Big Hero 6

Release Date: November 7, 2014

Watch Date: January 30, 2025

“Meet Baymax, a lovable personal companion robot who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his group of friends—who transform into a band of unlikely heroes.”

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   The kids had so much fun watching Frozen with us that they wanted to watch another movie, and since it was technically my turn (my son decided his pick would be after me and the last pick was his sisters, technically – he chose a Pokemon movie, not really understanding the spirit of the marathon if I’m going to be honest) I tried to pick something kid friendly, and also something that I knew would draw my son’s interest (since the last film had his sister riveted).

   So Big Hero 6 seemed the obvious choice. He’s in a very ‘robot’ phase of life right now, Wild Robot, R2D2, Wall-E, those are the only three robots I can think of right now but as of the end of this film you can officially add Baymax to the list. As long as he remembers his name. He did have to be reminded of it several times over.

   This movie feels like a comic book (and yes it is technically part of the Marvel canon so I’m not quite sure I have any idea where to put this in for the rankings – which yes I know I have to update but Bob is taking forever to fine tune his lists!) and that’s a really fun change for Disney – at least in the animated spectrum. Baymax is instantly loveable, Hiro is instantly relatable despite his genius.

   You don’t get a lot of character growth from the other members of the team, or learn very much about them at all, but at least in the context of this movie you don’t need to. Within the comic book world from which they originate, it may be a very different story. You do, at least, get to spend enough time with Hiro’s brother that even you as the audience develop an attachment for him, and you understand Hiro’s grief afterwards.

   What I really enjoy about this movie it’s honest depiction of grief. There are moments of joy mixed in. There are moments of anger. Of deep depression. And everything in between. You can learn and heal or you can hold on to it for what appears to be years and let it consume you and turn you into something you were never meant to be. And everyone will experience grief at some point in their life. No amount of media consumption about how to deal with it will prepare you for it, but, seeing relatable characters struggle with it at least gives you a sense of companionship in your darkest moments. It isn’t easy for anyone, and no one comes out of it unscarred.

   This movie tells a fantastic story without overstaying it’s welcome. It doesn’t set itself up for a sequel. It is what it is and it allows itself to stand on it’s own two legs. And that’s something rare in the Disney world. Now…did they develop a television show later. Yea, sure. But I’ll take it. It’s better than where Frozen, a movie which did the same thing in my opinion, chose to go.

   And I’d like to say, as a complete aside, having absolutely nothing to do with movies yesterday at the grocery store a very kind lady came up to me and gave me a bouquet of flowers. I don’t know what for, but it did make my day. Times are hard right now. It’s nice to know that there are kind people out there willing to do the same random acts of kindness I try so hard to do for others. So, if you’re reading this, the few that do, please try to go out and do something kind for someone else today. Even if it’s just to smile at them. Pass it on. You may never know what could be that saving grace to someone who needs it.