Originally published on Patreon
I liked Big Hero 6 when it first came out. It's an often overlooked comic book movie (as a lot of folks don;t know its based off a Marvel Comic), and it dealt with some tough issues like grief and death in a great way. And Baymax was a wonderfully sweet character.
The new series, Baymax, focuses on the soft, inflatable healthcare robot as he wanders around town getting into little adventures where he can help people out. The conceit of the show is basically Baymax actually doing what he was designed and built to do. And it's kind of refreshing and sweet.
Across the six episodes he helps out in Cass' coffee shop when she had a trip and sprains her ankle. Que some silly moments of Baymax making the slowest cups of coffee ever, spending minutes trying to get the lid on to-go orders, and generally being a sweetie. He also helps an older lady who has hip trouble, trying to help her get over her fear of water so that she can exercise in the pool. He finds a teen girl having her first period and searches out some menstrual products for her. He tries to help out a food van operator who has suddenly developed an allergy to the food he exclusively makes. And he finds a stray cat who has swallowed a wireless headphone.
However, these stories aren't about these issues. The focus isn't actually Baymax helping them with their issues. It's about what else they've got going on. It's Cass' inability to take a day off and let go of the stress and responsibility she puts on herself. It's about the old woman overcoming the grief of the loss of her husband. It's about the girl suddenly fearing the pressure of 'becoming a woman' now that she's started her period, and how people will treat her differently. It's about the man who feels obligated to follow in the footsteps of his family. It's about the stray cat learning that not everyone is out to hurt them, and that they can find happiness.
Baymax is filled with positive messages, of stories of this bug, squishy robot helping people not just with their physical health, but their mental health. He helps them with their problems, show them that they're not on their own. It's amazingly sweet at times, and it deals with some issues that often don't get addressed on TV, let alone in kids media. The period episode in particular is wonderful for this.
I learnt about this show because bigots and conservative weirdos went wild online because of the period episode, because it talked openly about menstruation, and because it acknowledged that trans guys exist, and use period products. They were heralding it as the end of civilisation, as moral degeneracy run riot. Instead, I found a rather sweet, decent little show with some positive messages that will help kids, and a lot of adults if they listen, become better, healthier people.
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