Disney Legend Lea Salonga provided the singing voice for Mulan, including the iconic song .

While it is common today for Disney characters to have separate speaking and singing actors, Mulan’s casting was particularly unique due to the demands of her double identity. Directors chose after hearing her narration in The Joy Luck Club . The Challenge:

originally auditioned for the entire role but was deemed "not deep enough" to play the male soldier Ping.

Voice actor for Mulan in the 1998 film

had to balance Mulan's feminine voice with her deeper "Ping" persona. Animators noticed