It’s always exciting when Malaysia is mentioned or represented in pop culture, kan? From movies to merchandise, seeing some Malaysian love shown in these forms of entertainment is a major treat! So for Malaysia Day month, let’s talk about moments when Malaysia was represented in Disney!
1. One of the animators for Disney Pixar’s Elemental was inspired by Malaysian food
Adding a little bit of “buatan Malaysia” to some of our beloved animated films is Kim Leow! This Malaysian based in Canada was part of Pixar’s animation team for Elemental, and she revealed that Malaysian food was a big inspiration in the animation of the characters!
To soothe her homesickness for Malaysia, she imagined what the Elemental characters would be like as Malaysian food sellers when creating the animation. For example, she drew what Earth would be like if he was a durian seller with a box of D24s and Water as a Tau Fu Fah stall owner at a hawker street. Who knew that Malaysian cuisine could play a big role in a Pixar movie, kan?
Speaking of Tau Fu Fah, if you’re craving for this classic Malaysian dish then The Soybean Factory has that for you and more with their wide selection of soybean-based food! Order from them now via GrabFood to enjoy healthy desserts on the go!
2. Raya and the Last Dragon has references to Malaysian and Southeast Asian culture
We’re sure many Disney fans in Asia loved Raya and the Last Dragon! This 2021 animated offering is chock full of Southeast Asian references and even the name Raya means “celebration” in Bahasa Malaysia; appropriate for a movie that celebrates Southeast Asian culture! Plus, some of the characters can be seen wearing sarongs and sashes which are prevalent in Malaysian culture and interact with mythical creatures inspired by Southeast Asian folklore too!
3. Malaysian food is served in Disney World Resortâs Yak & Yetiâą Restaurant
Disney theme parks are not just magical for their immersive activities and family-friendly atmosphere; they also offer divine food and dining experiences, especially at their Disney World Resort in Florida! This resort is home to Yak & Yetiâą Restaurant, which offers delicious Asian fusion dishes from various regions across Asia.
One particular dish that’s closer to home is their Malaysian Seafood Curry Ravioli! Made with Malaysia’s signature curry, this dish contains lobster and Dungeness crab ravioli with some tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and shrimp!
Besides being a great dish to introduce Malaysian cuisine to non-Malaysians, it is also an easy-to-replicate dish especially when you can conveniently get the best ingredients from Jaya Grocer on GrabMart! Buy some curry ingredients, fresh seafood and amazing spices so that you can make this Malaysian Seafood Curry Ravioli at home too!
4. Disney made a few shorts dedicated to Southeast Asian and Malaysian culture
In 2019, Disney made an animated short series called Mickey Go Local, which is centred around Southeast Asian and Malaysian culture! Each of the episodes ties into major aspects of Malaysian culture and locations including one with a Peranakan food cookout and another with a chase sequence in Georgetown, Penang. We here at WOB particularly loved the first episode where hawkers Mickey and Donald fight over Goofy’s patronage with satay and roti canai. Who won in the end? Find out by watching below! ?
If this short got you in the mood for satay like what Mickey cooked, then we can suggest Secret Recipe’s Fried Rice with Satay!
And best of all, this Secret Recipe dish and more are available on Grab Signatures for your ordering convenience! Speaking of Grab AND Disney…
5. Grab and Disney have a collaboration to celebrate Malaysia Day!
If our beloved Disney characters can appreciate and bond over our local delights then we should be able to do the same, kan? So to celebrate our people AND our food, Grab has introduced a Malaysia Day exclusive deal to keep the Malaysian spirit alive this year!
Order from GrabFood or GrabMart and celebrate Malaysia Day month with exclusive merch from Disney’s ‘Mickey Go Malaysia’ collection! Available until 30 September only!
This Malaysia Day month, Malaysians can order their food and groceries from Grab to get complimentary Mickey Go Malaysia merch by Disney! Featuring the best of both style and function, these sleek merch pieces are adorned with doodles drawn with Mickey Mouse patterns! All you have to do is spend a minimum of RM55 on selected Grab Signatures restaurants to get a Mickey Go Malaysia Coffee Cup or a Mickey Go Malaysia Lunch Bag!Â
Wanna buy groceries instead? Then order from Jaya Grocer on GrabMart with a minimum spend of RM200 to redeem their Mickey Go Malaysia Canvas Tote Bag!
Don’t have Grab on your phone yet? Then download the app now to order the greatest food Malaysia has to offer and more via the following links:
For more info on Grab’s Mickey Go Malaysia merch, visit their website and follow them on their social media pages:
