Mulan

With an impressive print of hand-drawn animation style that strengthens Disney's grip on the animation world, Mulan is one of the company's most intelligent and diverse intellectual properties from its Renaissance period!

First of all, like most great movies, the characters here are colorful! Shan-Yu's physical looks bolstered by Miguel Ferrer's voice acting rendered the character's threatening presence! Mushu's performance by Eddie Murphy is probably the next best thing you're gonna get after Robin Williams' Genie! He is such a superb guardian character who lights up every shot he's in! The chemistry he has with the mute little cricket called Cri-Kee (voiced by Frank Welker) is too cute, in addition to his quips and one-liners being absolutely witty! Li Shang (voiced by BD Wong) is dutiful and charming as well. Even the horses are drawn to resemble their owners. And of course, our protagonist Mulan is a smart young lady who is told to bring honor to her family by getting married, as per the traditional function of women in ancient China. But we learn that she is much more capable than that and this cloth just does not fit her, which leads Mulan to join the army in place of her father by disguising herself as a man… to bring honor to her family!

One way you could see the strong writing is through how most of the characters' arcs share the same theme - Mulan, Mushu, Li Shang and even Cri-Kee has to prove themselves. Exposition is covered in stealth. There are many barely noticeable nods that aid in developing the characters and story, with instances being Mulan's father refusing his walking stick after being assigned to war and Mulan's reflection on tombstones turning its back on her after she undoes her bridal hair.

Training montage with the arrow retrieval task is inspiring. Cri-Kee's wings clipped as alarm, Mulan's mishap with the matchmaker, ancestors' meeting plus party celebration, typewriting sound effect as Cri-Kee lays the calligraphy text on a piece of parchment, Mulan bathing in the presence of guys and using her puppy to do her house chores are just some examples of hilarious moments! Tung Shao Pass battle with the snow mountain backdrop as Shan-Yu's army rains down Li Shang's is truly goosebumps inducing! The relationship between Mulan and her father is the most touching aspect of the plot, as the ending can make you all teary! All the numbers are sweet and Michael Kelly's film editing is smooth as butter!