Around this time last year, there was a lot of talk about Disney’s newest movie, a musical extravaganza called “Frozen.” This year, Walt Disney Animation Studios has released its next movie, “Big Hero 6.” While this film did not receive nearly as much hype as “Frozen” did, it is certainly every bit as good as its predecessor.
Making use of their contract with Marvel Comics, Disney has made “Big Hero 6” based on the comics of the same name that were first released in 1998. The Big Hero 6 comics were unpopular compared to Marvel’s other work, and received little attention. They were short lived and widely forgotten, until Disney took the story and made it their own in this exciting animated masterpiece.
While there are so many wonderful things about this movie, the first that has to be addressed is the animation. In 2005, Walt Disney Animation Studios released their first 3-D computer animated feature, “Chicken Little,” following the success that Pixar Animation Studios had with this style. “Chicken Little” received very little praise for its animation. The 3-D computer animated films that followed it, “Meet the Robinsons” and “Bolt,” were not much better.
It was not until “Tangled” was released in 2010 that the animation of Walt Disney Animation Studios came close to comparing with Pixar, and it has been getting better ever since. “Big Hero 6” is a testament to this. The entire film is like eye-candy, with beautiful colors and backgrounds that will stun even the most die-hard Pixar fan.
However, there is much more to “Big Hero 6” than gorgeous animation. At the heart of the film is the story of Hiro Hamada, a 14-year-old genius, his older brother Tadashi, also a genius, who makes a puffy white robot called Baymax. Baymax who is essentially a portable nurse that helps you when you are injured. Baymax and Hiro must join four others to solve the mystery of Hiro’s stolen invention that becomes deadly as they become more and more involved.
The main characters offer a wide range of diversity, both in their personalities and their ethnic backgrounds. Each one is completely different, yet they are all extremely loveable. Watching them interact is a joy. The humor in the film, provided mostly by Baymax, comic nerd Fred and neurotic Wasabi, is well-balanced with the emotional moments. If you are anything like me, you will cry more than once while watching this movie, both from laughing too hard at the comedy and from reacting to the genuinely heartfelt emotional scenes.
With jaw-dropping animation, an exciting story and loveable characters, there is a lot to love about “Big Hero 6.” Marvel and Disney lovers alike will relish this jewel of a film. And to top it all off, the soundtrack includes an original Fall Out Boy song, “Immortals,” that was written and performed for the film. It doesn’t get much better than this.
“Big Hero 6” is the best movie I’ve seen this year. It is most definitely worth the time. Go see it. Oh, and, a helpful hint to Marvel fans, wait until after the end credits to leave. You most definitely won’t regret it.
Leave a Reply