Big Hero 6: The Comic vs. The Movie—You Won’t Believe These Differences!

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It’s surprising to think about, but it’s been over a decade since the release of Big Hero 6. Despite being an underrated gem from Disney, it didn’t quite receive the acclaim it deserved when it came out in 2014. This film is a remarkable blend of growing up, forming bonds, and superheroics all rolled into one captivating tale. The heart of this story lies in six distinct characters, ranging from a tech whiz to a fully-fledged robot, making it a movie that improves with every rewatch. What’s intriguing is the depth of the lore behind this film, as it’s actually based on a comic series sharing the same name. Even dedicated fans might be surprised by the numerous differences between the two versions.

In the course of transformation, it’s common for modifications to occur in the case of Big Hero 6, as anyone who’s witnessed their beloved tale transitioning formats can attest. Sometimes these adjustments enhance the narrative, but not every time. To put it simply, changes made to Big Hero 6 didn’t spoil the movie; rather, they crafted a distinct narrative using familiar components, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe has historically dealt with well-known plots – while the central story may remain intact, numerous details and crucial aspects often undergo alterations during the process.

Big Hero 6 Underwent Several Changes for the Big Screen

It’s challenging to cram a universe’s worth of information into just one movie, leading to tough choices about what gets left out during editing. Fans have learned to accept these omissions and missing details, particularly with movies like Big Hero 6, which had the advantage of being part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comics but needed to be more self-contained for the film. For instance, some team members in the comics have strong ties to the X-Men, but these characters do not appear in the movie.

Originally developed by Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Rouleau, the superhero team Big Hero 6 were initially designed as a government-backed squad based in Japan. In the comic book world, they have only headlined eight comics in total, with limited appearances (their last appearance being in 2012’s Amazing Spider-Man: Ends of the Earth #1). The original comic team of Big Hero 6 consisted of Hiro Takachiho, Baymax, Gogo Tomago, Kimiko, Silver Samurai, and Sunfire. Due to their ties with the X-Men, characters like Silver Samurai and Sunfire were replaced in the film, as the movie rights for these characters were still held by 20th Century Fox at that time. To fill the void, new members Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred joined the team in the movie’s storyline.

Moving on, let’s discuss Fred briefly. Despite the movie’s extended runtime, Fred has a few comedic subplots woven into his character such as a missing father who’s secretly a superhero and a mysterious suit that materializes unexpectedly. Fred significantly enriched the film, providing comic relief amidst Hiro’s emotional struggles with trauma and grief. It’s crucial to mention that Fred’s character is quite over-the-top in the comics compared to his screen portrayal. This is because in the comics, Fred doesn’t require a special suit as he possesses the ability to transform into a monstrous creature known as a kaiju on command. Explaining this aspect in a concise manner would have been quite challenging.

How Hiro, Tadashi, and Baymax Change Between Formats

The storyline for the movie Big Hero 6 revolves around Tadashi Hamada, Hiro’s older brother. He is the creator of the renowned character Baymax, who looked after Hiro when Tadashi couldn’t. Tragically, Tadashi passes away, serving as a catalyst that propels the narrative forward. Interestingly, Tadashi Hamada isn’t featured in the original comics. Similarly, the movie’s Hiro Hamada also doesn’t appear in the comic version; we’ll delve into that detail later on.

Including Tadashi in the movie version of Big Hero 6 is quite logical, as it gives a personal angle to the story, enhances emotional depth, and offers an explanation for Baymax’s role. Conversely, the comic book version of Baymax had a different origin, serving as Hiro Takachiho’s bodyguard rather than a medical robot. It’s worth noting that Tadashi and Hiro Takachiho are separate characters with distinct paths towards heroism. In the movie, Hiro becomes a hero following his brother’s demise, whereas in the comics, he was initially approached by Big Hero 6 but joined after his mother was kidnapped. After her rescue, he continued on the team and eventually became its leader. Lastly, it’s important to remember that Tadashi and Hiro Takachiho are not related characters.

Is Big Hero 6 Part of the MCU?

Fans might ponder whether Big Hero 6 fits into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe due to the modifications made during its transformation. While Disney owns Marvel and it’s based on one of their comics, Big Hero 6 primarily functions as an independent animated film featuring Marvel characters.

Intriguingly, the characters from Big Hero 6 aren’t linked to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the same goes for the MCU characters not being part of Big Hero 6. To put it another way, they reside in separate worlds according to the rules of the MCU. This is why their stories don’t intertwine, but with recent Marvel happenings, it shows that this partition may not be permanent. Essentially, although Big Hero 6 isn’t officially part of the MCU now, things could change at a moment’s notice. While it’s improbable, when the multiverse is involved, anything can happen!

Big Hero 6 is currently available to stream on Disney+.

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2025-04-07 04:10