Who voiced the character of Mulan in the 1998 Disney film?

Ming-Na Wen voiced Mulan in Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan.

Wen provides Mulan’s speaking voice, covering the heroine’s dialogue as she disguises herself as a male soldier and takes her father’s place in the Imperial Army. The film follows her transformation from a young woman anxious about family expectations into a resourceful military leader who helps save China.

The casting has an important distinction: Lea Salonga performs Mulan’s singing voice, including “Reflection” and the character’s musical passages. Salonga had initially been considered for the speaking role too, but the filmmakers wanted a different voice for Mulan’s lower, disguised speaking register. Wen’s narration in The Joy Luck Club helped convince the production team that she suited the part.

The film premiered in 1998 and was directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft. Other language versions use different performers, so “Mulan” can have additional voice actors internationally; in the original English release, however, Wen is the canonical speaking performer.