Big Hero 6

Rating: 5/5

A seemingly underrated movie, Big Hero 6 is a fantastic film that has the ability to reach audiences of all kinds.

Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) is a child genius, who graduated high school at the age of thirteen. Instead of going off to college, Hiro has used his remarkable smarts not for academics as his brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) and Aunt Cass (Maya Rudolph) wish, but for underground, illegal robot fighting. Hiro loves the fights, and is very good at them, but Tadashi knows there is more that his little brother could be doing with his life. He tells Hiro he is driving him to a bot fight, but instead takes him to his university, where he introduces Hiro not only to his friends, but to the lab and the science within it, and the medical robot he's been working on called Baymax.

Hiro has no idea that this type of schooling existed, and once he does, he begins to design what he calls microbots that he can present in the student showcase that will hopefully allow him to be accepted into the school. Once accepted, things seem to be moving in a positive direction for Hiro, but through a shocking and traumatic chain of events, Hiro finds himself alone and in need of a purpose. Enter Baymax and sudden and unexpected destiny to become a hero.

Years back, when Big Hero 6 was first released, I remember being interested in it based on what I saw from the trailers, but not so much that I rushed out to the theaters to go see it. I believe I originally saw it on a plane, which absolutely did not do it justice, so my most recent rewatch was really like seeing it for the first time. When I finally saw it on a screen bigger than a dinner plate, I was fully able to understand the beauty and individuality of this movie. Big Hero 6 is humorous, exhilarating, but also poignant and touching as well. It has numerous elements of science fiction and plot points found in most superhero movies, but it also brings to light emotions and struggles to its characters that one wouldn't usually find in a movie intended for young viewers. It handles its topics in a way that is easily understood by children, but not presented so transparently that it could seem demeaning or overly simplified. It treats its viewers, of all ages, with respect and presents them with a wonderfully well balanced story.

The main character, Hiro, has suffered more loss in his thirteen years than most people do by adulthood, and being so young, he doesn't exactly know how to handle his grief. He alienates himself from his relations, and it's only when Baymax recognizes his pain that Hiro begins to bring himself back to the world. This moment, is one of the many things I love about Big Hero 6. Baymax is designed to be a medical assistant, and early in the film when Tadashi demonstrates Baymax's abilities to Hiro, it's to show how Baymax can recognize physical injuries. At this time, it doesn't even occur to Hiro that Baymax might be capable of finding emotional distress, nor would it make sense for something like this to cross his mind at the time. Later on, when Baymax scans Hiro, he assumes it won't discover anything, because he isn't physically hurt in anyway, but Baymax recognizes that Hiro is suffering emotional pain and is in need of care. For me, the best way to normalize or naturalize a "touchy subject" that can seemingly be swept under the carpet, is to present it in a way that doesn't overly call attention to it. Big Hero 6 does this perfectly when it comes to talking about grief. It makes it clear that mental suffering is just as in need of care as any physical injury, but the subtlety in how the movie presents it is what makes it work so well. I absolutely love how Big Hero 6 tackled this concept, and I honestly feel more films, not just ones catered to children, should take note, because this is how it should always be done.

On a lighter note, Big Hero 6 is able to deliver some pretty superb action sequences throughout its runtime. Its villain, the Masked Man, isn't just a nemesis to be found in a children's film; he is a frightening and formidable opponent, worthy of any type of superhero story. There are scenes when Hiro and his friends are battling him, where even though he is animated, the Masked Man is genuinely intimidating. This can be easily discovered just by looking at the way the animators have him to appear from the shadows as he attempts to stop the group of young heroes. The fight sequences are fast paced and brilliantly choreographed and edited. Match those scenes with the excellent voice acting, and you have some pretty phenomenal movie moments.

Though it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, it seems that Big Hero 6 isn't as fondly rewatched or remembered as some of Disney's other films. Perhaps it doesn't have the draw that princess movies tend to have, which don't get me wrong, I am a massive fan of as well, but it would be nice to see something as original as Big Hero 6 get the same amount of attention. Being a fan of superhero movies myself, I am probably a little biased when it comes to how much I enjoy this film, but I would find it hard to imagine that even those who don't gravitate towards stories where heroes use their special abilities to take down the bad guy, couldn't find something to love about Big Hero 6.

2015 Best Animated Feature Winner- Big Hero 6