After starring in the beloved 2014 CG animated film Big Hero Six, the inflatable superhero Baymax now stars in his own eponymous animated series on Disney+. Expanding the setting of San Fransokyo, the series fits seamlessly into the world and tone of the preceding movie and shows while providing its own twist on the characters and their futuristic community. And though Baymax! Season 1 delivers a complete and entertaining story, one wishes audiences could spend even more time in this narrative, like reuniting with old friends on the screen.
As teenage hero and inventor Hiro Hamada preoccupies himself with his latest high-tech projects, his lovable android Baymax roams through San Fransokyo to lend help to whomever he can in his daily travels throughout the neighborhood. From helping people overcome their deep-seated fears to coaching teenagers through the odd quirks of growing up, Baymax’s innocent and unfailingly cheerful way of looking at the world makes an incredibly positive impact on his community. And without knowing it, Baymax has cultivated an entire network for others to help him when he faces some surprising troubles of his own.
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Baymax! is created by Big Hero Six‘s director Don Hall, who brings the same attention to detail, effortless charm, and genuine heart to the proceedings. The series is made all the more impressive given that each episode runs for less than ten minutes, with the creative team taking full advantage of the seemingly truncated real estate that they are given. Each story unfolds like its own standalone vignette, tracing the influence Baymax has on the world around him, one new friend at a time, with a surprising amount of depth prominently displayed across the six-episode run of this inaugural season.
Scott Adsit reprises his fan-favorite role as Baymax, reunited with Ryan Potter as Hiro and Maya Rudolph as Hiro’s hard-working Aunt Cass. It’s a testament to the writing and Adsit’s performance that he can share such profound levels of poignancy and humor with a character that doesn’t particularly wear his emotions openly. And with the cast of endearing and new San Fransokyo residents introduced in each episode, the animated world organically grows beyond what audiences have seen in Big Hero Six.
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For those looking for a big superhero spectacle like Big Hero Six, Baymax! is more a briskly paced and entertaining set of slice-of-life stories. The stakes rarely veer into life and death, and that works to its benefit. Baymax is the unwavering, constantly present, and helpful buddy that we all would love to have — even if he may be a little too present at times. This dynamic is used to excellent comedic effect, but with its rotating cast and brief runtime, the show never comes off as noticeably formulaic or derivative.
Fans searching for a quick, family-friendly animated series on Disney+ that teaches the importance of helping out one’s neighbors in a variety of scenarios will find just what they’re looking for in Baymax!. The series wisely puts the spotlight firmly on Baymax and focuses on the inflatable protagonist’s daily life. The perfect animated series to binge through within an hour and rewatch again and again as television comfort food, Baymax! leaves audiences wanting more from this narrative world in the best possible way.
Created by Don Hall, Baymax! is available to stream on Disney+.