Early Version of Reflection from Disney's Animated Mulan - 1996

This early version of the song "Reflection" from 1998's Mulan is longer than what ended up in the film and so, has some more visual content to accompany it. From the early days of production, so maybe sometime in 1996.

[Imagenation]

This version of the song is really great. You can really feel the depth of Mulan's desperate yearning to make her family happy without having to compromise who she is. It's a shame that this sequence and this version of the song never made it in.

The peak for me is when she ascends the hill with her horse to look down at her home, the lyrics here, and the shot of her face. Goosebumps, and you can feel her pain.

[tylerriley]

Listening to her sing about how much she wants to be herself instead of playing pretend can make you cry

[nobase]

Lea Salonga mentioned this in the interview. She had to record this song three times. The longer original version, a short version and the final shorter version.

[Father_of_Death]

Lea Salonga's voice is hauntingly beautiful.
She captures all the highs and lows of Mulan's emotions and it's ashame they had to revise this because of progression issues.

[tsukihana]

I love the original version but oh my God this version is amazing, I wish they had kept it in the original film, or that for Mulan's 20th anniversary (which was in 2018) they would had animated the cut half of the song, but given that Disney shut down it's traditional animation departament and many of the original artists that worked in the film have left the studio, it's no wonder why it didn't happened. Still, love Lea Salonga's voice here, as well the scene of Mulan riding Khan through the fields.

[alfiemarie]

i usually always think the final cut is always better but this one is the exception, i really wish they kept the longer version and didnt cut it :C the song is so beautiful and massive!

[leesplendor]

The lyrics and some notes are a bit different. This version has so many amazing scenes, especially the horse riding scene. The animation would have been so beautiful!!!

[jessicapoliwrathpaul]

Disney made a massive mistake not using this version of this song, you can really feel the emotion in her voice in this unused creation

[ALLY]

This why Mulan will forever be my favourite disney princess, I really wish they kept using this version.

[kloonst]

That sequence of her riding past the giant sleeping statue is beautiful. Imagine if it was fully animated

[entertainer]

What happened with this version of "Reflection" is very similar to "If I Never Knew You", which was not included in the theatrical release of 'Pocahontas'. The people who worked on the films thought both "If I Never Knew You" and this version of "Reflection" slowed the stories of the films down and took up too much time.

[joshuanagatoshi]

I really wish Disney would give this movie the Beauty and the Beast treatment and reinsert/animate the full length version into the movie. It’s the heart of the entire film, and it’s true that an argument can be made about it slowing down pacing of the movie, but they made that same argument for Part of Your World. Imagine cutting half of THAT song out (or cut out entirely, which almost happened).

[KataraStan-ATLA]

I genuinely wish they couldve added this full entire version of this song it has so much more emotion and meaning and character to Mulan to not only be doing this for her Father but for herself as a way to prove to others of sacrifice.

[AndyGGLA]

Lea Salonga’s voice is extraordinary in this version. I wish they’d used this.
Also I can’t believe it’s been 9 months since this was posted & I’m only just discovering it! Thanks so much for posting 👍

[leesplendor]

The moment she released her sashes and the high note of "inside" give me chills !!!

[mateorodriguezquezada]

The song "Reflection" was meant to be much longer, but the filmmakers wanted to save time in the movie. In the deleted version, Mulan not only takes off her bun, makeup, and jewelry, she also takes off her sashes. Also, the deleted version shows Mulan riding Khan through mountains and paddy fields.

[jerrellwiley]

OMG I've never seen some half of these storyboards before! I do wished they would of have a some new animation sequence to this song like the way they did with Pocahontas' If I Never Knew You or Beauty and the Beast's Human Again, or TLK's Morning Report. But other than that, wonderful song and beautiful style of Storyboards.

[rroes]

I think I prefer this one. It has so much heart.

[themisfitowl]

Holy cow, this is powerful! I really wish they had kept this in!

[gigiisaweirdo]

I love both versions they’re both so good 😭