In Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan, what does Mushu claim to be after waking Mulan?

After waking Mulan, Mushu claims to be a great stone dragon in Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan.

Mushu is a small dragon who has been assigned to awaken and protect Mulan after she leaves home. To make himself sound more impressive, he presents himself as a powerful guardian rather than immediately admitting his diminished status among the family’s ancestors. The joke depends on the contrast between his grand claim and his very small appearance.

The stone-dragon gag also connects Mushu to the family’s ancestral monuments. Mulan’s family has a shrine populated by ancestral spirits and guardian figures, so Mushu’s boast is designed to sound plausible within the supernatural world of the film. He is not actually a large stone statue when he introduces himself.

Mushu was voiced in English by Eddie Murphy. His fast-talking comic personality makes him one of the film’s most recognizable supporting characters, but the dragon’s claims should not be confused with his actual physical size or rank.