Mr. Sparkles

Mr. Sparkles is an antagonist in Big Hero 6: The Series. He is the deranged host of the fictional web show, Maximum Insane Obstacle Challenge.

Development
Mr. Sparkles was at one point intended to appear as a villain in the original Big Hero 6 feature film but was scrapped later in development. As with many other characters, Mr. Sparkles represents an element of Japanese pop-culture, in this case, bizarre physical challenge game shows popular on Japanese television since the 1980s such as Takeshi's Castle. His show in the film was to have been called "The Super Sparkle Challenge Hour".

In The Art of Big Hero 6, art director Scott Watanabe explained that he was developed as a potential main villain when Yokai was intended to be more redeemable, describing him as a "dumpy, little, kid-like man that was super creepy and weird" that wanted to control the world.

Role in the series
Mr. Sparkles first appears in the episode "Mr. Sparkles Loses His Sparkle". In it, Sparkles's popularity is threatened and eventually tarnished when a viral video of Mochi, the Japanese bobtail of Cass, overtakes his position as the most watched figure on the Internet. Mad with jealousy, Sparkles kidnaps Mochi and broadcasts his plot to send the cat into space should no one complete his challenge in time. Go Go Tomago, Honey Lemon, Wasabi and Fred take on Sparkles's challenge, but all fail, save for Go Go. Instead of releasing Mochi as agreed, however, Sparkles launches the cat into space regardless. Although Mochi is saved by Hiro Hamada, Sparkles accomplishes his goal of becoming a "wanted celebrity" by becoming a target for the police.

Trivia

 * Mr. Sparkles is alluded to in background advertisements prior to his debut episode.
 * Mr. Sparkles is similar to Arcade a Marvel Supervillain who is an enemy of the X-Men (team).