Sesame Street - Big Bird in China (1983)

A Charming Adventure with Big Bird

When a woman who runs a Chinese shop in New York lends Big Bird her scroll telling how to find a magical phoenix bird, he is determined to go on a goodwill mission to speak to the majestic creature. With Barkley the dog at his side, Big Bird travels by boat to China, and there the pair happen upon an adorable little girl who luckily speaks English. She helps the two clueless Americans find their way around, following the pictures of famous locales on the scroll and gaining a clue from the mysterious Monkey King at each one. When they manage to workout the clues, they'll know where to find the phoenix. Meanwhile, Oscar and Telly are on their own mission to dig to China and see what's so great about it.

First aired on NBC in 1983, this Sesame Street classic is superior to 1988's "Big Bird in Japan" in some ways, like better songs, a better plot, and the inclusion of a scene at home on Sesame Street with other classic characters. However, "Big Bird in China" is also 15 minutes longer than its better-paced, hour-long follow-up of 5 years later. This earlier Big Bird is a bit whinier too, ha. Another difference worth pointing out is that "Big Bird in China" features a China some say is out of date today, and much of what we see looks very ancient (and probably not as appealing to some of the youngest viewers) as the film focuses on historic and cultural sites. While "Big Bird in Japan" shows us a more modern looking society and spends more time looking at cultural differences like chopsticks, sleeping on the floor, and customs like that. Both are excellent family programs for those interested in exposing their little ones, or even themselves, to another culture in a fascinating land though. In fact, I also recommend both to anyone planning a trip to Disney World who wishes to get the most out of an EPCOT visit.

Now, a word about the editing. What I've read (quite often) is that about a minute has been edited out of "Big Bird in China" for the DVD release because Big Bird seeks out someone who can speak "American". I'm very surprised that something like that was edited out, because in "Big Bird in Japan", Big Bird mentions something about finding someone who can speak American too, and that part isn't edited out. I also can't understand at all why a silly joke like someone referring to English as "American" is considered politically incorrect. Oh well. Personally, I'm against any kind of editing of classic material for DVD release, but especially for P.C. reasons.

Lastly, the picture quality is underwhelming, but that may be because it is a product of its time, I don't really know. The quality on "Big Bird in Japan" isn't much better. Also, the only extras on the DVD are small samplings from several other Sesame Street DVDs. Still, in my opinion, a childhood classic like this is a must-own, and these DVDs are good enough releases for me to highly recommend picking them up, especially if you can find them at a really nice price, like I did. I just found them (Big Bird in China and Big Bird in Japan) at 2 for 10 at a "Dollar General" store, even though they are currently out of print. If you like this one (and/or Big Bird in Japan), other titles I'd recommend are: "Follow That Bird" (a big screen feature!), "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland" (the other Sesame Street big screen feature), "Sesame Street Old School", "Fraggle Rock", and anything with The Muppets! "Sesame Street: A Magical Halloween Adventure" and "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" also sound promising. In fact, I think I've seen that Christmas one before, and it's good, retro stuff! I also highly recommend "Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art", but that 1983 classic is still not available on DVD.

June 9, 2008

The best introduction to China for wee ones

Before we moved to China with our toddlers in 2000, we watched this movie incessantly. It was the best way to prepare twin 2-year-olds for the unfathomable changes that were coming their way. Unfortunately this film is dated and does not do justice to modern-day China, but for now it's still the best on the market for the very young. I can still hear the "Ni Hao" song in my head when I think of this movie--what great memories of a precious time in our lives!

Reviewed by Barbara Strother, author of Moon Living Abroad in China (Living Abroad). April 9, 2008

Show It to your ESOL class, No Matter What Their Ages!

I am amazed at how my middle school ESOL students have reacted to the DVD. They love it! Many of the students are Chinese and they see things they recognize and love sharing their culture and language with the other students. They are watching it right now and they are laughing and enjoying themselves immensely. I am showing it to my beginning and low intermediate students. They are so happy and the English is easy for them to understand too. November 20, 2007

Great Dvd

My 3 year old girl LOVES ,this DVD .
We recently moved to China and it shows many of the places we have visted and many of the words we are learning .
It is a great cultural Dvd for little ones to show them a little China .
Love it! August 12, 2007

I love this movie

now my kids love this movie to like I did when I was there age. August 15, 2006

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