Ancient China faces invasion by the barbarian hordes of Shan-Yu, and calls all able bodied men to arms to defend their Emperor. Young girl Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen) disguises herself as a boy and joins up in her aged father's place, accompanied by her protectors: guardian dragon Mushu (Eddie Murphy) and lucky cricket Cri-kee. Mulan trains under the handsome Captain Shang (B.D. Wong, with Donny Osmond handling the singing), with whom she is soon falling in love, and shows herself to be a capable warrior. When Mulan is wounded in battle, however, the secret of her gender is discovered and she faces exposure and disgrace.