As the weeks carry on, there is one thing and one thing only that’s clear: COVID-19 will be here awhile. We’d love to say that it will disappear with a simple snap of a finger, but alas none of us are Thanos and none of us have the cure. I want to thank the doctors and nurses in the medical industry doing their part to try and make that day come sooner. Even the regulation by government officials gives me some hope that we can start to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That day will eventually come, but we all have to wait around and pray for a good solution.
It is true that the real heroes out in the world are those who are helping to solve the problem. I’ve seen an uptick in people replacing “the real heroes” conversation with portraits of nurses and doctors in facemasks walking up, illuminated like they’re here to save the day. I fully agree with this logic, especially since they’re facing circumstances that I can’t even fathom. I continue to wish them support and hope that whenever this ends that you get an all-expenses-paid trip to a place of your choice, Coronavirus-free of course.
But, if I can get a bit silly for a moment, I want to talk about another hero that our world so sorely needs. One who we look to the sky and find ourselves smiling as they descend on the city, preparing to fight the evil in the world. When those boots land, who are you expecting to see? Is it Superman? Iron Man? How could either expect to fight COVID-19 and have a lasting impact? No, they would succumb to the illness like the rest of us, making us even more vulnerable when regular crime returns and we realize that nobody can beat Lex Luthor because he secretly held back the cure just to destroy the competition.
The hero we need doesn’t wear a cape. In fact, our hero isn’t really made of flesh and blood that could be vulnerable to the virus. Even if they lack the superpowers of the aforementioned characters, they have so much more that makes them valuable at this time. They hold a deeper empathy for mankind, able to read symptoms for everything from the common cold to a shift in emotional distress. They have answers to everyday problems, and they also serve as entertaining companions that could make passing time a lot easier. Sure they may be a bit too literal and sometimes aloof to human nuance, but they are the hero we need.
We need Baymax.
Baymax was built as “your personal healthcare companion” by Tadashi Hamada prior to his passing. While alive, Hamada would say “You’re going to help so many people, buddy. So many!” and rarely has that felt more necessary than it does now. He has been doing his part to help Big Hero 6 solve crime in San Fransokyo, but his true calling has always been healthcare.
Do you have a cold? Talk to Baymax. He has a rich database of knowledge. All he would need to do is scan you to know what symptoms you’re carrying. He even comes with useful tips for how to become better. As he’s advanced, he has become familiar with the emotional complexity of humans, noting how puberty is an awkward time, or how bad posture can lead to a whole host of problems. He is observant and caring, wishing to help the world become a better place.
Everything about Baymax was built to be user-friendly. His outward appearance is that of a giant, pillowy figure with an unintimidating face. If you reach in, Baymax will give you a hug and comfort you in times of sadness. His big hands will pet you like a cat, creating this deeper comfort that can soothe your soul. He has an endless source of information at his disposal, ready to make sense of these trying times. With a matter-of-factly voice, he will answer your question as a walking database, capable of inflating and deflating so that he may fit through confined spaces. Be capable with him, though, as he will leak air like a balloon if pricked.
Baymax only wants what’s best for the world, and that is something that’s necessary right now. All you have to do is look at his experience working with Big Hero 6 in Big Hero 6 (2014) and the subsequent Big Hero 6: The Series where he goes on adventures both big and small. In the film, he begins his journey by helping Hamada’s brother Hiro come to terms with the passing of his brother. Baymax is Tadashi’s gift to Hiro, and together they learn to better the world with science-based gadgets being used to save the day.
Now let’s think about this from a practical standpoint. How many of us know what’s going on in the world? Most of us feel uncertain about the world, turning on the news and becoming dissuaded by the reality of hundreds of dying per day. Globally, there are over a million people dead because of the Coronavirus alone. That’s not to count tornadoes going through Midwest America, doing just as much damage on the world. We’re all going stir crazy, longing for a return to normalcy.
