🏻

Mulan's journey is what many women experience. Whether explicitly or implicitly, we are constantly told we need to "be a man" to succeed, as if "traditionally male qualities" are the only strengths. As a martial artist, I have often been the only woman in the room. I wasted so much time thinking I had to do all the same things the same way as the men. As a woman I can't rely on strength or just smashing things. I had to be different. Now I'm long over feeling I have to prove anything.The highest compliment I have ever gotten is when the man who is basically a brick wall (you kick him, you hurt yourself) said I was the one person he would not fight. He recognized that a determined person with good technique will win over smashing things.

One thing I love about the movie is the tonal shift when they enter war. There’s no musical numbers after that (“A Girl Worth Fighting For” is the last one). The closest you get is a rendition of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” played MOS when Mulan and the guys are breaking into the palace and Shang joins them. This reinforcing the idea that being a “man” isn’t about brute strength, it’s about knowing when to concede and support others ❤

This movie not only holds a beautiful and captivating story, but it also has the most fluid, eye-pleasing 2D animation I've seen from any Disney film. The expressions, character designs, movements, subtle details, special effects, and even the characters' posture like mentioned in the video, take the inspiring story and amplify it to so much more. In every scene you can see for yourself the care that these animators put into this story and their immaculate attention to detail. I truly adore films where you can feel the pride and passion of those who made it. Mulan will always be a favorite of mine.

Something that always stood out to me about Mulan was the reunion. The original tale ended with Mulan in armor, yet her family still recognized her. I adore how this movie adapted that idea with the series of titles at her father's feet but what mattered was seeing his daughter at home.

Mulan reminds me of Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. She’s kind, determined, and smart and also nurturing, compassionate, and patient and still has to go through tribulations and challenges of her own.

Haven't watched the episode yet, just the intro, but after watching many, many Cinema Therapy episodes and hearing Alan say, 'and I need therapy', and him sharing with us small insights into why every now and then, I feel like a recognition of, 'I need less therapy than I used to', is in order. 😊🎉 Congrats on the progress, that's awesome!

9:28, you actually do need the Cricket because 1) it’s the catalyst for the matchmaker fiasco which is necessary to set the “you will never bring your family honour” fear that leads to the song reflection and 2) the Cricket convinces Mushu to join Mulan in the first place

There was a time at SacAnime that a group of guys was singing Be a Man while I just so happened to be going down the same escalator, and so I started singing along with them. They left the lyric Mulan sings, "hope he doesn't see right through me" open for me to sing it solo, and that made me so happy! That was probably the most magical thing that's ever happened to me at an anime convention

Does anyone else remember when Disney would release trailers showing the rough animation for their new movies? It was so cool to see the unfinished product, and made me super excited to see the final product!

no because mulans montage gives me CHILLS every time like its SO HYPE

one of my favourite details that i noticed as a kid, is the matchmaker's face after she shouts at Mulan. her lip sort of quivers and her eyes crinkle up like she's going to cry. and when i was younger, i honestly didn't understand why. it took me a while to realize that, she was moreso shouting at Mulan because Mulan caused her extreme public embarrassment, which, especially in imperial China, was probably a lot more serious than we may consider it to be. (also like, she got a boiling ass pot of tea thrown IN HER FACE, but CRYING publicly would have also been terribly embarrassing for someone as esteemed as the matchmaker). the reason this detail is so important to me, is because when i was a kid, my Nana lost her home in a fire. she moved into an apartment and didn't have much at the time. i asked her for some instant ramen, but when she handed it to me and i tried to put it on the large pillow i was using as a lap table, i spilt it all over myself and the pillow. that was probably the only time in the 15 years i knew her that she shouted at me. and i was crying, and told her i was sorry and please don't be mad. she immediately lowered her voice, albeit still exasperated, and said she was sorry, that she didn't shout my name because she was angry with me, it was because she thought i hurt myself with the hot food. it was the only time anyone had ever (at the time) shouted for any reason OTHER than to hurt or scare me, and the only time anyone had ever explained to me that what they did came from a good place and their actions were misplaced. me being on the spectrum, her explaining that to me is literally one of my core memories, because it suddenly opened the door that made me realize people can do and say and mean all different things, and that sometimes people react in a big way for reasons other than wanting to hurt or scare someone else. sorry for rambling, it's just something i think about EVERY time i see this movie ;;

Something I thought was interesting, in addition to when mulan begins to find herself in the army training, not only does she use the weights in a unique way, to demonstrate ingenuity-but she also bests Shang by kicking- men are known typically for having massive upper strength, but women typically have stronger lower body strength. The scene shows that she is also learning to use her female strengths- not just uniquely personal- but female strengths - to do well.

I think the montage resonates with him so much because she starts with honoring her religion and chooses to reinterpret her tradition to do what is right rather than just what is acceptable.

Of all the "Disney Princesses" I always identified with Mulan the most. It makes me sad that we never see her in her armor in the Disney parks.