10 years ago tonight I debuted a fan-fiction series I came up with to continue the adventures of one of my favorite shows airing at the time: Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. The idea came to me just mere months after the airing of that show's final episode (or special): Journey to Monkey King Castle, the first original from the show since October 2010. After that airing, I was curious as to whether or not the show would continue beyond that point. But then, I learned of its fate, sort of, and it shocked me. And at that point, I knew I wanted to continue the show, while at the same time, staying true to it and the characters that caught my immediate attention every time I tuned in.

Taking inspiration from artwork of an artist I followed at the time (and still do), the premise for the show and its title were born. I would go on to write 22 episodes within a span of two seasons, with the most recent episode being posted around 2016. I had intentions on continuing the series beyond that 22nd episode, since I had planned 22 episodes for that second season, but then school got in the way, and other subsequent responsibilities, coupled together with a shift in my mood and other time constraints, kept me from doing so. However, all isn't lost. A few months ago, someone tracked me down on Twitter and asked me about the future of the show, and I'm glad he did, 'cause it gives me a moment to say this. For the past couple of years, I've been mulling the idea of revisiting the show in the future. It's only a matter of when I'll be able to do so, and whether or not I'll start spewing out ideas for any future episodes. This was the first time I even conceived an entire fan series, and I loved every minute of putting it together, from the writing to the premise of each episode, I enjoyed it all. This became a love letter to a show that introduced kids to the Chinese language, culture, and celebrations, in addition to a number of relatable characters.

In the meantime, I invite you all to read the first of two episodes I posted that night, centered around two of my favorite characters: Rintoo and Hoho. I put in a subsequent amount of time crafting these episodes together, and it's been a honor that I brought this show to life, even if was only for a few years. Fingers crossed for a return in the future. And while you're at it, check out the rest of the series, all posted right here in the comforts of this club. Enjoy and let me know what you thought of it.

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