For now, we have to deal with the new normal. We need to find ways to move forward in our lives without doing anything that could be seen as “illegal.” Basically, where can we go – whether within our house or in public – without risking a decline in health? If we sit around too much, there’s a host of lethargic diseases that will set in, whether obesity or decrease of muscle function. There are so many traps other than COVID-19 that can set in right now, and one has to wonder: wouldn’t it be nice if we had some way of regulating our health during this time? Something ethical that can make up for our lack of ability to simply hop on over to the hospital for a quick check-up.
It’s a moment where we’re likely to experience a growth in depression, or other emotional problems that may make life difficult. How do you stay productive when you feel like nothing matters, like ever? This pandemic has been going on for months, the quarantine is catching up. Everything feels hopeless and sometimes we just want to feel familiar comforts. Film, TV, music, and even Zoom chats can only get you so far. Sometimes you need to feel the warmth of someone talking directly to you, that you’re the most important person in the room.
We’re not all fortunate to have somebody we love in close proximity. They will disappear when the Zoom call ends, leaving us alone with our thoughts. There is nobody else there to process them with you. While our bodies can stay in motion and stay healthy, it’s just as important that our minds stay positive. In these times, we can’t be so sure about it and many nights could result in sleeplessness, lack of awareness of time as a concept. One day bleeds into another, and we’re left in a different kind of madness. Knowing that even Disney needs to be bailed out for billions lost paints how harsh the reality is. Even the fun stuff is at risk.
Now is it becoming clear?
I’d love to believe that we could have any other fictional character show up and make the day better. In some respects, watching their movies creates wonderful escapism that fills the time beautifully. We are transported to worlds of fantasy that make us feel better for a few hours. But when thinking about the practical use of Superman or Iron Man, we’re left with some harsh truths. It isn’t that we’re watching fiction. It’s that we’re watching heroes fight crime that we maybe would recognize outside of this quarantine. There’s nothing wrong with that but, considering how many people have turned to pandemic movies for comfort, there are few allegories that match, unless you see the end of the world scenarios as equal
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| The O.G. Facemask |
Or... I guess moments like The Dark Knight Rises (2012) where Bane has to wear a facemask to live. If he takes it off, he’ll die. THAT’S just as real.
But I find myself turning to Baymax for a variety of reasons. On the surface, my autism mixed with my English major means that I am drawn often to hyper-literal humor. Sometimes it’s not so much a joke as it is delivering a statement with this confident cluelessness. I am often unaware of surroundings in the world, so hearing Baymax’s monotone voice is often a comfort for me. He is always good-intentioned, and that trustworthiness feels so important at this moment. The fact that every Disney XD commercial break finds Baymax saying “It is all right to cry” shows how accepting he is of the audience’s ability to have deeper emotions. It may be a joke in this context, but it’s on par with Mister Rogers dealing with the heavy subject matter because he knows it’s better than acting like kids don’t have problems.
His need to do good also feels important right now. In a time where the world is still determining what the future holds, having a voice who is calm and collected telling you about the changes in the world is comforting. I’d love to have somebody who could understand these confusing times on such a basic level, to consult them and to know that they have my best interests. Am I depressed? Should I go for a walk? Maybe my posture is just a little off. These are things that could better our lives, especially in a moment of intense monotony.
Of course, I love Big Hero 6: The Series simply because it’s an entertaining show. It hits all of the notes for a feel-good show that I need right now, full of wacky and lovable supervillains (High Voltage notwithstanding). Even if I couldn’t afford a real Baymax (IF there was such a case), I can still dream about a world where we all have one, even on a smaller scale, who could make these hard times easier.
Either that or just watch our cat.
I’m sure that there are other characters who could fit the bill of a hero we need right now. For instance, The Hulk could turn into Bruce Banner and help the science community. But that’s for them. Who is there for the rest of us who need to keep a positive mindset? There aren’t many options when it comes to characters we can fantasize keeping us company and making our insecurities easier to process. Not only that, but there’s no fear that Baymax will die of COVID-19. He’s more likely to die of a malfunctioning chip – but that can be replaced. He can be rebuilt and work as good as new.
Until then, I can rest assured that the real heroes in the world are sacrificing, even more, to make the future look a little brighter. Thanks to them, things have gotten better and I can only hope they’ll continue to be that way until life can return to normal. Thank you very much for your sacrifice Falalalala.
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