Ever watch a movie and wonder how a giant, inflatable marshmallow manages to make you cry? It isn't just the animation. It's the soul behind the microphone. When we talk about the voice actors for Big Hero 6, most people jump straight to the stars, but the real magic was how this specific group of people blended together to create a world that felt lived-in.
Honestly, it's been over a decade since the film first hit theaters, and yet the chemistry of the San Fransokyo crew hasn't aged a day. You've got this mix of seasoned comedians, martial artists, and TV legends who turned a Marvel "deep cut" into a global phenomenon.
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The Core Duo: Ryan Potter and Scott Adsit
Let's start with the heart of the whole thing: Hiro and Baymax.
Ryan Potter was only about 18 when the movie came out. He voiced Hiro Hamada, the 14-year-old robotics prodigy. What’s cool is that Ryan is a real-life martial artist, which helped him ground Hiro’s physical energy even when he was just standing in a recording booth. He brought this specific kind of "teenager snark" that didn't feel annoying—it felt authentic.
Then there’s Scott Adsit. You might know him from 30 Rock, but to millions of kids, he is the voice of Baymax.
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Getting that voice right was a nightmare for the directors at first. How do you make a healthcare robot sound empathetic without making him sound "human"? Adsit basically walked a tightrope. He used a very flat, rhythmic tone inspired by automated hospital recordings but added just a tiny bit of "hugability" to the vowels.
Fun Fact: The "Hairy Baby" Line
That famous "hairy baby" scene where Baymax pets the cat? A lot of that timing came from Adsit’s improv background at Second City. He knew exactly how long to pause to make a robot sound like it was processing a thought.
The Rest of the Big Hero 6 Team
The supporting cast is where the movie gets its flavor. It wasn't just a bunch of random actors; they picked people who actually matched the "vibe" of the science they were supposed to be doing.
- Go Go Tomago: Voiced by Jamie Chung. She’s the "woman of few words" but makes every word count. Jamie brought a toughness that wasn't "mean," just incredibly focused.
- Honey Lemon: Genesis Rodriguez actually has a background in robotics! In high school, she was on an all-girls robotics team and even did welding. When she found out she was playing a chemistry wiz, she was basically living her own dream.
- Wasabi: Damon Wayans Jr. took over for the film, playing the neurotic, "everything has to be in its place" member of the group. He’s essentially the voice of the audience, constantly pointing out how dangerous and crazy their situation is.
- Fred: Originally voiced by T.J. Miller in the film. Fred is the comic book fanboy who provides the group with their "superhero" logic.
The Voices You Forgot Were There
We have to talk about Maya Rudolph. She plays Aunt Cass.
She’s the emotional anchor. Without her, the movie is just a sci-fi flick. Maya brings this frantic, loving, "I’m trying my best" energy that makes the Hamada household feel real.
And then there's Daniel Henney as Tadashi Hamada. He isn't in the movie for long, but his voice has to carry the weight of the entire plot. He had to sound like the "perfect big brother" without being cheesy. If you didn't love Tadashi's voice in the first twenty minutes, the rest of the movie wouldn't work.
The Villain and the Tech Giant
- Professor Callaghan: Voiced by the legendary James Cromwell. He brought a gravitas that made the twist ending actually sting.
- Alistair Krei: Alan Tudyk does what he does best—playing a character who is just slippery enough that you don't know if you should trust him.
What Happened When the Show Started?
When Big Hero 6: The Series launched on Disney XD (and later Disney+), most of the original voice actors for Big Hero 6 returned. This is actually pretty rare for big Disney movies. Usually, they swap out the expensive movie stars for sound-alikes.
But Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, and Genesis Rodriguez all stayed.
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There were a few changes, though. Khary Payton (who you might know as Cyborg from Teen Titans) took over the role of Wasabi. Brooks Wheelan stepped in to play Fred. Both did a killer job of keeping the spirit of the characters alive while the show explored "mental health" and "body horror" (Scott Adsit’s words, not mine) in later seasons.
Why This Cast Still Matters in 2026
The reason we’re still talking about these actors is because they didn't just "read lines." They built a dynamic.
Ryan Potter has talked about how he and Scott Adsit would sometimes record together, or at least hang out at D23 events, to keep their chemistry fresh. They grew with the characters. In the later series, Hiro sounds older, more confident. Baymax sounds... well, he’s still Baymax, but he’s "learned" more about human emotions.
If you’re looking to get into voice acting or just want to appreciate the craft, watch the "making of" clips for this movie. You'll see Scott Adsit standing perfectly still, barely moving his lips, trying to find the soul of a robot. It's a masterclass.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Check out the Disney+ "Baymax!" Shorts: If you want to hear Scott Adsit's most refined version of the character, these shorts are pure healthcare-bot goodness.
- Follow the Cast: Many of these actors, like Jamie Chung and Ryan Potter, are huge advocates for Asian-American representation in media—a legacy that started with this film.
- Listen for the Nuance: Next time you watch, pay attention to the "panting" or "breathing" during the action scenes. Voice acting is a physical workout, and these guys nailed the "exhausted superhero" vibe perfectly.
The legacy of the voice actors for Big Hero 6 isn't just in a box office number. It's in the fact that, ten years later, we still feel like these characters are our actual friends.