A still from the Disney animated film Mulan. [Photo/Agencies]

Ever since Disney announced plans for a live-action version of their hit animated film, Mulan, many fans in China and abroad have expressed concern the studio will give into a history of "whitewashing" when casting roles.

Internet user Natalie Molnar, a children's librarian and also a member of the popular social media website Care2, initiated a petition titled "Tell Disney You Don't Want A Whitewashed Mulan!" to prevent this from happening.

So far, the thread has received 38,338 signatures.

"Disney just announced it will develop a live-action Mulan film. Take a stand against whitewashing in our media. Sign this petition to tell Disney that we demand to see them cast an Asian Mulan!

The petition stated that the character, story and fans deserve the best retelling of the story Disney can produce, without whitewashing.

"If any company can afford to "risk" adapting a beloved story with a cast of POC (People of Color, a term used in the United States to describe anyone who is not white), it's Disney," read the petition.

The story of Mulan is based on a Chinese legend where a young girl named Hua Mulan disguises herself as a man to join the war in her father's place.