MANILA, Nov. 10, 2014 – A child prodigy and his lovable robot charmed their way into the hearts of families, fanboys and girls, enabling Disney's “Big Hero 6” to gross a stunning P69.99-million nationwide in just four days (Nov. 6 to 9) and open at No.1.

Arriving with some of the year's best reviews, “Big Hero 6” benefited from strong exit recommendations and the characters' wide appeal to overlapping audiences.

The animated adventure broke several records on its debut weekend run, the highlights of which are: the Biggest All-Time Non-Franchise Animated Film Opening Weekend (surpassing the P45.9-M of “Up”); Biggest All-Time Disney Animation Studios' Opening Weekend (beating the P58.2-M of “Monsters University”); and Biggest 2014 4-Day Opening Weekend for Animation (ahead of “The Lego Movie's” P23.8-M).

“Big Hero 6's” opening weekend numbers are also 63 percent higher than its box-office competitor, “Interstellar” which bowed at P26.23-M for second place.

In the U.S., “Big Hero 6″ topped the charts with $56.2 million from 3,761 locations, continuing Walt Disney Animation Studios’ recent hot streak with past blockbusters “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph.”

Back in the Philippines, the Marvel Comics-based adventure rolled-out in 167 screens. SM North EDSA nabbed the biggest portion of the box-office pie with P3.47-M in 4 days, followed by SM Megamall with P3.10-M and SM Mall of Asia's P2.81-M.

The fourth to tenth places belonged to Trinoma (P1.87-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.68-M), Eastwood (P1.65-M), SM Cebu (P1.62-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.51-M), Power Plant (P1.39-M) and Greenbelt 3 (P1.30-M).

Rounding out the top 20 cinemas are Shang Cineplex (P1.27-M), Greenhills (P1.23-M), SM Southmall (P1.21-M), Newport (P1.12-M), Gateway (P1.06-M), SM Fairview (P1.01-M), Fisher Mall (P1.00-M), Festival Mall (P 988,438), Robinsons Magnolia (P 987,597) and Market! Market! (P 979,292).

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

Directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”), “Big Hero 6” features the voices of an extraordinary ensemble cast, including Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, James Cromwell as Professor Robert Callaghan, Damon Wayans Jr. as Wasabi, T.J. Miller as Fred, Alan Tudyk as Alistair Krei, Jamie Chung as Go Go Tomago, Genesis Rodriguez as Honey Lemon and Daniel Henney as Tadashi, with Ryan Potter as Hiro Hamada and Scott Adsit as Baymax.

Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring adrenaline-pumping action, heartfelt emotion and plenty of humor, “Big Hero 6” is now playing in Philippine theaters in 3D.

In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Big Hero 6,” a plus-sized inflatable robot named Baymax makes a difference in the life of teen prodigy Hiro Hamada.

Baymax cares. That’s what he was designed to do. The vinyl robot’s job title is technically Personal Healthcare Companion: With a simple scan, Baymax can detect vital stats, and, given a patient’s level of pain, can treat nearly any ailment. Conceived and built by Tadashi Hamada – Hiro’s older brother -- Baymax just might revolutionize the healthcare industry.

“We pick up the story right after Hiro’s loss, and that’s a really hard place to find your main character,” says co-director Chris Williams, who worked on the scene in which Hiro discovers Baymax. “I love characters like Baymax who are newborns—seeing the world in a fresh new way. Then we can all see the world again through their eyes. A character like Baymax is so naïve, so pure, so simple and good. And I loved the comedic potential of having that very quality be exasperating for Hiro.”

Baymax is not equipped with a mouth, so animators had to get creative with the huggable robot. “It’s called ‘un-imating,’” says Mark Henn, lead 2D animator. “It’s a term coined because animators tend to put too much in. Less is best for Baymax. It really did become an exercise in capturing a very quick and easily-read pose. And if he had dialogue, it was all about timing—how much to move his head or when he should blink.”

“We might posture him up a little to show pride,” says head of animation, Zach Parrish. “A head tilt or double eye-blink can mean he’s confused. What’s cool about going that minimal is that it allows the audience to project onto him what they’re feeling, which makes them active participants.”

The look of Baymax informs his character. “Baymax views the world from one perspective—he just wants to help people,” says co-director Don Hall. “He sees Hiro as his patient. At first, Baymax thinks Hiro is going through puberty, and he wants to help him with that. But then he realizes that Hiro’s dealing with the loss of his brother and his mission is to heal his broken heart.”

