Yeo Yann Yann on Family and Journeys in “American Born Chinese”

When “American Born Chinese,” a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, hit bookshelves in 2006, it was the first of its kind in an otherwise homogeneous genre. Blurring the line between mythology and reality, the story follows Chinese American boy Jin Wang, who navigates a new school as one of the only Asian kids, let alone Asian American. Upon the arrival of Wei-Chen, a new student, the two face foes both mundane and mythical. 

Ever since Disney+ announced in 2021 that it would be producing a limited series based on Yang’s novel, fans of the book have been brewing with anticipation — myself included. The cast boasts familiar faces like Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan, who recently received worldwide acclaim for their performances in “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once,” alongside fellow longtime industry veterans like Daniel Wu (“Police Story”) and Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”). Notably, Malaysian icon Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season,” “Ilo Ilo”) will make her Hollywood debut with the premiere of the series this month.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Yeo Yann Yann to talk all things “American Born Chinese”: her role as Christine Wang, Asian family dynamics, and the lesson we can all take away from this story.

Motherly Love

In the series, Yeo plays Jin’s mom Christine Wang, who is described in the official press release as a “strong-willed, opinionated woman.” Yeo would have to agree. “She is warm, a little chatty, very high-spirited, but she’s so kind and loving.” And though we don’t see much of Christine in the novel itself — she really only appears in one scene — Yeo notes that this gave her creative liberties in bringing this character to life onscreen. 

“She is many women I’ve met,” Yeo adds, and in the script and the book, “the information we get [about Christine] really comes from how Jin thinks of his family and his mom.” In the series, viewers can expect to see more of Christine, her marriage, and her relationship with Jin, through all of their moments of vulnerability, conflict, and love.

The common stereotype surrounding mothers in Asian cultures, and particularly Asian America, is that all of our moms are “tiger moms.” This assumption rears its head in the way Asian families are portrayed in mainstream media; more so, it flattens the deeply complex mother-child relationship often present in immigrant families. 

What’s special here is that “American Born Chinese” seems focused on portraying an authentic family dynamic, but that isn’t necessarily the focal point of the story nor is it a falsely picturesque depiction. Rather, Jin’s family and heritage serve as a foundation with which he navigates his life, like how it does for most of us in reality. 

Beyond the aspects that make the story distinctly Asian American, Yeo also emphasizes that the characters are just human. At the end of the day, this is “a flawed family with lots of love. They’re trying their best to be better human beings — that’s all they’re trying to do. They’re just trying to show love to each other, and sometimes they fail, sometimes they succeed.” These moments of failure, the ebbs and flows of family dynamics, add depth and nuance to these characters that Asian and Asian American viewers alike have been craving.

Journey[s] to the West

For those of us who have read the graphic novel, the three initially distinct storylines — that of the Monkey King, Danny and Chin-Kee, and Jin — take us through three different “worlds” in and of themselves, which ultimately coalesce. It’s all very meta. The TV adaptation takes this to another level. With director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) at the helm, the series has become an action-packed odyssey of sorts that weaves in relatable elements of American adolescence and humor, traditional Chinese lore, and larger-than-life visual effects. 

As a result, the story comprises a multitude of journeys, whether big or small, human or mythological. “It’s about a boy wanting to find who he is, his own identity, his realization of how the world sees him, and how he sees the world,” Yeo says, “and that’s something everyone goes through.” Jin’s own coming-of-age is a journey that he must navigate himself, but set against the backdrop of mythological battles and forces, the stakes become higher. These journeys — including Wei-Chan’s literal quest between worlds — are all interconnected and seem to mirror each other. “Everything is more connected than you think,” Guanyin, Jin’s auntie, reminds Wei-Chan at the end of the series trailer. 

Much like what Guanyin is getting at, Yeo sees these journeys as a reflection of the broader trials and tribulations that we all go through in our own lives. “[In the traditional mythology] you have to go through 81 difficulties or disasters to succeed in getting the scripture, but that’s also how we get through real life,” she says. “No matter how old you are, there’s always going to be disasters! Eventually, we all do get our scriptures, but we’re all in the midst of searching for that.”

When asked what piece of advice viewers should take away from the series, Yeo confidently says, “Remember love. It’s always love. And it may come in different sizes, shapes, forms, ways, and levels.” 

Check out the trailer for “American Born Chinese,” or watch the 8-episode series streaming now on Disney+. You can follow Yeo Yann Yann on Instagram at @yeoyannyann.

Cover Photo Credits: Photographer – Chuan Looi; Stylist – Colin Sim; Makeup Artist – KF Bong; Hair Stylist – Garrie Bobs

Screen grab: Disney+