2179. Mushu

Mushu is Fa Mulan's closest companion throughout the Mulan series. He is a Chinese dragon with ears- his body is a red color and he has orange accents. He is voiced by Eddie Murphy in his first appearance and Mark Moseley afterward. At first, Mulan's companions were to be two reptilian creatures; the idea of the creatures being dragons had not been established. However, feeling that two sidekicks would overcrowd the story, the animators then decided on a two-headed dragon, though they were green and grotesque. After the animators decided on a single-headed dragon, they established Mushu's physical concept. For better use, the animators shrunk Mushu to a smaller size. Around the time when the music of the film was to be created, the songwriters had written a piece for Mushu for him to sing to assure Mulan that he will be there to help her. However, after Eddie Murphy came to voice the character, the character and his dynamic changed, and the animators canceled the piece, although it was a favorite among the filmmakers.
Mushu was once a guardian spirit of Mulan's family, but he has been demoted to the humiliating position of an incense burner and gong-ringer for the deceased Fa ancestors ever since he failed to protect a family member, a soldier named Fa Deng, resulting in the soldier's demise by decapitation (he's seen carrying his own head as a spirit). In contrast to Mulan, Mushu is in most situations more comical, overconfident, and impulsive. He strives to be one of the family guardians again, but he is content to help Mulan, even if he's the one who starts the trouble. He can also be selfish at times, but his heroism proves that he has a big heart, despite his size. Mushu is also sensitive about his size. He also dislikes being compared to a lizard, insisting that he doesn't do "that tongue thing". He has the body of a snake, the horns of an elk, the claws of an eagle, and the face of a camel, coming to resemble a legendary dragon found in Chinese art around the time. He is able to survive more like a mythical creature than an animal; he endures being stomped on, explosions, and an avalanche in the first movie. He can also understand other animals, as seen when he converses with Cri-kee (Mushu's cricket) and horse Khan. At one point when he wants to disguise as a soldier riding a horse, he uses a giant panda as the soldier's steed. Like many dragons, he is able to breathe fire, at first unsuccessfully, but masters it in time to stop Shan Yu's falcon, Hayabusa, from alerting the Huns to Li Shang's presence.