Not only did Hall like the idea of a soft non-threatening robot, he liked what it could become. “A big part of this movie is that Hiro turns this compassionate nurse robot into a meched-out warrior with some dangerous consequences at stake.”

To Hiro, the nurturing, guileless bot turns out to be more than what he was built for—he’s a hero, and quite possibly Hiro’s closest friend. And after some deft reprogramming that includes a rocket fist, super strength and rocket thrusters that allow him to fly, Baymax becomes one of the “Big Hero 6.”

Scott Adsit was called on to provide the voice of Baymax. “The fact that the character is a robot limits how you can emote,” says producer Roy Conli. “But Scott was hilarious. He took those boundaries and was able to shape the language in a way that makes you feel Baymax’s emotion and sense of humor. Scott was able to relay just how much Baymax cares.”

“Everything Baymax says is essentially programmed because he’s a robot,” says Adsit. “But over time, as he builds a relationship with Hiro, he adapts and deep inside his inflatable self is a soul, I think. He starts out almost like a child—with a waddle and an innocent look—and grows, embodying different aspects of the relationships in our lives: he’s a son, a brother, and eventually a father. So Baymax is family.”

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 06, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada has the mind of a genius—and the heart of a 14-year-old, in Walt Disney Animation Studios' new comedy-adventure “Big Hero 6.” His state-of-the-art battlebots dominate the underground bot fights held in the dark corners of San Fransokyo. “He’s a troublemaker,” says Ryan Potter, who lends his voice to Hiro, “but he’s a really good kid at heart.”

In the film, big brother Tadashi redirects Hiro’s brilliance, inspiring him to put his brain to the test in a quest to gain admission to the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology.

“We really wanted them to be brothers first,” says producer Roy Conli of Hiro and Tadashi. “Tadashi is a smart mentor. He very subtly introduces Hiro to his friends and what they do at San Fransokyo Tech. Once Hiro sees Wasabi, Honey, GoGo and even Fred in action, he realizes that there’s a much bigger world out there that really interests him.”

When a tragic event changes everything, Hiro turns to a robot named Baymax, and they form an unbreakable bond—and two-sixths of a band of high-tech heroes on a very important mission.

“Hiro is transitioning from boy to man,” says director Don Hall. “It’s a tough time for a kid and some teenagers develop that inevitable snarkiness and jaded attitude. Luckily Ryan [Potter] is a very likeable kid. So no matter what he did, he was able to take edge off the character in a way that made him authentic, but appealing.”

“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.”

Actor, director, martial artist, photographer and philanthropist Ryan Potter was raised in Tokyo, Japan, until the age of 7. His first language was Japanese and he’s a lifelong fan of Manga and Anime.

Potter appeared in the 2014 feature film “Senior Project” and will appear in “Underdog Kids" early next year. He also starred in Nickelodeon’s “Supah Ninjas” as a typical high school student who discovers he descended from a long line of ninjas.

In addition to acting, Potter is skilled in several martial art disciplines. He began training in White Tiger Kung Fu at age 8 and has also studied Wu Shu style Kung Fu, Karate and Capoeira. In addition to White Tiger, Potter trains in martial arts tricking and parkour free running.

Potter is also devoted to painting and photography, often in unison, creating mixed media art, directing and filming his own martial arts videos and is moved by music of all genres. He is planning to attend college next year to study film and art.

Potter is dedicated to raising awareness for several charities including Covenant House and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He is grateful for his Big Brother of 10 years and has been a National Spokesperson since 2012. In addition, Toy Box of Hope, a charity that Potter started himself in 2011, raises awareness and donations for homeless children in Los Angeles.

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 06, 2014, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

The filmmakers of “Big Hero 6” set out to create a movie that balances action, humor and emotion, but according to producer Roy Conli—it’s not necessarily an even split. “When all is said and done, heart and humor are so important to us—we want to make sure that the action always has meaning—an emotional context to live in. Emotion and humor tend to come along with the action in ‘Big Hero 6.’”

At its core, of course, is the budding bond between Hiro and Baymax. Says director Chris Williams, “The movie is really about the two of them coming together. 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.”

