8 Asians

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• Tim
  Lots of controversy about whether the cartoon character is supposed to be Asian himself. There's debates on various sites on the Internet about whether he's Caucasian or Asian, and if he's Asian, he's the first leading Asian male character in a Disney pic. Here's one conversation: http://www.movieline.com/2009/05/is-the-fat-kid...
  
  Disney so far hasn't commented on the race of the little boy character.
• Phil
  So anyone know Russell's ethnic background? Japanese? Chinese? Korean? Filipino? Vietnamese? Hmong? mixed?
• jee
  You know what's funny Tim? After I found out the voice behind the character was Asian, the character looked more Asian to me. hahaha
  
  @Phil - I have a friend who is Japanese, and her last name is Nagai (no relation to Jordan). But I don't know the official word on his background.
• cindy
  yeah. didn't look asian to me for preview,
  but TOTALLY asian after i found out the kid was.
  ha! disney DOES tend to draw characteristics into
  the cartoon from whomever is voicing them, at least
  from what i've seen.
  
  too cute!! and hurrah for first time actor!
• Phil
  I'll admit when I first saw the trailer I thought the character was of Asian descent based on certain stereotypical views. With further research, turns out that the character is based off one of the animator's of Pixar, Pete Sohn, who voiced Emile in Ratatouille.
  
  http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/up-director-pete-d...
  
  Here's a pic of Peter Sohn,
  
  http://www.superiorpics.com/pictures2/Sohn_sd1.jpg
• Phil
  "With further research, turns out that the character is based off one of the animator’s of Pixar, Pete Sohn, who voiced Emile in Ratatouille. "
  
  Peter, not Pete. I forgot the r.
• Emma
  Controversy aside, that kid's adorable. And I think he looks Japanese.
• JC
  I'm a bit shocked that PIXAR used an Asian boy in this role. I mean, this is the studio who won't even put a Japanese or Korean car in Cars. Hollywood is so racist, even their best people are believe white = default.
• John
  Russell looks more half-Asian, half-white to me.
• byron
  I'm just glad to see that there's a non-white character in the movie whose purpose has nothing to do with his ethnicity. As a black man, I kinda wish we had this for Tiana, the new Disney princess, but at least it's more diversity around for everyone.
• Derek
  Byron: Totally agree. Little steps. Blacks have paved the way for the rest of we ethnic minorities (I'm American of Chinese descent) in this country, and I'm grateful every time true equality (regular roles without regard to race) is depicted on film. Kudos to Pixar/Disney. More of the same, please.
  Side note: Hilarious resemblances of the old dudes to Spencer Tracy and Kirk Douglas.
• John
  I just saw the movie - it was fantastic. Jordan does a great job doing the voice of Russell.
• Lisa
  His eyes looks very Asian to me.
• Tom
  Nagai is a Japanese last name.
• ch3rrychew
  actually, the lil boy in UP is based off of an animator at Pixar.
  http://www.najandz.com/project_css/images/Peter...
• csc3
  i can totally see that :D
• jeesuh
  The most recent credible source I heard was that Russell is supposed to be Korean. When I was watching it, I kept thinking he was Japanese, partly because I knew the kid behind Russell is Japanese.
• thecutestkitty
  I saw this movie in 3D today. I knew nothing abut the movie other than the commercials on newtwork t.v. Fabulous movie! And my impression was that Russell was Asian. My mom just thought he was a chubby kid. I'm hoping he was supposed to be an Asian kid. He is sooo cute.
• Janix
  He's Japanese-American...
  I'm happy they picked an Asian voice actor :D