Depiction of Characters in Disney's Mulan. Are they Accurately Portrayed?

So I saw this blog post on stereotypes and questioning of feminine empowerment in Mulan. Titled, Disney's Mulan: A Dark Film Rife with Racism, Sexism, and Questionable Morals (check out the link here: https://disneyminna.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/disneys-mulan-a-dark-film-rife-with-racism-sexism-and-questionable-morals/), blogger Minna introduces some interesting perspectives on the main characters.

For one, I always thought (and still think) that the Emperor, Chi Fu was so chill and badass! Like so badass! He has chill facial expressions, chill lines, and his presence is commanding (okay isn't he like a Chinese version of Dumbledore???)! Minna, on the other hand, acknowledges the more stereotypical aspects of Chi Fu that are often dismissed due to comedic effect. She writes that he "is drawn like a racist caricature...has pronounced and heavy accents...is annoying and pompous...sounds like he is quoting from slips of paper inside fortune cookies." Honestly, everything she writes is so true. His wise yet cliche sayings can be construed as cheesy and all-knowing and his voice has a strong Chinese accent compared to the neutral voiced Mulan and Li Shang. Coupled with his visibly darker skin compared to Mulan and Li Shang, his depiction seems caricatured. Should he have been less visibly Asian (like Russell in Up) or would it have been offensive to do so? Either way, Disney can't win but it's fun to ponder these things!

Similarly, the depiction of Shan Yu as animal-like/inhuman is not cool. Minna points to his "grey-face and yellow-eyes with long, pointed fingernails like claws, and pointed fang-like teeth...[he has' seemingly super-human strength, and is constantly hanging from trees and roofs..." Minna sarcastically hints that it's okay for Disney to do this of course because he's a villain, however, considering America's intense, disastrous histories with Asian countries, this could be more of a biased and ignorant image of how "bad Asians" are perceived.

Lastly, I agree with Minna that Mulan is empowered during the film for being the bravest, most courageous soldier and being able to hang (and outshadow) the guys, I disagree that Mulan's only successes were derived from being male. At the end of the movie, she has transitioned back into her girl self for the defeat of Shan Yu and the recognition she receives from China for saving the country. In this sense, I think it would be better to state that her initial acceptance into the army and the training she received there was only made possible due to her male disguise, seeing that the movie concludes with an admiration and honoring of female Mulan. 

Anyways, overall I thought this was an intriguing blog post that drew my attention to stereotypes I had not seen before. Check it out if you have time/watch Mulan cause who doesn't want to watch Mulan!


Peace Love Disney :))