Superhero fun from Disney

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2017)

Hiro Hamada is a fourteen year old robot designer who is entering illegal robot fights rather than continuing his education then his older brother Tadashi takes him to the research lab at the university he attends. Hiro is immediately impressed and determines that he will go there too. To do this he demonstrates his 'microbots' at the science fair. He wows them and afterwards is approached by shady industrialist Alistair Krei but declines his offer to buy the microbots. As he leaves there is a fire and his brother rushes back in to save his professor, Robert Callaghan an explosion occurs and Tadash and the professor are apparently killed and the microbots destroyed. Hiro goes into a depression but later activates his brother's healthcare robot, Baymax. It then becomes apparent that the microbots weren't destroyed; they have been stolen by a masked man whose motives are unclear. Hiro determines to defeat the man. To that end he updates Baymax and turns Tadashi's friends, who are now his friends, into heroes. Together they uncover the identity and motives of the thief before the final stand-off.
If you think Disney animation means songs and princesses then this film will come as quite a surprise. It demonstrates that Disney can make an exciting, action packed film that isn't afraid to get quite dark at times. One might expect a murderous villain but seeing the hero go into a murderous rage was a surprise. The animation looks fantastic with amazing detail. The characters are really good; Hiro is a fine lead but it is Baymax the robot who steals the show; he is cute and funny without being twee. The supporting cast of characters are great to and their 'powers', actually hi-tech gear they have invented, are fairly original. The identity of the villain isn't exactly a surprise but his motivation is quite dark for a Disney film. The film has an ending that may reduce some viewers, children and adults alike, to tears even if we then get a 'happy ending' after. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody wanting exciting, animated, superhero action.