American Born Chinese is an American fantasy action comedy television series created by Kelvin Yu for Disney+. 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). The series is based on the 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, who drew inspiration from his own adolescent years in the 1990s, incorporating elements from Chinese folk tales and mysticism found in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
The series consists of eight episodes and premiered on Disney+ on May 24, 2023. It received generally positive reviews from critics. Commentators referred to it as one of the best offerings on Disney+ and praised the way it moved across cultural boundaries, its action sequences and the performances of the cast though criticism was aimed at its different plot from the source material and inaccuracies of Chinese mythological characters.
Premise
American Born Chinese tells the story of teenager Jin Wang (played by Ben Wang), a son of Taiwanese immigrants, who for the most part is a typical high school kid. He collects manga, tries to join the soccer team, and is on a journey dealing with his own identity as he tries to figure out who he is. One day, Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), an exchange student, arrives at Jin's school. Unlike Jin, Wei-Chen didn't grow up in America, is loud and open by nature, and doesn't exhibit Jin's self-doubt and insecurities. At times, this causes Jin to feel embarrassed being associated with Wei-Chen.
Wei-Chen is revealed to be the son of Sun Wukong (portrayed by Daniel Wu), commonly known as the Monkey King, a legendary figure in Chinese literature. Wei-Chen had a dream that the mythical Fourth Scroll can stop an uprising against Heaven. The dream also told him that an ordinary teenager is destined to aid him in his search. So Wei-Chen stole his father's magical staff and is now, disguised as a high schooler, searching for the scroll in earthly California, convinced that Jin is the ordinary teenager from his prophetic dream.
Cast and characters
Main
Ben Wang as Jin Wang, an American born Chinese 10th grader at Sierra Mona High School Yeo Yann Yann as Christine Wang, Jin's mother Chin Han as Simon Wang, Jin's father Ke Huy Quan as Jamie Yao, a former actor known for playing the accident prone Freddy Wong in the sitcom Beyond Repair; a fictionalised version of Quan, Wong is based on Quan's character of Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Jimmy Liu as Sun Wei-Chen, the son of Sun Wukong Sydney Taylor as Amelia, Jin's love interest Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong, a Chinese legendary figure commonly known as Monkey King Michelle Yeoh as Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy
Recurring
Mahi Alam as Anuj, Jin's best friend outside of soccer who is a part of the Cosplay Club at Sierra Mona High School Stony Blyden as Andy, one of Jin's soccer friends David Bloom as Josh, another one of Jin's soccer friends Justin Jarzombek as Travis Brian Huskey as Mr. Larkins, Jin and Amelia's Biology 2 teacher at Sierra Mona High School Larry Bates as Coach Garrett, the boys' soccer coach at Sierra Mona High School Sophie Reynolds as Ruby, Amelia's friend Josh Duvendeck as Danny / Marty K. Morris Leonard Wu as Niu Mowang, commonly known as Bull Demon Ronny Chieng as Ji Gong, commonly known as the Mad Monk
Notable guest stars
Rosalie Chiang as Suzy Nakamura, a student activist and the president of the Culture Club at Sierra Mona High School Brian Le as Zhu Bajie, also referred to as Pigsy Lisa Lu as Ni Yang Poppy Liu as Princess Iron Fan James Hong as Jade Emperor Jimmy O. Yang as Ao Guang, commonly known as the Dragon King Stephanie Hsu as Shiji Niangniang