An unusual entry for this list in that the original character in the Marvel comic is not white, the race swap of Wasabi for the Disney animation version of Big Hero 6 nevertheless serves the same purpose: to give the film a more diverse cast. The product of Disney's acquisition of Marvel, Big Hero 6 is the first Marvel product to become a Disney animated feature and as such represents as much a fusion of Disney animation and Marvel comics as it is of Eastern and Western styles. The pretty much entirely Japanese cast of the comic has, therefore, become the more international superpowered residents of San Fransokyo. Although protagonist Hiro and some of the other supporting cast remain Japanese in the Disney animation, the likes of blade-wielding Japanese chef Wasabi-No-Ginger have become loosely adapted characters like African-American laser cutting techy Wasabi (now not a Japanese chef so in need of an explanation for that name). Played by Damon Wayans Jr. (nephew of Ripcord actor Marlon), this new version of Wasabi has been part of a film that has already enjoyed far more attention and success than its rather niche comic originator. UK audiences can judge for themselves when the film is released here at the end of January.
