Film Review: Big Hero 6

In 2014, Don Hall and Chris Williams released Big Hero 6, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. Starring Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, T. J. Miller, Daniel Henney and Maya Rudolph, the film grossed $657.8 million at the box office.

Brothers Hiro and Tadashi Hamada live with their aunt over a coffee shop and bakery in San Fransokyo. Tadashi invents an inflatable nurse robot named Baymax for use in hospitals, but when a threat to the city arises, Hiro upgrades him into a fighting machine and recruits his best friends to form Big Hero 6.

A film that gives so much soul to a robot, Big Hero 6 is yet another testament to the belief that this film is part of Disney's second Renaissance, using another little-known Marvel title to create a success. The story itself is a near perfect blend of crazy awesomeness, gut-busting humor and heartwarming fuzziness. All of this can be seen in the rapport between the team. Early on, they’re in a car chase, being followed by the villain, Yokai. Wasabi is driving, but he’s trying to follow the rules of the road as well as shake the tail. It’s only when he decides to signal his turns that GoGo takes over, revealing how her work on an electromagnetic bike has made her into a near flawless driver. Further, when Hiro holes himself up in his room after Tadashi dies in a fire in the first act trying to try and save his professor and mentor, Callaghan, they send him a message telling him they’re there for him. Hiro also teaches Beymax how to fist bump and since the latter isn’t exactly human, his ending flourish is accompanied by him saying “balala la la.” it happens three times and the first two is played for humor. The third pulls heartstrings. There’s also the phrase that deactivates Beymax, “I am satisfied with my care.” There’s instances where the phrase is awesome, played for laughs and heartwrenching, making it a perfect use of arc words.

The film also employs great character development from Hiro. He begins the film content to use his mastery of robotics to shark bot fights, but after Tadashi shows him his college laboratory, Beymax and the people that eventually become Big Hero 6, he makes it a point to get into the same school. However Tadashi dying makes him depressed and when he finds that the nanobots survived and are being used for nefarious purposes, he decides he wants revenge. He even goes so far as to remove Beymax’s nursing programming, turning the robot into a rampaging killing machine. Though, after he find out how Yokai became who he is, Hiro realizes not only is revenge not the way to go, but it won’t bring Tadashi back. What's more is that Beymax asks Hiro if killing Yokai will improve his emotional state, which shows Hiro how far he's falling.

Beymax has some good character development too, going from a robot merely following his programming to learning how he can take care of and keep Hiro safe. In the end, it shows just how much of a soul he developed.

The other characters, while not receiving the amount of character development the other two have gotten, are great as well. All of them, except Fred, are science students and Fred is a rich idiot who loves watching people create science. In a great nod to the comics, Fred asks if they can make him a fire breathing dragon. While in the film, he’s given a suit that can jump high and breathe fire, in the comics, he actually can transform. The others also use their scientific fields as part of the team. Wasabi is a laser expert and uses the technology as blades, Honey loves chemistry and uses her experience with chemicals for offense and defense and GoGo employs the electromagnetism to her advantage.

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_{^{bold indicates reception of award/recognition}}

Academy Awards

• Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA - Saturn Awards

• Best Animated Film

Alliance of Women Film Journalists - EDA Awards

• Best Animated Feature Film

American Cinema Editors, USA - Eddie Awards

• Best Edited Animated Feature Film

Annie Awards

• Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in an Animated Production
• Best Animated Feature
• Outstanding Achievement in Character Design in an Animated Feature production
• Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production
• Outstanding Achievement in Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
• Outstanding Achievement in Writing in an Animated Feature Production
• Outstanding Achievement in Editorial in an Animated Feature Production

Awards Circuit Community Awards

• Best Animated Feature

BAFTA Awards

• Best Animated Feature Film

Behind the Voice Actors Awards

• Best Male Leade Vocal Performance in a Feature Film (Ryan Potter, as the voice of "Hiro Hamada")
• Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film (Scott Adsit, as the voice of "Baymax")
• Best Male Vocal Perforamnce in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role (James Cromwell, as the voice of Robert Callaghan")
• Best Male Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role (T.J. Miller, as the voice of "Fred")
• Best Female Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role (Genesis Rodriguez, as the voice of "Honey Lemon")
• Best Female Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role (Maya Rudolph, as the voice of "Aunt Cass")
• Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film

Black Reel Awards

• Outstanding Voice Performance (Maya Rudolph, "Cass Hamada")
• Outstanding Voice Performance (Damon Wayans Jr., "Wasabi")

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Capri, Hollywood Awards

• Capri Animated Movie of the Year Award

Casting Society of America, USA - Artios Awards

• Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Animated Feature

Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Film

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Cinema Audio Society, USA Awards

• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for motion Pictures - Animated

Cinema Bloggers Awards, Portugal

• Best Animated Film

Criticos de Cinema Online Portugueses Awards

• Best Animated Film

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

• Second Place - Best Animated Film

Denver Film Critics Society

• Best Animated Film

Georgia Film Critics Association

• Best Animated Film

Golden Globe Awards

• Best Animated Feature Film

Golden Schmoes Awards

• Best Animated Movie of the Year

Golden Trailer Awards

• Best Animation/Family
• Best Animation/Family TV Spot
• Best Pre-Show Theatrical Advertising for a Brand
• Best Original Score TV Spot

Houston Film Critics Society Awards

• Best Animated Film

International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society's Creative Arts Awards

• 3D Feature - Animated

Iowa Film Critics Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Kids' Choice Awards, USA - Blimp Awards

• Favorite Animated Movie

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA - Golden Reel Awards

• Best Sound Editing - Animated Feature

Nevada Film Critics Society Awards

• Best Animated Film

Online Film & Television Association - Film Awards

• Best Animated Picture
• Best Voice-Over Performance (Scott Adsit, for playing "Baymax")
• Best Sound Effects Editing

Online Film Critics Society Awards

• Best Animated Feature

PGA Awards

• Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures

Phoenix Critics Circle Awards

• Best Animated Film

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

• Best Animated Film
• Best Original Song (Song: "Immortals")

Russian National Movie Awards - Georges Award

• Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

• Best Animated Film

San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Satellite Awards

• Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media

Seattle Film Critics Circle Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Film

St. Louis Film Critics Association, US Awards

• Best Animated Film

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Visual Effects Society Awards

• Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
• Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
• Outstanding Models in Any Motion Media Project
• Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
• Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

• Best Animated Feature

Women Film Critics Circle Awards

• Best Family Film
• Best Line in a Movie ("Stop whining, woman up!")
• Best Animated Female (Jamie Chung, for playing "GoGo Tomago")
• Best Animated Female (Genesis Rodriguez, for playing "Honey Lemon")