Media Portfolio Project Proposal: Big Hero 6

When you think of contemporary art pieces that influence and advance, Disney’s Big Hero 6 might not be the first thing to come to your mind. But in actuality, this movie tackles a variety of different topics, including diversity, grief, and even LGBTQ+ representation.

Big Hero 6 follows 14-year-old Hiro Hamada, a talented young inventor from the fictional city of San Fransokyo who seeks to follow in his older brother Tadashi’s footsteps and study robotics in college. But after Tadashi passes away attempting to rescue his professor from a building fire at his university, Hiro is determined to figure out what--or who--caused the fire that killed his brother, thinking it’s the only thing that can bring him closure. With help from his friends and an inflatable healthcare robot named Baymax that Tadashi invented, Hiro forms a team of superheroes with the mission to hunt down the villain that killed Tadashi.

Big Hero 6 is a Disney movie and--like many Disney movies--is meant for children. Despite this, it shines a light on many topics that could be considered more mature (including grief and LGBTQ+ representation) and also presents a cast that is more diverse than many other pieces of media that were created during its time. Because of this, the movie received a decent amount of criticism and many parents were hesitant to share the movie with their children. That being said, many would argue that topics like these are important to include in children’s media. The diverse representation of characters in Big Hero 6 ensures that children can relate to the characters and see themselves in them. Additionally, the morals and lessons in the movie teach children that it’s okay to express your emotions and that grieving is part of the healing process.

Overall, Big Hero 6 is a movie that holds a special place in my heart and has inspired me in a variety of ways and I’m very excited to research it further.