I could have sworn I wrote a review for this movie, but apparently I hadn't. Which is really odd because I am a huge fan of anime, having lived in Japan during my formative years. So when a friend recommended taking my daughter to this movie, I was ready for a novel experience.
Big Hero 6 has all the Disney elements for kids: animation, action, fairly smart dialogue, and a sense of tragedy. Hiro is the kid brother of Tedashi, an inventor that creates the Stay-Puff robot Baymax. Baymax is supposed to be a healthcare provider and protect Hiro, but Tedashi's tragic death makes Hiro want to kill the man responsible. So he outfits Baymax with classic Japanese super robot weapons, most notably a rocket fist. Those that grew up watching Mazinger Zeta and his successor Great Mazinger will be thrilled to see the nod of deference to arguably the icons of the rocket punch generation.
Big Hero 6 is an homage to anime, and it shows in every detail. The main characters have Japanese names, they live in San Fransokyo, the super robots, danger, etc. The one thing I noticed about anime in Japan was the sense of tragedy injected into all heroes (and anti-heroes). Hiro clearly has an agenda, and revenge is the main emotion.
As he gathers his five other friends sympathetic to his mission, they also develop distinct personalities. But the star of the show is Baymax, who is converted from a healthcare provider/protector into a heavily-armored weapon (and also comedic relief). I don't think anyone will be surprised that Baymax sacrifices himself to teach Hiro that revenge is not the answer, but the way he does it is surprising if you haven't watched classic anime involving super robots with rocket punches.
As with all Disney movies, it has a happy ending. Despite this, I would recommend children and adults alike to see this movie. It isn't the best movie on the planet because of some predictability, but overall I think it teaches the lesson about revenge and ultimately love for a generation that may need to remember this in the future. I give it a solid 85 points out of 100.
