Disney's Big Hero Aunt!
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Jaime Herndon
Is it just us, or are aunts becoming even more visible in pop culture, and not just on television? In the new movie, Disney's Big Hero 6, released last month, a single, childless aunt plays a vital role.
For those unfamiliar with the film, Big Hero 6 is based on the Marvel Comics superhero series of the same name. Hiro, a boy genius, and his brother Tadashi, are orphans who are raised by their Aunt Cass Hamada (voice-over by Maya Rudolph), the owner of a bakery who thinks the world of her two nephews. She states early on that she doesn’t know much about raising children, but her actions speak otherwise. She comforts her nephews when they’re upset, but also disciplines them and tells them when they are wrong. In the movie, the grieving process and the effect of loss are sensitively explored and portrayed, and Aunt Cass’s understanding of grief is important to Hiro. What stands out is Aunt Cass’s support of her nephews and her encouragement of them to pursue their dreams. (The Disney Wiki).
There's no doubt this Aunt Cass would fit in perfectly among the Savvy Auntourage. In a behind-the-scenes interview, Maya Rudolph says that Aunt Cass "is that cool aunt you wish you had or want to be." Of course, this isn't the first time Maya, a mom of four, took the role of an aunt. She played an aunt in NBC's Up All Night (2011-2013) and told the story of an aunt in a 2013 Best Buy holiday season commercial.
Many of us have taken on a large role in our nieces’ and nephews’ lives; some of us even act in a parental or parental-like capacity. Portraying a different kind of family life where an aunt is the guardian figure is a much-needed thing. Today, families come in all shapes, sizes, and relationships. The dynamic of Big Hero 6 is taking a step in the right direction.
For more on what Maya Rudolf thinks of her character, Aunt Cass, watch this behind-the-scenes movie interview at minute 1:05.
Thanks to Savvy Auntie, Karen Glanz, for being the first to alert us to Aunt Cass!
Photo: Disney's Big Hero Six
Published: December 17, 2014