20 reasons we still love the magic of Mulan 20 years later

13. Mulan saves Li Shang

What could possibly make Mulan even cooler than before? She doesn’t need to be saved. She does the saving.

After the avalanche, Mulan is wounded but is still able to run. Shang is overcome by the intense wave of snow and looks as if he is gone. Mulan chooses not to give up and rides her horse through the avalanche to find him. Eventually, Mulan does find Shang and is able to grab him.

Yao was able to shoot an arrow that Mulan was able to shoot back with a rope that the rest of the soldiers were able to help pull Mulan and Shang to safety. After being saved, Shang tells Mulan that “you are the craziest man I’ve ever met, and I owe you my life.” This scene is a pivotal moment in the movie and for Disney princesses in general. Most Disney princess storylines rely on a handsome and daring prince who needs to save her and they live happily ever after.

But not Mulan. She is strong enough to save herself and even the “so-called” prince. Mulan saving Shang shows that the stigma of women needing to be saved is not real. Women are just as capable as men to do what they need to and can do it with style.