Analyzing the personalities of favorite characters from films like Disney's Mulan has become a favorite past-time for many fans. Now that Mulan has hit homes in live-action format, it's time for viewers to revisit the animated film and discern whether or not they'd be a Shang, Grandmother, Mushu, or Mulan herself. Each character has a distinctive personality true to modern Disney fashion.
One simple way to really ascertain which character would best represent someone's personality is to match up their Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator score with the scores of some of the most iconic characters from the feature, like the ones below.
Fa Mulan: ISTP
Look no further than Mulan's innovative skills that she wields to solve problems to clearly see that she is an ISTP, the Mechanic. She uses her critical thinking prowess to not only climb the pole to answer Shang's challenge, but to join the Imperial forces in the first place to save her father and bring her family honor.
Mulan is more reserved, and even shy, when it comes to those she doesn't know, but her awkwardness and spirit make her a beloved friend to those she is close to. She's also quite bored with the expectations of her, a common issue with a Mechanic. Mulan was built for adventure.
Li Shang: ISTJ
As far as Logisticians, or ISTJ personalities go, Li Shang is one of the most successful. All he wants to do is to prove himself as a captain, whipping his troops into shape and becoming as close to perfection as possible. Nothing pleases him more than watching all of his hard work pay off and "making a man" out of his charges. This isn't because he's vain or arrogant, but because of the ISTJ logical desire to do what's right and good.
His sense of duty may have resulted in his leaving Mulan behind, but his loyalty for her, particularly in regards to "a life for a life," also made him spare her life.
Mushu: ESFP
It's no wonder that the comedic relief of the movie, Mushu the gong-ringing and incense-burning Chinse dragon, would be an ESFP, or The Entertainer. Mushu desperately wants to reinstated as a family guardian, where he'll be celebrated with attention and respect.
Like many ESFPs, Mushu has a great disdain for rules and doesn't mind breaking a few here or there if he thinks it's for the greater good. This leads him to aiding Mulan on her journey under false pretenses. His enthusiasm isn't only stemming from the need to be the center of attention, though: Entertainers really do enjoy helping people.
Shan Yu
A bold and compelling thinker, Shan Yu is another prime example of The Mechanic, or an ISTP. Like Mulan, he is incredibly skillful and adaptable, able to alter his plans on the fly as needed as he conquers village after village. He enjoys the entire process like a true Virtuoso. He is the kind of person who would get lost in his work, even if that work happens to be pillaging and murdering.
Shan Yu definitely doesn't mind getting his hands dirty on the job. Enigmatic and focused, he believes in an eye for an eye and doesn't hesitate to go above and beyond to achieve his goals. Mulan's ability to relate to his way of thought aids her in beating him twice.
Yao
The "king of the rock" himself, Yao is an ESTP, or The Entrepreneur. Sociable and entertaining, Yao lives to be the center of attention. He's not one to really analyze where he's going or what he's doing. He would rather live in the moment and act before he thinks.
Yao isn't one to follow the rules, which makes him a great friend for Mulan. He has a bit of a troublemaker streak, common of those with the ESTP personality, and he can take things a little too far, which obviously makes Mulan uncomfortable sometimes. He is the sort of person who never wants to be bored.
Ling
Enthusiastic Ling is such good friends with Yao because their personalities are similar, but he is an ESFP, or The Entertainer. Like his buddy, he loves to be in the spotlight, but he's more comical about it. Ling is all about having a good time and is likely the life of the party when he's not at war. The spontaneous jokester is always up for any excitement as it arises and is likely to get caught up in the moment.
While Ling, like any ESFP, is more likely to avoid conflict than engage in it, he's a team player who also supports his friends. He's a lover, not a fighter, and he would much rather be focusing on the more pleasurable things in life.
Chien-Po
One of the most loveable characters in the film, Chien-Po is an ISFJ, or The Defender. With his warm heart and welcoming spirit, he makes a wonderful friend. He cares deeply about his friends and is always loving, even when he apologizes to the Emperor before whisking him to safety.
Defenders are exceptionally kind and often found doing charity work. Since they are often conservative and supportive of traditions, that explains why even though Chien-Po cares deeply for his friend Ping, he cannot defend her when she is revealed as Mulan due to the law. He also uses his calming nature to help tame his friend Yao's temper.
Grandmother Fa
Sassy and sagacious, Grandmother Fa may have been an original Golden Girl. She is an ENFP, or The Campaigner, a sociable person who can always find the bright spot of any situation. She's the most encouraging member of the Fa family and gives Mulan the most hope about her future.
Kind and compassionate, Grandmother Fa is also a free spirit who enjoys the value of her own uniqueness. Her intuitive nature helps her to read her granddaughter like a book and she almost always knows what to say. Disney revisited this same type of personality in another grandmother when they made the movie Moana.
Chi-Fu: ESTJ
Shang and Chi-Fu have a lot of personality traits in common as people in positions of power who only wish to succeed. The difference is that Chi-Fu, an ESTJ or The Executive, is much stricter in his loyalty to the empire. He is all about getting the job done, no matter what it takes, and he doesn't have time for anything else that might dare to get in his way.
Chi-Fu isn't shy about what he wants and is excellent at managing people and things, which is how he got the position that the Emperor himself later offers to Mulan.
The Emperor
Regal and strong-willed, the Emperor of China is an INFJ, or The Advocate. He's a thoughtful leader with vision who doesn't even hesitate to appoint a woman to his staff even if it's an unprecedented and unconventional decision. INFJs adhere strictly to their values and moral code, and once they meet someone who fails to do this, they lose any interest in the individual. That's exactly how the Emperor reacts to Shan Yu.
The Emperor is decisive and seeks to create balance in his world. Advocates have a strong sense of idealism and strive to make the world a better place, which is the Emperor's goal in the film.