It’s hard to give a robot character charisma without adding some sort of emotional range to their artificial intelligence, but Disney’s Big Hero 6 gives us an example of how to pull it off in the form of Baymax. He’s an automated mechanical nurse (voiced by Scott Adsit) who helps teen inventor wunderkind Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) and his college friends on their eventual journey toward superherodom. Though it’s part of his programming, he has as much love for the boy as the rest of the gang- and he’s equally in over his vinyl head as the others.
Baymax, who Hiro’s more responsible older brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) initially made to be as gentle and comforting as possible, isn’t much of a force to be reckoned with at first. But Hiro, an accomplished “bot-fighter” in San Franstokyo’s back alleys, gradually adds armor and enhancements to him that disguise his usual inflatable, plush toy-ready design. And even after that, he still looks cuddlier than he did in the original Big Hero 6 comic book from Marvel, of which Disney very loosely adapted. Sadly, due to copyright reasons involving the X-Men franchise, notable members like Silver Samurai had to be left out of the fun.
Their teammates that do make it in- a tomboyish speed junkie named GoGo Tomago (Jamie Chung), a cautious everyman nicknamed Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.) who specializes in laser technology, comic book fanboy and mascot Fred (a very funny and engaging T. J. Miller) and bubbly chemistry expert Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) also all get their own Disney makeovers, as well as their own power boosts from the precocious Hiro. In turn, they provide him with friendship and emotional support, two things which Hiro badly, and I mean badly, needs over the course of this film as he soon suffers a tragic loss (in a fairly graphic fashion by Disney standards, no less). This also propels the gang into a conspiracy involving the theft of the miniature floating robots he developed for his enrollment into the San Franstokyo Institute of Technology, and the plan a mysterious man in a mask has for them.
As bizarre as it may sound, BH6 is a kids’ film about loss and the grieving process, wrapped up in a colorful package tailor made to sell lots of toys. And somehow it still feels sincere, a triumph of story over soulless marketing. Its protagonists celebrate the virtues of diversity and creativity without any sort of preaching or anvil dropping, these guys are totally focused on their job.
The plot isn’t too predictable but it is fairly straightforward, more focused on character moments than having too many twists and turns. I’m pretty sure a couple of scenes in the film will be too much for some smaller children, but the cast is charming and lovable enough to where I imagine most in its target audience will be happy to go along for the ride.
Hiro himself really goes through a heavy ordeal, but the writers- as well as Ryan Potter’s performance- give him enough warmth and determination to counter his (completely understandable, by the way) angst. You’ll probably want to send the little guy a gift basket afterwards, you heart goes out to him.
To be fair though, BH6 is co-produced by John Lasseter, who does have a knack for putting innocent characters through a lot of trials and tribulations. Toy Story 3, anyone? This is also reflected in Yokai, the film’s main antagonist, who has none of the hammy or comedic qualities you see in some Disney villains like Hades or Jafar. He’s 100% pure anger and menace, clad in black and taken completely seriously.
In fact, the entire movie has a good deal of respect for the superhero concept and its characters, very apparent in a few easter eggs involving Fred’s surprising background. None of the comedy feels too juvenile, it’s all pretty much rooted in the cast’s interactions with each other.
My showing of Big Hero 6 wasn’t in 3D, but I’m considering seeing it again that way because this is a drop dead gorgeous film to look at. San Franstokyo is as the name implies, an interesting and colorful mashup of San Francisco and Tokyo that borrows the most iconic elements from both cities. I’m guessing the flying scenes with Hiro and Baymax were possibly inspired by DreamWorks and the How To Train Your Dragon series, but it’s still a very original and fun film that I think keeps Disney Animation Studios’s quality hot streak (which for me, started back with Princess and the Frog. It wasn’t perfect, but come on, Dr. Facilier was the MAN) going.
Even though Big Hero 6 is pretty intense for a kids’ adventure film, it’s anything but morbid, and I’m definitely interested in seeing more material with these characters down the road. Easily recommended.