Destiny Leclerc contributed to this article.

 

AAPI Heritage month begins May 1 and continues through May 31st every year. To celebrate, we asked the Crunchyroll staff to reflect on their own heritage and what the month means to them.

 

Marvin Ignacio

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Marvin Ignacio: Hunter x Hunter! I liked Hunter x Hunter because he set his own path; in this case to find his Dad. He embarks on an epic journey experiencing new opportunities, making great friends along the way. But most of all, finding himself and using his determination to beat all odds. 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Ignacio: I am a First Generation Filipino immigrant and my parents wanted my brother and I to assimilate into American culture. I wasn’t able to experience our culture and heritage growing up and it was one-sided (meaning I was able to observe my heritage/culture based on my parents behavior). The reason why I brought this up is that my parents spoke the Ilocano dialect which is not the main language spoken in the US or in the Philippines. What’s fascinating is that our heritage/culture has over 100 different dialects! I thought this was one of my favorite things about my heritage/culture because we are already unique.

 

However, each dialect is a classification on your roots. My parents spoke Ilocano, which means they are from the Northwestern part of the country and they work in the agricultural industry. Also the way they cook food is different, which is great for me. I love our diverse Filipino food! Also the style of fighting and weapons used was another favorite thing about our culture.

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Ignacio: To me, AAPI Heritage Month means a celebration of our culture/heritage shared to everyone in America. I feel like there are people who don’t know our culture and this provides us an opportunity to bring that knowledge to the masses.

 

There’s also a misunderstanding that AAPI does not include India; but India is part of our AAPI Heritage Month. I am all for sharing and educating people about our heritage and this month helps us achieve that movement. 

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progess of Asian representation over the years?

 

Ignacio: I am excited that our Asian representation is being recognized. It is a blessing to the whole Asian community! We continue to strive hard to break that bamboo ceiling (glass ceiling). And these recent events are an accomplishment that can be shared to all Asians; that nothing is impossible.

 

Which is why Crunchyroll’s AAPI Heritage Month theme is “The Golden Chapter: Author of Our Own Stories.” It is really about setting the tone that determines your path to success and the limits are endless. Thanks to the continued success being displayed in entertainment and across all industries, we can now set the stage for our own future.

 

James Hsu

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

James Hsu: Naruto Shippuden.

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Hsu: I love how much lore is baked into Chinese culture. There are so many sayings, idioms, mannerisms that have a story associated and ultimately help shape one’s childhood and upbringing. 

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Hsu: For me, it’s a time to really focus on one’s heritage. I feel like we’re all so busy just trying to function every day, you never actually take the time to appreciate your culture or heritage, and it’s something we should pause and take a moment to appreciate and be proud of. Stop and smell the roses, you know?

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Hsu: Not gonna lie, I’m really touched. I had a really tough time growing up as a first generation, not being Asian enough for other Asian crowds, and being too Asian for East Los Angeles, I feel like seeing Asian stories on the silver screen has really touched me and made me feel seen and represented in this world.

 

I never thought seeing Simu Liu as Shang-Chi would make me cry, but dammit it did. Something about knowing that we have representation in the MCU, and everywhere else in the world, just brings me a lot of joy and tears of happiness. 

 

Arda Sitiprawet

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Arda Sitiprawet: Inuyasha.

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Sitiprawet: Being Thai-American, one of my favorite things about my heritage and culture is the food! Food plays such a HUGE part of Thai culture in a way where it’s the catalyst to connect and bond with others and a way to learn more about the people and its country. 

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Sitiprawet: AAPI Heritage Month is a time where we can really focus on the many AAPI cultures that exist in America. I think it’s such a wonderful thing because the U.S. is such a mixing pot of different heritages and cultures, it’s great to have a dedicated time where we can focus on and celebrate a specific group!

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Sitiprawet: I believe that we’re on an amazing path! It makes me super proud to be Asian in America and I want to support everything as much as I can. I know this momentum of Asian representation is just starting and I can’t wait to see how big this can go!

 

Anna Lee

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Anna Lee: It’s a tie between JUJUTSU KAISEN and My Next Life As a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Lee: Where to begin… the food, the superstitions, and the mythology! Food, especially, is a love language in my culture and family. It wasn’t until I was older when I realized how a lot of my favorite home-cooked Chinese dishes took a painstakingly long amount of time and dedication to cook. Soy sauce braised short ribs, for example, can take hours to become tender, and the way my mom makes Cheung fun (steamed rice noodle rolls) is by coating and frying each and every roll with an egg wash layer. Just thinking about it reminds me of home.

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Lee: Our API Employee Resource Group, A.N.I.M.E. Rising, coined the theme for this year’s AAPI Heritage Month as “The Golden Chapter: Author of Our Own Stories” to capture the sentiments behind not just what truly does feel like a golden chapter in API representation in media and entertainment, but also a hope for our community to feel empowered in owning our narratives and to live our best life according to our own terms.

