Russell is a character from the film Up (2009)
History[]
Background[]
Origins[]
Russell was an Asian-American boy with separated parents and a distant father who was born around 2001. To cope, Russell dedicated himself to being a, "Wilderness Explorer" boy-scout, hoping that if he became a Senior Wilderness Explorer then his father would show up to the ceremony.
Around 2009, Russell attempted to get his, "Assisting the Elderly" badge by helping the reclusive old man Carl Fredricksen. Muntz sent Russell on a wild-goose chase to find a made-up animal called a Snipe, causing Russell to look around Fredricken's porch. When Fredricken released various helium balloons to make his house float to Paradise Falls in South America and avoid being put in a retirement home, Russell was stuck on the porch.
Paradise Falls[]
While arriving in South America, Russell happened upon a large bird which liked his chocolate and which he assumed was the Snipe. After learning the truth, Russell named the bird Kevin and trained it to follow them. They also happened upon a dog named Dug, equipped with a high-tech collar which allowed him to speak English.
When the humans were captured by Dug's fellow dogs and brought to their master, they found that the master was elderly explorer Charles Muntz whom Carl idolized as a child. When aboard his airship, The Spirit of Adventure, they learned that he had spent the past several decades hunting Kevin and murdered various people whom he was paranoid about seeking after the bird for themselves. Russell innocently revealed that they knew Kevin and trained her to follow them, causing Muntz to attack them and take Kevin captive while Russell and Carl escaped.
When Fredricksen didn't want to turn back to save Kevin, Russell left to do so on his own. Carl then had a change of heart and teamed up with Dug to use the floating house to pursue the Spirit of Adventure. Amidst the fight, they saved Kevin and sent Muntz plunging to his death over the side of the airship. After returning Kevin, they met her chicks and then left back for the USA, taking the dogs and Spirit of Adventure with them.
Return home[]
Upon returning to the USA, Russell became a Senior Wilderness Explorer and while his father didn't attend the ceremony, Carl did. Instead of giving Russell the normal badge, Carl gave Russell an old soda lid turned into a pin, which his late-wife Ellie gave him when they were young and called it, "The Ellie Badge". Russell was honoured by this and after this, Carl and Russell spent lots of time together with Carl substituting for Russell's father.
Later adventures[]
As a young Senior Wilderness Explorer, Russell would go to various locations around the world, often accompanied by Dug and seemingly sometimes Carl. One of these locations was the Wilderness Explorers base at Redwood Creek in the Grizzly Peak national park of California. Here, he helped fellow Wilderness Explorers become Senior Wilderness Explorers from the Anahee Camp Circle. Kevin was also seemingly active in Redwood Creek at this time through unknown circumstances, and Russell had Wilderness Explorers find his tracks as one of the challenges in the creek.
Russell, Dug, Mr. Fredricken and Kevin were all also active on Discovery Island, which also had a Wilderness Explorers headquarters. Russell and Dug started the Wilderness Explorers Club House on the island, where Russell was assisted in Carl Fredricksen in reverse-engineering Dug's collar which allowed the dog to speak. Russell did this to earn his Wilderness Explorers advanced appliance repair badge.
Russell and Dug also travelled to the village of Anandapur in the Asian kingdom of Anandapur along the Himalayas, which the Wilderness Explorers had been active in since at-least the 1910s. While in Anandapur, stone statues were made depicting Russell and Dug. The two discovered and studied different species of birds in the kingdom from the Caravan Theater.
Appearances[]
Adventureland[]
There is a sculpture in Disneyland Paris' Adventureland of Russell and Carl along the rivers of Adventureland, near a steamboat.
Disney's Animal Kingdom[]
Asia[]
Russell will make live appearances in this land.
UP! A Great Bird Adventure[]
Russell is a central character in this show. Outside there are statues depicting him and Dug.
Discovery Island[]
Dug and Russell can be found live at the themed, "Dug & Russell's Wilderness Explorers Club House". In the area is a, "Bark-o-Lator" being worked on by Russell for a badge. The meeting area for Kevin has a message left behind by Russell.
Fantasyland[]
Le Pays des Contes de Fées[]
A small Carl and Russell appear around Paradise Falls, by Carl's floating house.
Grizzly Peak[]
Russell's map of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail[]
Russell will appear live in this part of Grizzly Peak. Original to the movie Brother Bear was largely removed for theming towards Up, and a story about guests becoming senior wilderness explorers. The map of Redwood Creek is made by Russell with a message from him.
Pixar Pier[]
One sign for Pixar Pier showed Carl and Russell in the floating house, over the pier.
Lamplight Lounge[]
There is artwork of Russell on a flyer promoting the Wilderness Explorers, next to various badges from the Wilderness Explorers attraction in Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Rodeo Roundup BBQ[]
There is a paper-doll of Russell in the decor.[1]
Gallery[]
