Mulan (Disney character)

Fa Mulan is a fictional character, inspired by Hua Mulan, who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 36th animated film Mulan (1998). Her speaking voice is provided by actress Ming-Na Wen, while actress and singer Lea Salonga provides the character's singing voice. Both her speaking and singing voice in Chinese are provided by singer CoCo Lee. Created by author Robert D. San Souci, Mulan is based on the legendary Xianbei Chinese warrior Hua Mulan from the poem the Ballad of Mulan. Her name "Fa Mulan" is inspired by the Yue Chinese name for the character, which is pronounced Fa Muklan. The only child of an aging war veteran, Mulan disregards both tradition and the law by disguising herself as a man in order to enlist herself in the army in lieu of her feeble father.

Disney had originally conceived Mulan as an oppressed young Chinese woman who ultimately elopes to Europe to be with a British prince. However, director Tony Bancroft, who was inspired by the well-being of his own daughters, wanted Mulan to be a different, unique kind of Disney heroine – one who is strong and independent, whose fate does not depend upon a male character. Thus, the relationship between Mulan and Captain Li Shang was changed to that of a minor subplot, while Mulan's bravery and strength were emphasized in order to ensure that she remained the hero of her own story. She became the eighth Disney Princess and the first one who is not actually a princess in her film, as she was not born of royalty nor did she become one by marrying a prince.