The thing with Mulan is that she's more of a laid back nerd than anything. She's not against a good horseback ride but she wouldn't mind a quiet game of chess either.

However, personality-wise I just think she has more in common with princesses like Cinderella, Belle, Tiana and maybe even Aurora.

Mulan is chill, and very low maintenance. I see her hanging out with the more childish princesses ( Ariel and Punzie) but not because she doesn't enjoy a good strategy game ( we see her play chess/checkers/something like backgammon? in the movie).


I just don't see Mulan having much to say to Cinderella and Aurora, who are both quiet, or to Belle and Tiana, who are no-nonsense types. Mulan is much more outspoken and clumsy, like Punzie and Ariel.

Neither, really.

@wavesurf Mulan isn't outspoken, she's rather reserved, it takes a lot out of her just to speak her mind, and yeah she's clumsy but it's not really something she'd look for in a friend. Yeah she'd relate to Ariel and Rapunzel's clumsiness and awkwardness but Mulan doesn't really LIKE those things about herself.

Mulan admires people who have a more take charge attitude and don't settle for foolishness, look at the men in her life. She loves her father to death and Shang is her love interest. That's why I think she wouldn't have a problem with Belle and Tiana's confidence (and Jasmine's for that matter) in themselves and how they don't put up with society's expectations. Mulan wishes she could be more like them, she would have no qualms hanging out with them.

Cinderella and Aurora are both calm laid back loyal and obedient young women just like Mulan. I could see Cinderella in particular getting along GREAT with Mulan, Cinderella's subtle clever sense of humor, the fact that she never complains, how she endures harsh treatment and when it's time to stand up for herself she does in a way similar to how Mulan would (hesitant but firm).

At the same time Mulan wouldn't be adverse to having a fun adventure in the wilderness with Pocahontas and Merida or going on a quest to explore and learn more like Ariel and Rapunzel.

I think Snow White is the only princess who doesn't have any qualities Mulan would find particularly admirable.

@JNTA: There's a difference between admiration for your colleagues, and spending your social down-time with them.

What you've just said seems to me like Mulan mostly admires Belle, Cinderella, Tiana, and Jasmine for qualities she lacks in herself ( assertiveness mostly, and confidence). Admiration can be become cloying when you're trying to impress someone into making them your friend. And admiration is not the same thing as already having common hobbies ( which Mulan does share with Pocahontas, Merida, Ariel, and Rapunzel).

In my opinion, Mulan would not dislike Jasmine, Tiana, Belle, Cinderella, or Aurora. But she would not feel particularly close to them because admiration usually isn't the first step to friendship.

^I get what you're saying, on admiration vs relatability, and I think it really depends on whether you're talking about the Mulan in the beginning of the film or the end of the film.

However I still think it's more in between, she is more quirky and intellectual like Belle, a mature princess and Rapunzel, a more fun loving princess.

She is a bit sloppy but once she really applies herself she can be very dedicated and diligent like Tiana a mature princess and Ariel a more fun princess.

She may not be as proper and regal but she's still a more calm and go with the flow type of person like all the classics and to an extent Pocahontas.

And I still see a lot of similarities between Cinderella and Mulan, the only difference is Mulan is less poise and more impulsive.

I don't know, both maybe?