User blog:Jpearson/Thanks for Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Fandom

Hey everyone!

As Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, we wanted to share the fantastic work that’s been done as we celebrated people, IP, and communities that Broke the Mold. This year, we focused on dismantling stereotypes in the entertainment industry and showcased the breadth and depth of Asian culture through gaming, movies, television, music, and more. As we celebrated individuals and communities consisting of Asian-American & Pacific Island creators, we wanted to elevate the impact on Fandom on the platform and shine a light on the many fandoms that make this happen. Take a look at the music, interviews, and communities that share the many accomplishments of the Asian-American & Pacific Islanders and explore what “breaking the mold” means.

Interview
Have you seen the interview with Gene Luen Yang - the creator behind "American Born Chinese," yet? The series was released on Disney+ this month, and Fandom's Senior Community Manager of Gaming,  Jieyang Low, sat down with the cartoonist to discuss the challenges of transforming his original graphic novel for streaming and the impact he’s made throughout his career. Check out the video and read more about what breaking the mold means to him.



Character chart
For the final day of AAPI month, we present this chart, showing select members of the cast of American Born Chinese and some of their other major genre and fan-favorite roles. So if you love these actors in American Born Chinese, check out their performances in some of the other media we've collected in this chart. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a new favorite show, film, or video game!

Community
Many of our communities celebrated characters and more on their wikis for the month! We’re excited to recognize the many wikis that broke the mold and shared new and exciting information in honor of AAPI Month.


 * My Little Pony - Read some stories and elements from the My Little Pony Generation 4-Generation 5 continuity that were inspired by the cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands.
 * Digimon - Join the Digimon community as they reflect on the mold-breaking innovations the franchise brought to us all! And what better way to do that than through the many collectibles and toys they have pioneered?
 * Mattel - Meet the people who have worked/designed at Mattel! Learn about their involvement with Barbie, Monster High, Ever After High, American Girl, Creatable World, Hot Wheels, and MORE!
 * Transformers - Check out the beloved characters, people, and toys in the Transformers franchise!
 * Turtlepedia - The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a franchise heavily influenced by Japanese culture, and you can deep diver into the history, culture, and impact!
 * Monster High - Many monsters of Monster High come from famous creatures found in various mythologies of Asia. Learn more about the various characters in this series!
 * Gremlins - The Gremlins franchise, a series with the infamous mogwai (or in Mandarin, mó guài 魔怪) that drew inspiration from the rich lore of Chinese stories.
 * Barbie - Did you know that in 1980, Barbie began releasing the Dolls of the World collection to highlight the beauty of different cultures around the globe? The first-ever Asian Barbie doll was released 42 years ago in 1981.
 * American Girl - Meet the named characters and selected items representing the diversity of people of Asia and the Pacific Islands in America in the American Girl franchise!
 * Brickipedia - Check out how LEGO has been influenced by AAPI culture though-out the years!

Take a moment to read these incredible blogs and if you shared a blog this month, please share the link below so we can continue adding to the list!

Gaming


Jieyang shared a few video games that you should add to your list if you haven't played them yet! Life is Strange: True Colors, Prey, and Sleeping Dogs feature Asian American protagonists and Jieyang shared a few nuances you'll catch when playing the game. Read more about Jieyang's love for these game, the power of representation, and his hopes for a Prey sequel here!

Playlist
If you haven’t had a chance to check out the AAPI playlist, add this to your collection! It is filled with an extensive and diverse selection of artists and genres representing Asian artists. Our AAPI Playlist ranged from beloved K-pop classics to tunes that quickly became the favorites of the Fandom community.



Break the Mold
Breaking the mold means ending a restrictive pattern of events or behavior by doing things in a markedly different way. This month, community members and Fandom Staff came together to share the many stories and honor the individuals who continue to this on a daily basis. We should continue to honor and celebrate the APPI community beyond the designated month and remember that entertainment and fandoms are for everyone. Thank you for celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Fandom!