There are certain roles that just cry out to be voiced by a specific actor, and when you hear them in the performance, it's like there's no one else in the world who could have played them. If anyone else had played Mushu besides Eddie Murphy, it would have been a travesty. That man was put on this earth to bring life to the feisty little dragon. The character was perfectly tailored to his style of delivery, and it created a tremendously sassy guardian for the indomitable Mulan. The great thing about Mushu was how incredibly supportive he was, and how he managed to morph himself into whatever role Mulan needed him to fill. Whether she needed a best friend, a mother, a life coach, or even a firestarter, he was always there for her. He managed to have hilarious interactions with every other character on screen, but there was an especially adorable camaraderie between him and the unlucky cricket. When he finally proves himself to the ancestors and is reinstated as a proper guardian, you can't help but be thrilled for the little guy -- he's earned it.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