The genesis of “Big Hero 6” lies in the Marvel vaults, though filmmakers say the comic-book series was small and not widely known. “When I was a kid, I loved Marvel comics,” says Hall. “I was encouraged to explore the Marvel universe and one of the projects I found was called ‘Big Hero 6.’ I’d never heard of it, but I liked the title and its Japanese influences—it just sounded cool.”

According to Hall, he was encouraged to take the idea and run with it. “From the beginning we were told to make it our own,” he says.

Part of the process involved researching the robotics world to find Baymax. Hall spent some time with researchers at Carnegie Mellon. “We had some really great conversations about robots in pop culture,” says Hall. “And I learned that they were actually researching soft robotics, including this vinyl arm that was inflatable and non-threatening. It could do simple things like brush somebody’s teeth, but the possibilities were endless.”

Not only did Hall like the idea of a soft non-threatening robot, he liked what it could become. “A big part of this movie is that Hiro turns this compassionate nurse robot into a meched-out warrior with some dangerous consequences at stake.”

Filmmakers decided to set their action-packed story in an all-new world that embraced the Japanese influences, but provided a fresh setting unlike anything audiences had ever seen. “I thought about San Francisco,” says Hall, “which is cool, but I thought ‘What if it was San Francisco mashed up with Tokyo.’ It felt more interesting as a setting—more playful and exotic. It was something we could create. And the visual possibilities of those two cities—which are pretty different aesthetically—mashed together felt like a really cool place to set the story.”

Conli says that the film’s setting wasn’t the filmmakers’ only twist on the Marvel series. “The original source material gave us six very interesting and brilliant kids that we could explore,” he says. “And because we decided to take it into a heightened world, we were able to reinvent the characters for today’s audiences.”

From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” comes “Big Hero 6,” an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada (voice of Ryan Potter). When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (voice of Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (voice of Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (voice of Genesis Rodriguez) and fanboy Fred (voice of T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.”

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 06, 2014, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Disney showcases the bond between a boy and his robot in the action-packed big-screen adventure, “Big Hero 6.”

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Frozen,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred.

“Hiro’s older brother Tadashi has created this 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 turn of events catapults Hiro into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, he turns to Baymax—his closest companion—and transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

“The story follows the emotional journey between Hiro and Baymax after the tragic passing of Hiro’s brother,” says director Chris Williams (“Bolt”). “Hiro grows really close to the robot, finds new hope in him and emerges from his despair.”

Producer Roy Conli (“Tangled”) says that family—the kind that you’re born with and the kind you find—is at the core of the movie. “It’s a powerful theme that audiences relate to,” says Conli. “The nuances of the relationships in deeply emotional films like ‘Bambi’ or ‘The Lion King’ are so interesting. There’s something about these stories that can really touch people.”

“Big Hero 6” features the voices of an extraordinary ensemble cast, including Maya Rudolph (TV’s “Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaids”) as Aunt Cass, James Cromwell (“Babe”) as Professor Robert Callaghan, Damon Wayans Jr. (“Happy Endings”) as Wasabi, T.J. Miller (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”) as Fred, Alan Tudyk (“Tell”) as Alistair Krei, Jamie Chung (“Once Upon A Time”) as Go Go Tomago, Genesis Rodriguez (“Identity Thief”) as Honey Lemon and Daniel Henney (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) as Tadashi, with Ryan Potter (“Supah Ninjas”) as Hiro Hamada and Scott Adsit (“30 Rock”) as Baymax.

Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring adrenaline-pumping action, heartfelt emotion and plenty of humor, “Big Hero 6” hits Philippine theaters in 3D on Nov. 5, 2014.

Hiro and Baymax are joined by their friends in this new trailer of Disney's upcoming action-adventure “Big Hero 6” which may be viewed at http://youtu.be/Y8p4Mwh0JK8.

Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action, “Big Hero 6” is directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”).

From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” comes “Big Hero 6,” an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada (voice of Ryan Potter). When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go GoTomago (voice of Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (voice of Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (voice of Genesis Rodriguez) and fanboy Fred (voice of T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.”

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 05, 2014, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Disney has shifted into high gear the marketing campaign for its upcoming animated feature “Big Hero 6” with the release of a delightful, new video clip entitled, “Discovery” athttp://youtu.be/xcLCiu6mxbA.

Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action, “Big Hero 6” is directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”).

