Big Hero 6

One of the best parts about living in today's society is the advanced graphics and animation featured in film. One of the most exciting animations to come out of 2014 was Big Hero 6 based on the comic series of the same name by Man of Action Entertainment. As a Disney production, the film was highly anticipated by myself and the masses. With there distinctive aesthetic, Disney animations continue to better themselves with each film produced. 

The film opens in San Fransokyo, a futuristic city of advanced electronics with a heavy Japanese influence. We meet Hiro, an aspiring Robot Fighter, despite the activity being illegal, and his older brother Tadashi. In an attempt to persuade his younger brother to use his excellent intelligence in a more productive way, he takes Hiro to his University. It's here that Hiro meets his brothers friends and decides to enrol. During a tech conference, Hiro's brother is killed whist trying to save his professor and mentor Callaghan. Hiro, stricken by grief misses his classes at university but finds comfort in Baymax - a robot created by his brother to provide health care. The film explores Hiro's journey with grief and a heartfelt friendship between boy and robot. It's revealed that Callaghan is still alive and has a personal vendetta against a large robotics corporation leader, Alistair Krei of Krei Tech, whom he feels is behind the death of his daughter. Blaming him for his brothers death, Hiro attempts to use Baymax to kill the professor before being stopped at the last minute by Honey. Callaghan reveals his plan to use Hiro's micro robots to kill the Krei Tech President. Hiro and friends find themselves on a mission to protect Krei from Callaghan and to honour Tadashi's memory by providing care to those in San Fransokyo.

The plot is simple yet touching which is necessary in films ultimately designed for children. There are several laugh out loud moments with Baymax and Hiro as they get to know each other. Including a prolonged scene involving Baymax deflating and a roll of sellotape. I particularly enjoyed the way in which this film explored grief. Whilst it's not uncommon for the death of a loved one to feature in a Disney production, it was interesting to see a character seek revenge and experience anger in the way that Hiro does as he tries to kill Callaghan. This shows an extreme version of very real emotions that can be felt after someone dies. And although this is resolved and Hiro decides to bring Callaghan to justice rather than killing him, it was an interesting scene in showing the complexities of the character.

The superhero element of the film was unexpected. Up until the half way point of this film, I thought that this would be entirely technical and would show the team bringing down their enemy with robots instead of taking him down themselves dressed in technologically advanced super suits. But it was sweet. It was reminiscent of childhood play when friends would get together and become superheroes for the day. This is what I imagine children are thinking when they don their home made superhero costumes and venture out into the backyard.

My final thoughts on this film are as follows: sweet, well executed and deep upon further inspection.