 

For far too long, certain narratives and stereotypes have been placed onto many of us, on top of traditional API cultural and family pressures. While this is something I imagine will always be forces at play, I think AAPI Heritage Month is a good reminder to give ourselves grace in all the complexities that come with straddling two very different cultures (and for some, more than two cultures!). It’s a moment for celebration, of recognition, and of finding the courage to stay true to ourselves.

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Lee: One word: excitement! At times, our community is treated as a monolith, when in actuality, there are 50+ cultures under the AAPI umbrella (East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Pacific Islanders, etc). It’s great to see increased API representation on the big and small screens, but I’m looking forward to seeing a greater variety in API casting, stories across the entire AAPI umbrella, nuanced stories that don’t shy away from intersectionality, and API representation in film that aren’t necessarily rooted in cultural themes, but also in any “typical” rom-com, drama, or action series. We’re only just starting!

 

Jill Kizer

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Jill Kizer: This might be cliche, but My Hero Academia really holds a special place in my heart. I started watching the series when I was going through some rough times, and it just immediately became a comfort show.

 

The entire theme of being stronger together, and continuously growing past what people expected of you is something I related hard to. I also appreciate that it highlights that there’s good and bad in everyone, no matter how you try to label them, and the empathy that teaches is something I think we could all benefit from. 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Kizer: Being multiracial, I grew up examining my heritage through a unique lens, and now as an adult, I really appreciate the nuances between them all. My favorite thing about being Filipino (aside from the food haha) is that in our culture, family is at the core of everything we do. There’s this inherent understanding that family will always be there when you need them. I’ve been so fortunate to have this be true for not only my blood relatives, but for my chosen family as well. I am proud that I come from a culture where support is never something I’ve needed to question. 

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Kizer: AAPI Heritage Month, to me, means providing a safe space for AAPI individuals to honor our traditions, cultures, our ancestry, and our achievements on a personal and global level. It’s a time for us to truly acknowledge the space we hold in society and how far we’ve come, and how much more there is for us to achieve.

 

I always look forward to seeing the AAPI community around me come together this time of year to celebrate not just their own successes, but those of their AAPI peers and role models as well. Overall, for me, it means a chance to really reconnect with our roots and be proud of all that we are. 

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Kizer: We’ve definitely made significant progress in the last few years, but I also hope that it only continues to grow from here.

 

Our stories are for everyone and deserve to be heard and explored. That our stories aren’t specifically just for people of AAPI heritage, but that they’re about human beings going through the same journeys as any other group of people. We all laugh, cry, fall in love, and dream. Those things are universal, and I think that the further we continue to pursue the necessity for more AAPI representation, the better off our society will be.

 

If I ever have kids, I hope one day they get to watch shows with someone Filipino as the lead and not have to go, “Hey! They look like me! And look! They eat what I eat!” I want that to just be the norm and the standard. 

 

Ace Howard

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Ace Howard: My favorite anime of all time is Yu Yu Hakusho. I first watched it when it aired in the early 2000s when I was a teenager and I connected with how imperfect the main characters were. Despite how hard everything gets for them throughout the series, they’re able to show up for each other and prevail.

 

This anime taught me that it’s OK to grow up with challenges that other people might not see or understand. I learned that circumstances don’t define who you are, but rather how you respond to them does, and that there are a lot of people out there that care about you if you let them.

 

Overall, Yu Yu Hakusho aged like a fine wine, and the theme song continues to be a banger 20+ years later. 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Howard: I’m half Filipino, and something I’ve always appreciated about my heritage is that Filipinos in the U.S. are a welcoming community. 

 

I was born in the Bay Area and didn’t realize how special it was to be around my mom’s Filipino friends and their families. They would always pinch my cheeks and tell me how tall I had gotten even though I saw them the week before. When my family moved to the Midwest when I was six years old, my mom somehow found and connected to the few Filipinos in the area and helped us feel more at home in our new cornfield-surrounded community.

 

My mom would eventually join the Filipino-American Association, where I would inevitably be invited (read: forced) to spend time whenever there was an event or party. All the aunties would pinch my cheeks and tell me how tall I had gotten, even though I hadn’t grown an inch since eighth grade. 

 

I remember complaining about going to these gatherings at the time, but I’m really happy I went to them. And now that I’m back in the Bay Area, I appreciate the community here all the more.

 

Oh, and I love Filipino food, too. Shout out to my mom’s pancit and lumpia!

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Howard: AAPI Heritage Month means a lot to me. When I was growing up in the Midwest, I remember wanting my Filipino side to be as invisible as possible because I just wanted to fit in.

 

I bought into it when people said they were “colorblind” when it comes to race. Although those folks may have meant well, this messaging means that they acknowledge that you have a different skin color but have decided that it’s not part of your identity, whether you like it or not. In other words, they don’t care about an important part of you.

 

AAPI Heritage Month means that we should not just be visible, but that we should also celebrate our heritage proudly. We get to tell the world who we are and what is important to us, instead of the other way around. We shouldn’t need a themed month to do that, but the focused attention helps and is much appreciated. 

