Rewriting the Myth in Times of Crisis: Princess Iron Fan and Havoc in Heaven as Cinematic Narratives of Chinese Permacrisis

Abstract: China’s first animated feature film, Princess Iron Fan (Tieshan gongzhu 鐵扇公主, 1941), and its successor Havoc in Heaven (Danao tiangong 大鬧天宮, 1961) represent pivotal moments in the history of Chinese cinema. Directed by the Wan brothers, these films adapt episodes from the Ming-era (1368-1644) novel Journey to the West (Xiyou ji 西遊記, 1592) and reflect distinct periods of crisis in modern Chinese history. While Princess Iron Fan emerged during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), echoing anti-Japanese propaganda and struggles for national identity, Havoc in Heaven was produced amid the agricultural and industrial turmoil of the Great Leap Forward (1958-1961). These films manipulate their mythological source material to craft narratives of resistance and political alignment. Inspired by Walt Disney Productions, the Wan brothers appropriated Western animation techniques while reshaping the myth to address China’s historical and political crises. This paper explores how Princess Iron Fan and Havoc in Heaven reframe mythological storytelling to respond to and reinterpret crises of their time, arguing that these cinematic works function as tools of cultural propaganda and narrative control. By examining selected dialogues, visuals, and narrative strategies, the analysis reveals how these films contribute to a broader understanding of crises as persistent, endemic phenomena. Ultimately, this study positions the Wan brothers’ adaptations as early examples of how media can manipulate narratives in times of permacrisis, blending mythology with political discourse to sustain ideological cohesion.