INTERVIEW: Jordan Nagai (Russell)

Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai)

UP –– Character Q & A: RUSSELL
Meet Russell, who is one badge away from graduating from Junior to Senior Wilderness Explorer.

INTERVIEWER: Congratulations, Russell.
RUSSELL: Oh, thank you very much. Um, what did I do?

INTERVIEWER: On your being so close to making Senior Wilderness Explorer.
RUSSELL: Oh, that! Thank you. I worked very hard to get here.

INTERVIEWER: How were you able to get all of your badges in such a short amount of time?
RUSSELL: Wilderness Explorers Handbook on badges was nine pages long. I counted them and I was turning nine and I figured I should get going before it’s here and we can have the ceremony. Then all the dads come and we all stand on stage…

INTERVIEWER: You’re very organized. And determined.
RUSSELL: Yeah, except I’ve been having trouble with the one last badge.

INTERVIEWER: What badge is that?
RUSSELL: “Assisting the Elderly.” It’s harder than I thought. There’s not many old people around my neighborhood.

INTERVIEWER: That makes it more of a challenge, doesn’t it?
RUSSELL: Yeah. It’s a challenge alright. You know that funny old house in the middle of the block?

INTERVIEWER: Yes.
RUSSELL: Well that’s the house of Mr. Fredricksen. All the other ranger kids have tried and they all came running out there—no badge. No one knows him around here. He sits there everyday. I think he lives alone. You’d think he might need some assistance, right?

INTERVIEWER: Well, did he?
RUSSELL: Um, well, I’m kinda. I offered to help him cross the street. He said no. Maybe just across the yard. No. Not even cross over his porch. I used all my wilderness training to convince him.

INTERVIEWER: And?
RUSSELL: He said he did need help with something. A snipe. It’s been gobbling up his azaleas and he wanted it caught. That’s something, right? He said it’s burrow is around here somewhere. So I volunteered to do just that and that’s what I’ve been doing.

INTERVIEWER: You’re on a snipe hunt?
RUSSELL: And our motto is “The wilderness must be explored! Ca-caw! Rawr!” and that means we go to the wilderness—or burrow—and explore. Oh, it’s getting late. I gotta get that snipe before dinner time. Gotta run. Goodbye!

I’ll find that snipe and that Assisting the Elderly badge no matter where it takes me!

INTERVIEWER: Oh, boy. Good luck, young Russell! You gotta admire a kid with that much spunk.

Read About Up's Jordan Nagai The Voice of Russell >