Asian American stars in Big Hero 6

From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” comes “Big Hero 6,” an original action-comedy-adventure about a robotics prodigy and a plus-sized inflatable robot, who develop a special bond on a quest to solve an unsettling mystery.

“Hiro Hamada’s older brother Tadashi has created a cutting-edge robot, Baymax, who’s designed to take care of people,” says director Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”). “Baymax’s one programmed desire is ‘How can I help?’ He’s filled with compassion. And Hiro is a teenager who has lost his way—their personalities play off each other in a way that is both funny and heartwarming.”

When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and
catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his brilliant fellow nerds: adrenaline junkie GoGo Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.”

“There’s a mysterious masked villain who is up to no good,” says director Chris Williams (“Bolt”). “Hiro takes it upon himself to find out who this guy is and what he’s plotting to do. Hiro intends to stop him—no matter what.

“It’s really a hero’s journey,” Williams continues. “The friendship Hiro forms with Baymax opens his eyes to what it really means to be a hero.”

Korean-American actor Daniel Henney (“Agatha” and “Revolution”) provided his voice for the character of Tadashi Hamada, big brother of Hiro Hamada, voiced by Japanese-American actor Ryan Potter (“Supah Ninjas” and “Underdog Kids”) in the upcoming Disney animated action comedy-adventure “Big Hero 6” opening in 3D on November 7.

“I grew up watching Disney films, and I grew up reading Marvel comics,” says Potter. “So when I heard that a Disney movie that was inspired by a Marvel comic actually featured an Asian American kid, I absolutely had to be a part of this film.”

Walt Disney Studios hosted Asiance at its headquarters in Burbank, California in October to meet and interview the Asian American actors lending their voices to this Disney animation.

The always popular Jamie Chung (“Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For” and “The Hangover III”) also joins the ensemble cast to provide her voice as Gogo Tomago, a tough, athletic, badass, sarcastic member of the “Big Hero 6” team.

Filling out the “Big Hero 6” team are TJ Miller (voice of Fred), Damon Wayans Jr. (voice of Wasabi) and Genesis Rodriguez (voice of Honey Lemon) along with James Cromwell as the voice of Professor Callaghan, Alan Tudyk as voice of Alistair Krei and Maya Rudolph as voice of Aunt Cass.

But the real star of “Big Hero 6” is Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit), who is a plus-sized inflatable health care robot companion, designed by Hiro’s big brother Tadashi.

During the course of the film, Baymax develops a special bond with Hiro when a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo forcing Hiro into action.

“Hiro’s older brother Tadashi has created a cutting-edge robot Baymax who’s designed to take care of people,” says “Big Hero Six” director Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”). “Baymax’s one programmed desire is ‘How can I help?’ He’s filled withe compassion. And Hiro is a teenager who has lost his way — their personalities play off each other in a way that is both funny and heartwarming.”

Ryan Potter behind the scenes. Cute!

Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, “Big Hero 6” features comic book style action, but at its core is the budding bond between Hiro and Baymax.

“The movie is really about the two of them coming together,” says co-director Chris Williams. “We decided early on that the central relationship would be between Hiro and Baymax as Hiro struggled to deal with the loss of his brother. While we want the story to be really fun and funny, at the same time, there’s this emotional depth and resonance that is pretty far beyond what people might expect.”

“Big Hero 6” opens November 7th. For more information visit:

http://movies.disney.com/big-hero-6

Like the film on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBigHero6

Credits: Interview by Ed Moy. Video edited by Jon Truei.