Cool Tech – While this movie is set in fictional San Fransokyo and much of the technology is futuristic, the concepts are based in real science, and some of the tech isn’t too far away from reality. Some of the robotic features of Baymax were already being explored and prototyped by robotics engineers at the time the film was created. Magnetic levitation (or “maglev”) technology is already a reality in high speed trains – GoGo’s bike wheels may be in our future. Plasma cutting technology, similar to Wasabi’s, has been around for decades, and while it’s mainly used in factories for automation, there are also applications like surgery scalpels. Honey Lemon’s purse is a bit far fetched, but her science is real chemistry.
Embracing a Love of STEM – This is a superhero story, inspired by a Marvel comic. But these are not your everyday superheroes. “Their superpowers are their intelligence, and that’s a great message,” producer Roy Conli told Gizmodo. “It’s really a celebration of the nerd.” Early in the movie, young Hiro scorns his older brother’s “nerd school”, but once he sets foot inside the lab, it’s love at first sight and he realizes that’s where he wants to be. Does your child love to design and build, hypothesise and prototype? If you inspire that passion, you may encourage your child to follow a path in STEM. Help your child find role models who share a passion for learning, exploring and tinkering.
“Look for a New Angle” – My favorite theme of the movie is creative problem solving. When Hiro gets stuck trying to dream up a new robotic project, his brother encourages him to “look for a new angle” (while holding him upside down!). Even though you may not want to take the phrase so literally, it reminds us to encourage our child to use problem solving to work through a challenging situation. Each time he faces a challenge, your child has an opportunity to grow! By practicing creative problem solving your child will become more resilient and enhance their flexible thinking. So next time your child is struggling, encourage them to “look for a new angle”.
