As Big Hero 6 hits Blu-Ray, we take a moment to check in with Ryan Potter, the voice of Hiro in the film.
Benji Breitbart: First of all, congratulations on the success of the movie.
Ryan Potter: Thank you so much, man.
Benji Breitbart: I guess I’ll start off, you know, we ran an interview with you, that you did with Kyle before the film came out. Now that the film has been released, how has your world changed?
Ryan Potter: It really hasn’t changed a lot. I’ve, obviously, been able to live out certain childhood dreams, like going to Disneyland as a Disney character, which is kind of unreal, and seeing the live version of Hiro, getting to meet him. Walking a red carpet as a lead of a film, and being in a film that was so well received in Japan. There’s just a lot of things that have come with the film. Obviously, don’t forget the Oscar nomination and how the film’s tracking.
It’s been all very surreal. I already know it’s going to be a little disappointing for me, because it hasn’t set in, and I know it’s going to set in when it’s all done. It’s going to be a little disappointing, but if everything I’ve been able to be a part of because of Big Hero 6, has just been an absolute blessing and an honor.
Benji Breitbart: Recently we covered an anniversary screening of 101 Dalmatians, and the voice cast was there. It struck me that, no matter what other work they accomplished, for generations, they will be known as cast members for 101 Dalmatians, because the shelf life of a Disney film exceeds most, if not all, other films.
Ryan Potter: Hiro will most definitely outlive me. The director of the film says the Baymax will outlive them, and I think that’s definitely the case with any Disney project. Even the ones that kind of fly under the radar. My favorite Disney film of all time is Treasure Planet, and that will definitely outlive me.
Benji Breitbart: Have you gotten to voice Hiro in any other medium? Have you done any work for video games, or the theme park, anything like that?
Ryan Potter: Yeah. There were a couple Big Hero 6 apps that came out. Those were super cool by the way, the Bot Fight and the Baymax Flight. Super fun games, super addictive. I got to do that. The Disney Infinity game, I got to voice Hiro there. Whenever they call and say, “Hey, we need Hiro’s voice for something,” I am more than happy to step back into those shoes and get to play in those circumstances.
Benji Breitbart: The heart of the film, is the relationship between Hiro and Baymax, as anyone will tell you. Seeing the relationship Hiro has with Baymax, has that really made you think about the relationships you have in your own personal life?
Ryan Potter: It’s interesting, because that relationship kind of starts with Tadashi and Hiro. With that, Baymax is kind of Tadashi reembodied, this person that just wants to care for people all the time and wants to make sure everyone is okay. Seeing the example that Tadashi sets forward as being just this overall amazing man. You know? It definitely sets some high standards that I would love to try and live up to.
I don’t know. I feel like there’s so many messages in Big Hero 6 that people could take away. I’ve always lived by the fact that, family isn’t necessarily the ones you’re born with, but the ones you find. Friends can become family, depending on how close you are with them. The film has, kind of, cemented that with me.
Benji Breitbart: You’ve been very outspoken on social media and various outlets about how much you appreciate the fans of the film. Can you talk about what their support has meant to you?
Ryan Potter: Being able to see how well received this film has been, over the past couple of months, it gets me really emotional, because growing up in the US, there wasn’t a lot of film or television that represented me. I had to watch Japanese animation to kind of see myself. Being able to watch Big Hero 6 and see the general public in the US and the general public all around the world, fall in love with these characters, essentially fall in love with Daniel and Scott and me and Genesis. It’s very overwhelming.
It’s very surreal, because Tadashi, Hiro, Honey Lemon, these are the first multi-cultural, multi-ethnic Disney characters ever. It’s kind of a big responsibility, because, after this film, so many doors are going to be opened up for more diversity in film and animation. I can’t even really find the words for it. It’s been absolutely surreal. It really has.
Benji Breitbart: For the folks that fell in love with you in Big Hero 6, are there any other projects they can help look for you in?
Ryan Potter: Yeah. There’s this film that I worked on quite a while ago called Senior Project is out. Kyle Massey, Sterling Beaumon, Vanessa Marano, Meaghan Martin, it’s just a really fun, just kind of a fun, teen film. It kind of calls back to those films that came out, like Breakfast Club. Regular teen life can become bigger than life circumstances, depending on how they react. I did that. I’ve got a couple projects in the works, that I can’t talk about at all, because there’s no guarantees. Yeah, 2015 is kind of looking like it’s going to be a really fun, kind of nuts. It’s going to be a great year.
Obviously, I’m continuing to create behind the camera. I worked on my photography, my videography. People can follow my Instagram @RyanKPotter, and they can see the people that I’m working with, whether they’re actors, models or clothing lines. I’ve got some clothes that I’m designing at the moment. My 2015 resolution is to create every day, and that’s just my goal.
Benji Breitbart: Well, that’s great. Congratulations. We hope that the storytellers at Disney Animation Studios find another story for those characters, so we can see you back on the big screen as Hiro once again.
Ryan Potter: Absolutely. I hope so.
Big Hero 6 is now available on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, Digital HD, and Disney Movies Anywhere.