Ni Hao, Kai Lan
Posted on April 29th, 2008 – 6:56 AMBy May Chen
My friend Tom is an Angry Asian Guy.
Born and bred in Boston, his Chinese features still beget questioning glances - strangers sometimes slow their speech - and yes, it bothers him (especially since Tom talks faster and more than anyone I know). Since I met Tom four years ago, our conversations have revolved around being Asian in America. He, the American, chafes at being treated like a foreigner while I expect it because I am one.
Once, over dim sum, Tom told us about his friend, Angry Korean American Guy. This friend once kicked in a car containing four white guys at a traffic light after they taunted him by shouting “Ni hao!” as he was walking down the street. “Ni hao,” is of course the Chinese hello.
So I was curious to see what Tom thought of Ni Hao, Kai Lan. 
After Dora the Explorer - that cute shouter of Spanish phrases along with English - became a world-wide phenomenon, Nick Jr. set its sights on the next hot language - Mandarin Chinese, creating Kai Lan, a little Chinese American girl.
Kai Lan’s voice, incidentally, is that of Jade Lianna Peters, an 11-year-old from Milwaukee.
When I told him about “Ni Hao, Kai Lan,” Tom looked incredulous, then laughed. I guess it’s hard to be offended by a kids’ show. Even one that, according to the Nick Jr. site, professes to promote such “Chinese American values” as “mind-body connection” and “being a good member of a group” (Aiyaa.)
No such mixed feelings from my girls, 2 and 4. Kai Lan is the first thing Zoe and Maya ask to watch when they roll out of bed on weekend mornings.
8 Responses to "Ni Hao, Kai Lan"
You had me until “being a good member of a group.” I’m not sure I like the sound of that any more than a judge saying that public eduction teaches patriotism.
I think it’s good that they are creating more shows that focus on different kinds of people. I mean, if you think of all of the shows on tv right now, cartoons or not, how many can you think that do not feature a white family? I really can’t think of many. I’m glad that Dora has become such a big phenomenon for kids and hope that Kai Lan does as well!
My daughter absolutely loves that show. Although she does think that China is the same as Chinatown, right over the Brooklyn Bridge from us.
My daughter loves Kai Lan too. To be honest, Dora is really getting boring.
I love that these shows are opening up new cultures to kids and adults (my husband has learned far more Spanish from Dora than he’s ever learned from me!)
The other great part is that these shows have girls as their lead. It is so rare to find tv shows, movies, or whatever that have girls as the main character, and I think this is important for both boys and girls (Course, if Kai Lan becomes popular, than it will probably get a male spin-off like Dora did (Diego)).
Carrie, I agree that it’s nice to have girl lead characters who aren’t princesses with long, flowing blonde hair and an unreal figure.
I think since we are at the beginning of seeing diversity in popular media, we are not feeling very picky; it is just a relief to have some representation, finally, that the world is a very mixed bag. When seeing a multitude of backgrounds (both in cartoons and live action) becomes commonplace, then we can start to get more specific about making sure everything is represented really well. I think we sometimes get MORE offended now, however, because everything seems to rely on stereotypes and when there are only a handful of characters of your background in the media, you worry about your culture getting typecast.
These sentences totally contradict each other…But I have an Angry Little Asian Girl tshirt!!…and Tom gave it to me!
Shruti, always nice to see you drop by Cribsheet! I need to check out Angry Little Asian Girl. Along with Secret Asian Man. And Kimchi Mamas. And Rice Daddies.
