Charlie Chan is a character who, though a pop culture icon up through the 70s has gotten a bit of bum rap in recent years. Created in 1925 by Earl Derr Biggers, the Hawaiian based Chinese American detective was created in opposition to the negative portrayals of the Chinese that flooded the media of the Western world (Fu Manchu for instance). Chan was largely based on positive traits. He was honest. He was dedicated to law and order and he was loving family man and father of 14, for years Chan was a popular character among whites and Chinese alike. This is why I hate the political correctness movement with an unending passion. Where were these idiots who saw him as a racist caricature in the 30s and 40s? Sure Chan was always played a white guy on film but the most famous Charlie Chan, Swedish actor Warner Oland had gone to Shanghai at one point to promote one of the films he was in and the people there easily mistook him for being Chinese. They didn’t care then, why do they care so much now all of a sudden? No matter what you think, if you put Charlie Chan within the context of the time he appeared in you would have to agree that he was a step in the right direction. Biggers would be shocked to learn that Chan is found offensive by some people, he was not racist towards the Chinese, having actually befriended the man who inspired him to create Charlie Chan. I have ponified him to compliment ponifications of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. His eyes make him look part dragon because these characters have eyes that don’t lend themselves very well to the almond shape. Perhaps he is, perhaps he’s actually found in the future of Equestria, maybe a descendant of Spike and Rarity (he could be a unicorn under that hat) and every generation before him bred a few more of the dragon traits out of the bloodline. His mark is a puzzle piece inside a magnifying glass symbolizing his talent for solving crimes with patience and wisdom. Chan is often assisted (though he’d rather not be) by his eldest son (not pictured).  
Chan is an important cultural icon because he was the first positive portrayal of a Chinaman (why is okay to call a British guy an Englishman or a Scotsman and a French guy, a Frenchman but not okay to call a Chinese guy a Chinaman? How is that any different?), before him Chinese characters were used exclusively as villains or mere servants. Also Chan was not subservient or deferential to whites. The white guys in the movies were often deferential to him actually, and always treated him at least like an equal, racist caricature my ass.
 
Charlie Chan is owned by the estate of Earl Derr Biggers
 
 
I recommend Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1935) starring Warner Oland.