What is Disney+ American Born Chinese?
Disney+ offers a diverse range of content, including the series adaptation of the critically acclaimed graphic novel "American Born Chinese." The novel, written by Gene Luen Yang, explores themes of identity and cultural assimilation through the stories of three characters: Jin Wang, the only Chinese-American student in his school; the mighty Monkey King, a mythical figure from Chinese folklore; and Chin-Kee, a grotesque caricature of Chinese stereotypes.
The Disney+ adaptation of "American Born Chinese" brings these characters to life in a captivating way, with stunning animation and powerful performances from the voice actors. The series stays true to the book's themes of cultural identity while adding new layers of nuance and depth.
One of the strengths of the series is its ability to address the complexities of growing up in a multicultural society. Jin Wang's struggles with fitting in at his predominantly white school are relatable to anyone who has felt like an outsider. Meanwhile, the Monkey King's journey to become a god highlights the universal desire for acceptance and recognition.
Despite the heavy themes, "American Born Chinese" is also a humorous and heartwarming series. Chin-Kee's antics may seem offensive at first, but his character serves as a satire of how Chinese-Americans are often portrayed in popular media.
Overall, "American Born Chinese" is a must-watch series on Disney+ for anyone interested in diverse storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
Frequently Asked Questions about disney+ american born chinese
It follows tenth-grader Jin Wang (Ben Wang), who is struggling to fit in with his peers. When he is tasked with showing new exchange student Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) around, he is unexpectedly thrust into a battle between mythical Chinese gods, including Sun Wukong (Daniel Wu) and Guanyin (Michelle Yeoh).
American Born Chinese explores themes around identity, stereotypes, friendship, and self-acceptance through these three intertwined stories.
The show fully celebrates Chinese culture, and the fantasy element centers Chinese mythology and religion. American Born Chinese is a fun watch for any fantasy-loving families with tweens.
Lesson Summary. American Born Chinese by Gene Yang is a graphic novel that converges three stories together through the theme of personal transformation: a fable and two seemingly separate stories that turn out to be about the same character. This graphic novel's themes center around identity and transformation.
This book switches from three perspectives: an Asian boy named Jin Wang, a white boy named Danny, and a monkey from a Chinese myth. They are all very different, but have one thing in common: they all want to fit in.
In the third story, Danny (who is really Jin in disguise) learns to overcome his racial identity through interactions with Chin-Kee, the Monkey King in human form and a Chinese stereotype, or an oversimplified perception of a cultural, ethnic, national, or racial identity.
May 25, 2023 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… Overall, “American Born Chinese” delivers a fun and imaginative take on how it feels to exist with a foot in two different worlds, whether that's as the child of immigrants or as the immortal heir to a celestial dynasty.
In addition, it's a great for teens, specifically in middle school, to relate to, especially ones that may feel outcasted because of the way they look or speak.
Despite finding external-acceptance, American Born Chinese is a story of the most important kind of acceptance, self-acceptance. Once Jin and the Monkey King accept themselves, they not only become better people but they also find themselves less responsive to what people around them think of them.
Transformation is the one constant in the book. But transformation doesn't mean turning into something or someone completely new. It's more about (re)claiming one's original self, as the Monkey King does with his monkey-ness and as Jin does with his Chinese-ness.
At this point, the Monkey King returns Danny to his true form and shares his story with Jin. He encourages Jin to learn the same lesson that he did: that it's impossible and unfulfilling to be anyone but one's true self.
Looking at the final product, Cretton's influence is undeniable. As Carpou writes, American Born Chinese has the same “bombastic and trope-y” feel as Shang-Chi - which, again, is a radical departure from the graphic novel.
