When the emperor issues a decree that all families in the Northern Province must defend their homeland against the barbarian hordes, Mulan, a young girl from a military family without a male heir, disguises herself as a male soldier rather than expose her aging father to the horrors of the battlefield. As the invading armies close in, her remarkable courage and insight elevate her to the postion of a true leader, who will sacrifice everything to defend her nation and bring honour to her family.