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Howard: I am so impressed with how much Asian representation has evolved since I was a child in the ’90s and 2000s. Back then, I remember seeing Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee as the pinnacle of Asian representation, much like Charles Yu described as the “Kung Fu Guy” role in his novel Interior Chinatown. That was the ceiling of the male Asian identity if you got past the “model minority” and other harmful stereotypes. 

 

I’m so happy that kids today can grow up seeing people who look like themselves achieve success in so many diverse roles. We now see representation in all forms of entertainment, sports, arts, and politics. Instead of painful historical bias dictating what we’re “supposed to do,” today we’re seeing more guiding stars paint the skies and remind us that we can tell people what we will do. And that we’ll do it. 

 

Jennifer Bales

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most?

 

Jennifer Bales: Fushigi Yugi is my favorite anime of all time. It is what started it all for me. I found it such an entertaining, beautiful, and refreshing take on the strength a woman can hold (at least in comparison to a lot of the cartoons and stories served to me at the time).

 

Miaka was someone I idolized when I was young — she was beautiful inside and out, would fight and sacrifice for those she loved, and was always hungry. So relatable. Everything about it is cliche to most, but I have fond memories and am proud to have all the DVDs in their beautiful boxes.

 

From there on, I dove deeper into the world of anime and Japanese culture, falling more and more in love with every bit of it over the years. 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Bales: I am half Chinese, half German/Irish/Scottish. My favorite things are totally around food. I am very food-driven. I also love that culture is something beautiful and special that can be a shared experience and sharing my culture with family and friends is one of the best parts. Whether it is taking someone new to dim sum or teaching others how to play Mahjong or learning something new through someone else that I didn’t know before!

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Bales: AAPI Heritage Month reminds me of who and what I am. There are things to love about being half and things to not love as well. What I love is the bond it creates with people you don’t even know and thereby the strength and confidence it gives to know you are not alone.

 

However, I did grow up in a complicated household with family on both sides not fully accepting me. It is also a constant reminder of the privilege that I have and responsibility to give space for others but also fight for rights that both affect and may not affect me directly. We are in this together and I am ready to support, learn, and grow.

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Bales: If I had seen or been made aware of movements and efforts like this when I was younger, maybe I would have had a better idea of who I was. Honestly, I had no idea how to think of my heritage until I was a young adult due to my lack of knowledge, influence, and visibility on the issues that make these moments “successful.”

 

It’s a complicated feeling — part of me feels it’s wrong that we have to call these stories “successes of Asian stories” because it calls forth the reality that we didn’t have them before and have had to fight a long time to even get here. But ultimately, that is the reality we live in and we are still fighting. And I’m grateful that I get to support and witness Asians having success stories, even amongst my cloesest and dearest friends. 

 

Lily Luu

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks to you the most? 

 

Lily Luu: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture?

 

Luu: I love the food and the entertainment in my heritage and culture. Food is memory and a form of love. I lost my grandparents at a very young age, but whenever I have Vietnamese food, I always compare it to my grandma’s cooking and I am reminded of my ancestors’ love and hope for their future generations. 

 

As for the entertainment, the first movies, shows, and music that I was exposed to were Chinese ones! My favorite movies growing up were the Stephen Chow Hong Kong movies and I loved listening to Hong Kong Superstar Andy Lau. The MOST entertaining part of my heritage and culture is eavesdropping on my dad singing Chinese opera when he is in a good mood. 

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Luu: Being Chinese and Vietnamese-American AAPI Heritage Month is a time when I get to reflect on my own multi-cultural experience and heritage. It is also a time to celebrate our unique blend of “East Meets West” and to learn more about how all the varying cultures of Asia have become accustomed to being American of an Asian descent. 

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Luu: As someone with a degree in film, it brings me so much joy to see so much positive progress uplifting and bringing Asian representation to the forefront. We are no longer typecast as the chauffeur or the nerdy best friend. We are the superheroes! We are the ones with the secretly rich, hot boyfriends! We are even kids that have to go to afterschool programs on our own show. We are now the main characters of our own stories. Not only are we being represented on the silver screen, but we are also at the helms of the decision-making process as directors, writers, and producers.

 

Niket Sirsi

 

 

What’s your favorite anime or anime that speaks that to you the most?

 

Niket Sirsi: Robotech/Macross. It was one of the first anime titles I remember watching and set me down the path of sci-fi fandom (among other things). 

 

What are some of your favorite things about your heritage and culture? 

 

Sirsi: I was going for some deep meaning, but honestly, it’s all the amazing food, with a depth of flavors and spices. The history is fascinating and there is always so much more to learn.

 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

 

Sirsi: For me, AAPI Heritage Month is a celebration of cultures and diversity. It also represents an understanding of a large mix of cultures to be more inclusive, when prior Asian usually meant Chinese.

 

In thinking about the recent success of Asian stories, from anime to the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, what are your thoughts on the progress of Asian representation over the years?

 

Sirsi: I think it is both a culmination of many years working behind the scenes to having the cultures come to the forefront. It’s an acknowldgement that we are part of the societal fabric and now our stories will be woven into the culture.