Disney animation has been on a bit of a hot streak lately and it's not all thanks to Pixar. Sure, Pixar Animation Studios has been a dominant presence in film for the last twenty years, but recently, it's Disney's other animation house, Walt Disney Animation Studios, that's been making more noise"”and not just in the box office department.
In the past few years, Pixar has trotted out, Cars 2, Brave, and Monsters University while Disney Animation Studios whipped out Wreck-it-Ralph, Frozen, and now Big Hero 6. It's arguable that this studio has had more critical-acclaim than Pixar in recent years, but either way, it's a win-win situation for Disney.
Big Hero 6 chronicles the journey of a young man trying to solve multiple mysteries that stem from personal tragedy. Meanwhile, he forms an unlikely friendship with a plush, white, over-nurturing robotic nurse. What makes this film strong is its vivid and colorful sequences, a solid voice cast, a solid main lead that makes some tough choices that leads into strong dilemmas and internal character conflict. Also, Baymax, a fun-loving robot is an instant audience favorite and may become the hottest toy this Christmas.
While there's lots of good in this movie, the story suffers through a few hiccups. First, don't see this in 3D. Just watch it in 2D. There's nothing visually that would justify watching it in any other format besides IMAX. Second, the arcs of the supporting characters are average but stronger than other animated movies with large casts. And finally, the bad guy is slightly above average of a stock movie bad guy. The only factor that keeps this character from being totally forgettable is a backstory intended for us to give sympathy.
Big Hero 6 may not have the effect that Frozen had last year, but make no mistake: this is one of the best movies of the year. Adults and children should enjoy this earnest and soul-moving tale without any hesitation because a good story about a good hero will never go out of style.
