Reviews by:
@thedigitalspiral
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After the success of the 2014 film, Big Hero 6, fans have been itching for more of the characters and universe they fell in love with, and several years later, we finally get a spin-off series which follows the inflatable healthcare robot, Baymax, on his charming neighbourhood antics. Big Hero 6 was a number of things; Disney's first animated film to feature Marvel comic characters, it was an Oscar-winning picture at the 87th Academy Awards, and above all, it was a total blast. With all that in mind, it's fair to say that there were a lot of expectations for the Baymax miniseries to deliver—and I'm happy to report that it does.
Baymax! is a short, heartfelt, refreshing miniseries that explores the untapped areas of the Big Hero 6 universe. Each episode is around 10 mins in length, offering individual character stories that contribute to an overall, singular narrative. Each character has a medical emergency which triggers Baymax to respond, and after aiding each character, they all befriend the balloon-bot (some begrudgingly).
Shockingly, the series packs a punch with its charming stories and characters, offering inoffensive representation and humour for everyone to enjoy. The overarching message of the show is that everyone needs to be taken care of, and it's delivered beautifully. Baymax includes a transgender character purchasing a pack of tampons, which is seemly innocent, but upon further inspection, it's a bold and progressive move for Disney in the representation department. As a brand, Disney has made it clear that they are trying to "walk the line" and be inoffensive with their family-orientated content. However, in doing so, they have become infamous for not including any form of LGBTQIA+ representation in any of their movies or shows, and many fans have become infuriated with this notion.
In many cases, Disney has included a character and "claimed" it was part of the community, but ultimately, they have failed to outright provide an out and proud character in the film/show. Simply "hinting" as a form of representation isn't working, and naturally, people have grown sick of this half-arsed attempt at inclusivity, so it was nice to see Baymax pivot from this tiring formula and incorporate some well-needed (and appreciated) Trans representation.
In the third episode, titled "Sofia", the high schooler gets her first period, and in an effort to support her, Baymax visits the Supermarket to purchase sanitary products. When asking for help/advice on what product to purchase, a group of strangers in the Supermarket that menstruates offer advice on what products they use, including a genderqueer-presenting character that is wearing the trans colours who declares, "I always get the ones with wings". It's a subtle yet powerful moment. While a step in the right direction, in the grand scheme of things, Disney needs to do MORE.
Overall, Baymax is a goofy and charismatic miniseries that is definitely worth checking out. While there are only a handful of 10-minute episodes, somehow, each episode is packed with depth, humour, and heart. You definitely should check it out, and you will 100% want to spend more time in the Big Hero 6 / Baymax world.
Instagram: @thedigitalspiral Website: www.thedigitalspiral.co.uk
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