Big Hero 6 Review
By: Shannon Denham,
Staff Writer
Whenever I end up talking about animated movies with others, many people end up brushing off animated movies simply because they are “children’s” movies. It is almost as if they’re too embarrassed to admit they like something “for kids.” Granted, most all animated movies are directed towards kids, but I feel that most people forget that these movies are made by adults with brilliant skills in storytelling. Not only do they create movies that both kids and adults can enjoy, but they do it in a way that can only be described as art. Needless to say, Big Hero 6 is a brilliantly-made movie that anyone regardless of age will love and shouldn’t feel embarrassed about liking.
Living up to Disney’s latest hit, Frozen, as well as being inspired by a Marvel comic, Big Hero 6 had a lot to prove and it certainly lived up to its titles. Big Hero 6 is a masterpiece with a heartwarming story about dealing with loss. This story focuses on Hiro Hamada, a 14-year-old genius who enjoys robot fighting. Having graduated from high school at just the age of 13, Hiro has too much time on his hands, but his older brother, Tadashi, manages to convince Hiro to make use of his smarts and go to college. However, a lot of things change when Tadashi passes away and Hiro becomes depressed.
Enter Baymax, the inflatable nurse robot who was created by Tadashi himself. Baymax decides to help Hiro through the grieving process and enlists the help of Hiro’s friends, Fred, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and GoGo. Things get a little more complicated when Hiro discovers a strange man in a kabuki mask that is threatening to take over the world with microbots. Hiro springs into action and begins to develop new armor and weapons for himself, Baymax, and their friends. Incorporating special inventions created by Fred, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and GoGo, the team is unstoppable and they set out to stop the mysterious villain.
While the storyline may be rushed occasionally, it is truly amazing that the crew of Big Hero 6 was able include so many plot elements into just under two hours. In fact, the story was only part of what made this movie astounding. The voice acting, diversity, and animation also play important roles in Big Hero 6. Featuring a diverse cast and set in the Japanese-American fictional city of San Fransokyo, the crew of Big Hero 6 masterfully mixed these cultures together in a way that doesn’t disrupt the story. The diversity doesn’t stick out like it doesn’t belong and instead is blended beautifully into the story and the characters.
The voice acting, along with the fantastic characterization of the characters, makes you love each and every one of them on screen. The characters each have their own quirks and they all act so real that you feel like you’re running right alongside of them. One of the reasons these characters are so real is because of their animation. Instead of each character walking the same way or having similar facial expressions, the crew of Big Hero 6 made each movement of every character true to their own personality. These distinct movements add to the overall character and truly show that the animators were nothing short of professional. Also along the lines of animation, the scenery and backgrounds of every scene are truly astounding. The backgrounds aren’t simple, instead filled with incredible details that add to the overall realistic feel of the movie. As many other reviews have said, Big Hero 6 is a showcase of exactly how advanced the art of animation has become.
With amazing animation, a great storyline, and remarkable characters, Big Hero 6 has something for everyone and is certainly not just a “children’s” movie. As I end this review, I’d like to encourage everyone to go and see it. Make sure you stay after the movie’s credits for an extra bonus scene as well. I can promise that you’ll laugh, cry, and fall in love with the big robot marshmallow, Baymax. You’ll leave the theater ready to fight crime with your own personal healthcare companion.
Disclaimer
All images in this article are copyright Walt Disney Animation Studios.