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tamago, neatnik Wasabi No-Ginger, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 05, 2014, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Walt Disney Animation Studios officially announced the voice cast behind the new action-packed comedy-adventure “Big Hero 6,” including Damon Wayans Jr., T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung and Genesis Rodriguez, with Ryan Potter as Hiro Hamada and Scott Adsit as Baymax. Directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”), “Big Hero 6” hits Philippine theaters in 3D on November 5, 2014.

“We’re so impressed with what these performers have been able to bring to their characters,” said Hall. “The story really calls for each performer to give a wide range of emotions—from light-hearted to some seriously heavy moments—and this cast has been incredible.”

The voice cast and official character descriptions follow.

Voiced by RYAN POTTER (“Supah Ninjas,” “Senior Project”), robotics prodigy HIRO HAMADA has the mind of a genius—and the heart of a 14-year-old: his state-of-the-art battle-bots dominate the underground bot fights held in the dark corners of San Fransokyo. Fortunately, big brother Tadashi redirects Hiro’s brilliance, inspiring him to put his brain to the test in a quest to gain admission to the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. When a tragic event changes everything, Hiro turns to a robot named Baymax, and they form an unbreakable bond—and two-sixths of a band of high-tech heroes on a very important mission.

SCOTT ADSIT (“30 Rock,” “St. Vincent”) provides the voice of the world’s most compassionate robot. BAYMAX cares. That’s what he was designed to do. The plus-sized inflatable robot’s job title is technically Healthcare Companion: With a simple scan, Baymax can detect vital stats, and given a patient’s level of pain, can treat nearly any ailment. Conceived and built by Tadashi Hamada, Baymax just might revolutionize the healthcare industry. But to the inventor’s kid brother Hiro, the nurturing, guileless bot turns out to be more than what he was built for—he’s a hero, and quite possibly Hiro’s closest friend. And after some deft reprogramming that includes a rocket fist, super strength and rocket thrusters that allow him to fly, Baymax becomes one of the “Big Hero 6.”

Voiced by T.J. MILLER (HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2”), fanboy FRED comes off like a laid-back dude with no direction. But this sign-twirling, monster-loving, comic-book aficionado is sure to go places—when he’s good and ready. For example, Fred doesn’t hesitate to join “Big Hero 6,” and he has a lot of ideas for his super-hero skillset, too. His ferocious, fire-breathing alter ego comes complete with claws, integrated communications and a super bounce. But his sign-spinning may still come in handy.

JAMIE CHUNG (“Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” “Once Upon A Time”) steps up as the voice of the aptly named GO GO TOMAGO, who knows what it takes to be fast. She’s tough, athletic and loyal to the bone, but not much of a conversationalist. Popping bubble gum and delivering well-placed sarcasm are totally her speed. The daredevil adrenaline junkie is at her best on wheels, and when Go Go joins forces with “Big Hero 6,” she rolls like never before, using maglev discs as wheels, shields and throwing weapons.

     DAMON WAYANS JR. (TV's “New Girl,” “The Other Guys”) provides the voice of WASABI, who’s committed to precision. He’s super smart and just a touch neurotic, but the big and burly neatnik can’t help but join the cause when Hiro needs him most. As part of “Big Hero 6,” Wasabi amplifies his martial arts skills with jaw-dropping plasma blade weaponry. Sharp doesn’t even begin to describe this guy.

GENESIS RODRIGUEZ (“A24 Tusk” and “Run All Night”) was called on to help bring Honey Lemon to life. It’s elemental when it comes to chemistry whiz HONEY LEMON. Don’t let her glasses and funky fashion fool you: Honey may be as sweet as her namesake, but she has a fire in her belly and a can-do attitude that make her pretty much unstoppable. Her knowledge of alchemy proves powerful, too, when the effusive brainiac becomes part of the “Big Hero 6” and creates clever concoctions that when thrown, can get her team out of nearly any jam.

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

“Big Hero 6” is inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action.

Disney has just released two teaser posters for its upcoming animated feature “Big Hero 6,” inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action.

The first one-sheet art features the adorable robot Baymax as if peeking from the left side of the poster; while the second finds the lead character, Hiro, having quite a dilemma about Baymax's stomach plate.

“Big Hero 6” is directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”).

With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tamago, neatnik Wasabi No-Ginger, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 05, 2014, “Big Hero 6” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.*