Film Preview: Big Hero 6 (2014)

Poster

Poster #1

Additional posters can be found below.

Trailer Link

Release Date:

Nov. 7, 2014

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A group of six superheroes are recruited by the government to protect the nation.”

Poster: C / C- / B- / C+ (3) / C / B+ / C- / B / C+

Review: You don’t get much sense of the film’s purpose or intent, but it’s effectively teasing, which is all we can expect at this juncture.

(#2-#3) The second design isn’t as mysterious as the first, but it introduces one of the “heroes” without giving us enough information about who he really is. The third design does slightly better, but opts just to use one of the gags from the first trailer to remind people that the two are associated.

(#4-#6) After the sparse designs that preceded them, these exceptionally busy posters are different than a lot of what else is out there, but lack of measurable sense of purpose. They’re somewhat exciting, but altogether cluttered.

(#7-#11) The seventh design continues the film’s sparse-or-overburdened competing design aesthetics. It’s a bland design that’s somehow lively. The eighth is the first departure from the current trend and goes for something a bit more bold and daring, ending up as the best of the bunch. The ninth is like the seventh in its lack of breadth while the tenth goes back to the busy cityscape, but keeps things a slight bit more personal. The eleventh design isn’t very broad, but it’s modestly humorous, which could be enough.

Trailer: B / B+ / B+

Review: Disney too often teases their films early with a single scene or a set of scenes intended to amuse or delight young audiences and get them to poke their parents about seeing the film. While this is a modestly endearing, sometimes funny teaser, the film’s true narrative is nowhere to be seen, which is a tad frustrating for something due out in only five months.

(#2) The second trailer finally gives us an idea of what the film’s about, setting the stakes against a Kabuki mask-wearing villain with tiny micro-bot minions. Of course, the reliance here is on the humor again and not much on the plot. However, the ultimate result is a film that at least looks fun and endearing, which could be the best thing the studio has going for it.

(#3) After a teaser and a scope-limited trailer, the full breadth of the film’s premise takes shape, giving us answers to where the “6” comes in at and what emotional current underlies the film. This should do plenty to increase interest in the film.

Oscar Prospects:

It will be a nominee for Best Animated Feature. Disney has not failed to get such a nomination since the category came into being. Whether it can win or not depends a lot on how strong the competition from How to Train Your Dragon 2 is.

Revisions:

(June 1, 2014) Original
(July 20, 2014) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#2-#3)
(September 28, 2014) New Trailer (#3) / New Posters (#4-#6)
(November 2, 2014) New New Posters (#7-#11)