Kind of based on a Marvel property, Big Hero 6 is the origin story of what could potentially be a huge new Disney franchise (especially considering The Incredibles 2 seems far from becoming a reality). Hiro Hamada (v. Ryan Potter) is a robotics genius slumming in back alley botfights. His brother, Tadashi (v. Daniel Henney), invites Hiro to visit his university, a trip which reignites the younger genius’ robotic fires (though it’s questionable how much formal education this kid needs as far as building robots goes; he does just fine in his own garage). But as with many superheroes, tragedy strikes, leading Hiro on a mission of vengeful justice with his brother’s medical bot, Baymax (v. Scott Adsit, aka Pete from “30 Rock”), and his brother’s pals—Go Go (v. Jamie Chung), Wasabi (v. Damon Wayans Jr.), Honey Lemon (v. Genesis Rodriguez) and Fred (v. T.J. Miller). Many live-action superhero movies lack the charm and general geniality of Big Hero 6. 

This family film is fun, sweet and exciting, like a mini-Avengers. (It makes me yearn for a big-screen adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan’s Runaways.) Without a big Pixar release to dominate the conversation, 2014 has really shaped up to be a dogfight for end of-the-year animated acclaim. Big Hero 6 might end up just outside a conversation that should remain dominated by The LEGO Movie, but these new superheroes leave as positive a first impression as this past summer’s dragon riders. 

The biggest winners when an animated feature as good as Big Hero 6 opens are the parents, who don’t have to sit through another dreadful children’s movie.