This is an animated film from director Hayao Miyazaki. It is an adventure about a family who moves to a new home in the countryside of Japan. The main character is a girl named Satsuki and she has a little sister Mei. The movie begins with a believable story line. The family is getting to know their new home, new neighbors, and new school. Then things get magical. The girls discover a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen through the eyes of a child. Totoro proves to be an extraordinary friend. The film depicts the Japanese countryside very well. It show the lush trees surrounding the many rice fields. It shows the dirt roads and how many people travel on foot and on bike. There are buses that come through town. It also depicts the Japanese farmhouse architecture beautifully. It shows the traditional screen doors, the low tables, the round wooden tubs, and the pagoda style roof top, and the family sleeps on mats on the floor. Satsuki reads and writes in Japanese and prepares Japanese cuisine.
I would discuss these traditional Japanese styles with my students. I could also have them compare and contrast Satsuki's home with their own home, using a Venn diagram or a Thinking Map-(double bubble). Another way to use this film, is to have the students identify what is realistic in the film and what is make-believe. The film has a wonderful story and would also lends itself to paragraph writing, identifying the main character, setting, problem/solution, or you could have them write a sequential summary.
Most importantly, it was really nice to watch a children's film that takes place in an East Asian culture. It is something most American kids don't see very often, and a story all primary age children can understand and enjoy.
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