I bought this video for my two year old because she absolutely loves Big Bird. I don't know why Elmo doesn't win her heart like most 2 year olds - but Big Bird is the one for her. It is getting harder to find Sesame Street videos that don't feature Elmo. I found this video starring Big Bird that seemed to fit the bill for her perfectly.

THE PLOT

This movie is, you guessed it, about Big Big in Japan. The only other muppet we see a lot of is Barkely, the giant dog. For some kids, particularly Elmo-lovers, this is going to be a bummer. This video doesn't have the typical Sesame Street lineup of muppets and live actors. It also doesn't have the setting of Sesame Street so it won't appeal to the familiarity a lot of toddlers love when it comes to Sesame Street.

This movie also doesn't have the typical Sesame Street format of one general plot line interupted by short segments of songs, skits or cartoons. Instead, this video follows one plot line through to the end just like a regular movie. This format is likely to appeal to older pre-school children or even elementary school children rather than toddlers.

The story starts with Big Bird in Japan to take a bus tour of the major cities in that country. Big Bird and Barkely get off the bus to explore some sites and get frustrated that they don't see the real Japan because they are confined to the bus tour. They get caught up in their sightseeing and forget to board the tourist bus at one of its stops. The bus then leaves with out them and they are left to fend for themselves in a foreign country.

A big yellow bird and huge dog that speak no Japanese don't do very well at first. They can't find food or anyone to help them. A lot of locals greet them with "Ohio" which means "hello" in Japanese. Our heros wonder why everyone is from Ohio. They get frustrated with their inability to communicate and they worry about how they will get home.

After some mishaps, they run into a young woman. This woman takes them on a tour around Japan. She introduces them to a Japanese house and shows them Japanese customs like how to bow to show respect. She also explains how people take their shoes off when they enter a house in Japan. As Big Bird and Barkely learn the customs of Japan, so do the viewers of the movie. I thought this was a wonderful way to introduce a foreign country to small children. In addition to the plot, there are a few songs. Some of the songs are bouncy and catchy. One of them was a sad song. We also get to see children perform a play which my toddler loves.

Most of the movie is educational and focuses more on Big Bird touring around and learning the culture. There are no major plot points or suspense, other than whether Big Bird will get home. This being a Sesame Street movie, we know, of course, at the end, Big Bird and Barkely will be reunited with their tour group and make it home. This small level of suspense doesn't fool or scare even my two year old. This movie is very reassuring and is unlikely to upset even the most timid child. In my adult opinion, it does drag in places, however my kids don't seem to notice. The happy ending comes when Big Bird and Barkely realize they are so much better off for having discovered the "real" Japan.

OUR EXPERIENCE

I have three kids, ages 2, 7 and 10. I originally bought this video for my 2 year old because she loves Big Bird. My two year old is captivated by this movie although she can't really comprehend the cultural portions of it. She likes the songs and has even memorized them enough to sing and hum along.

My 7 and 10 year old children like this movie too. They actually have learned something about Japanese culture from watching it. Plus, it is wholesome, educational and non-violent which I really like. This is one of the few movies we have that all of my kids can watch together.

I actually like watching this movie myself. After 3 kids, Barney has worn a little thin with me, however the plot of this movie is cute and I like the cultural portions. As an aside, it is clear this movie was made in the 80s. Apparently, disproportionately large shoulder pads were as big in Japan during that era as they were in the U.S.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION

I really like this movie. For the $9.99 I paid for it, we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of the multiple viewings. I would recommend this for children from about 3-8.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8