SPOILER FREE
With all due respect to Legos The Movie, Big Hero 6 is hands down the best animated film of 2014 and deserves an oscar nomination in the best animated film category. If it lands a best picture nomination by some miracle regardless of the academy's bias towards comic book films, then it will become the first one in that genre to be on that list which signifies a major breakthrough for comic book storytelling. Personally, I don't understand why the Oscars don't appreciate these type of films, they are totally capable of being worthy of a best picture nominee. Big Hero 6 will likely receive a nom in the best animated film category and most likely will win it, but I think if films like Walle, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story 3 and UP can secure noms on the top 10 best pic list, then Big Hero 6 should be able to as well regardless of it being a comic book film or not. Enough on discussing it's oscar chances and more on the film itself.
Big Hero 6 is quite a unique story and one that has an emotional punch to it. The storyline deals with a special bond that develops between a large inflatable robot named Baymax, and his master Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends forming a band of high-tech heroes. It is a heartwarming story about loss, acceptance, heroism, and befriending a piece of technology. One could say this is the animated version of Terminator 2 on some level with a touch of Real Steel and Bicentennial Man to it. The film is visually stimulating with San Francisco looking quite incredible in the future with a really cool design of the future Golden Gate Bridge. One wishes that the current one went through a redesign like the one shown in the movie. The animation is top notch with the robot Baymax looking stunning and realistic. The films pace allows it to move at a brisk pace with lots of action, great animation that comes off as brillantly put together, and touching moments where you really get to care about the characters in this film. Each major character has a backstory that's fleshed out making them come off as being sympathetic regardless of what their motives are. The character of Baymax is so appealing look wise and character that one wishes they sold big giant blow up dolls of him in toy stores. The film is not without it's dark moments where certain characters feel the loss of someone but that all serves to advance the story forward injecting moments of emotion into the film. Big Hero 6 has such a huge impact on it's audience because it has a lot of heart in it's plot. The key to a successful animated feature is to bring your audience into an alternate world for 90 minutes and make them feel young again, playing on their imaginations whether adult or child and making them feel something when exiting the theater. All the great Disney and Pixar films have followed this formula and the ones that we remember today succeeded because of those basic fundamentals of filmmaking. Big Hero 6 is no different.
In conclusion, Big Hero 6 is the years best animated film boasting action, excitement, great animated visuals, and an emotional journey about loss, acceptance, and a unique friendship between human and machine. If Legos had the humor, this movie borrows that element while adding the excitement with it. Bravo.
9/10
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