Excited
[smartads]
Did you guys know that the actor who voices Russell, the chubby kid in the highly anticipated Disney/Pixar movie Up is an adorable Asian boy named Jordan Nagai? This is Nagai’s first role; he was discovered in a casting call by Pixar.
From the previews alone, I was charmed by his adorable voice and wanted to eat up that cute, chubby boy up. And now to find out the actor behind the voice of the cute kid is not only adorable himself, but an adorable Asian boy, well, I just feel like a proud mom, auntie, or older sister. I was already looking forward to the movie, but learning this news just makes me way more excited! Okay, my squealing teenager moment is done.
How does this post make you feel?
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
NOTE: 8Asians.com is a community, and we thank you for being a part of it. While we welcome and appreciate differences in opinion, if you're rude or you're promoting spam, we have a right to edit or delete your comment. Read our comment policy for more information.
If you see a comment that violates the 8Asians.com comment policy, you may flag the comment by mousing over the comment and clicking "FLAG."
He's Japanese-American...
I'm happy they picked an Asian voice actor :D
He's Japanese-American...
I'm happy they picked an Asian voice actor :D
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.
i can totally see that :D
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.
actually, the lil boy in UP is based off of a director at Pixar. The guy, I believe, is korean. I saw a picture of him standing next to his character and they look so much alike!
Nagai is a Japanese last name.
Nagai is a Japanese last name.
His eyes looks very Asian to me.
His eyes looks very Asian to me.
I just saw the movie - it was fantastic. Jordan does a great job doing the voice of Russell.
I just saw the movie - it was fantastic. Jordan does a great job doing the voice of Russell.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russell looks more half-Asian, half-white to me.
Russell looks more half-Asian, half-white to me.
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.
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.
Controversy aside, that kid's adorable. And I think he looks Japanese.
Controversy aside, that kid's adorable. And I think he looks Japanese.
"With further research, turns out that the character is based off one of the animatoru00e2u0080u0099s of Pixar, Pete Sohn, who voiced Emile in Ratatouille. "
Peter, not Pete. I forgot the r.
"With further research, turns out that the character is based off one of the animatoru00e2u0080u0099s of Pixar, Pete Sohn, who voiced Emile in Ratatouille. "
Peter, not Pete. I forgot the r.
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-doct...
Here's a pic of Peter Sohn,
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-doct...
Here's a pic of Peter Sohn,
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!
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!
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.
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.
So anyone know Russell's ethnic background? Japanese? Chinese? Korean? Filipino? Vietnamese? Hmong? mixed?
So anyone know Russell's ethnic background? Japanese? Chinese? Korean? Filipino? Vietnamese? Hmong? mixed?
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-fr...
Disney so far hasn't commented on the race of the little boy character.
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-fr...
Disney so far hasn't commented on the race of the little boy character.
Trackbacks
Custom Search
Recent Posts
- Kisai Rogue KR2 LED Watch
- Behind The Scenes With Team Janet & A Call To Help Janet Find Her Match
- Steven Yeun Talks About The Walking Dead Season 2.5 & Tries A Bacon Milkshake
- What LA Thinks Japanese Food Is Vs. What Japanese Really Eat
- Asian Americans Have Mixed Results In Retirement Study
- Handcrafted “Oswald” Wooden Sunglasses
- What if Jeremy Lin Weren’t Asian?
Recent Comments
- : I actually thought the show was funny. Come on guys! How many times did you see BOBBY LEE stereotype Asians on MAD TV similar to... – '2 Broke Girls' Creator Defends Ethnic Stereotypes... With More Stereotypes
- : @akrypti I'm assuming you were born in America and have been raised by a "Authoritative parents" that were more or less laid-back? I hope you... – My Chinese Monster-in-Law
- : Props to President Obama. He's the first president in U.S. history that actually is taking notice of Asian-Americans! No other president I recall have ever... – President Obama's Lunar New Year Message for 2012, Year of the Dragon
- : And the Asian chick was paid how much to do such a discriminatory ad? Pathetic! – Pete Hoekstra's Offensive Anti-Asian Super Bowl Ad
- : Eh? Then why not do something about it? YOU NEED TO BE MORE ACTIVE! Try to make 30-60 mintues out of your day workout, excercise,... – Fatting In: Asian Immigrants Gaining Weight To Fit In
APA Events
Feb 16: Adam WarRock and Kirby Krackle: West Cost Tour Dates!!!
Feb 16: (New York, NY) Amar Chitra Katha: Monica Ferrell, Chitra Ganesh, Keshni Kashyap, and Himanshu “Heems” Suri of Das Racist
Feb 17: (Los Angeles, CA) All My Sons
Feb 18: (Stanford, CA) Stanford’s 16th Listen to the Silence Conference- Feb 18: (San Francisco, CA) NAAAP-SF Lunar New Year Gala 2012
Feb 25: (Los Angeles, CA) Past Present I Future Imperatives: Queer Space Time
Mar 3: (New York, NY) Vong Pak’s ‘Electric Shaman’ Concert
Apr 30: (Sacramento, CA) California Asian Pacific Islander Policy Summit 2012: iAdvocate
Staff and Contributors
- Editors
- Ernie Hsiung - Founder, Editor-in-Chief
- Moye Ishimoto - Co-Editor, Editorial
- Joz Wang - Co-Editor, PR & APA Outreach
[...] Disney/Pixar’s Up and the Voice of Russell, Jordan Nagai [...]
[...] those online debates about Russell’s ethnic background can end now. After these scripts, there cannot be any more [...]