Dr. Donna's Review

Themes & Other Things

Five animated pieces of sushi are working together to defeat the villains who threaten Wharf City! “Sushi Pack” is just silly enough to succeed as a rare combination of humorous action-packed adventure and strong pro-social messages. The film was designed especially for the upper end of the Kidtoon audience, e.g. 6 to 9 year olds, and the complex storyline, numerous characters and multi-layered humor will be best enjoyed by this older age group. While boys will especially enjoy the crime busting antics of Maguro, Ikura, Kani, Tako and Wasabi, girls will enjoy the fact that the strongest members of the Sushi Pack team are female. Younger children might enjoy the action and funny characters, but be aware that some of the character images and a few of the battle scenes might be too intense for your youngest children. Only you can judge whether your child is ready.

Kids who are ready for “Sushi Pack” will find the characters grappling with a number of themes that are crucial to this age group: cooperation, teamwork, respect for feelings, respect for differences, and communication skills.

Things to Talk About

• Feelings are important – When Wasabi is teased by the other members of the team, he goes off by himself and gets trapped by the Titanium Chef. Titanium creates a Wasabi clone with no feelings or emotions. The team members discover that “without feeling and emotions, no one stands a chance.” They rescue Wasabi, apologize for teasing and make a new rule: “no more teasing.”
• How one feels contributes to one’s behavior – Kani feels jealous when Maguro develops a friendship with Mochi, a member of a rival group. Jealousy makes Kani suspicious of Mochi’s intentions. When Kani finally learns to face her jealousy, the three of them are able to become friends.
• Instead of wishing to be something you are not, be better at what you are – Ikura gets his wish to be big but finds he misses his friends and wants to go back to being his old self. When he returns to normal, it becomes clear that it is his special skills, not his size, that counts.
• Teamwork and cooperation lead to better problem solving – Instead of working together, Sushi Pack members compete to solve the mystery of Ben’s disappearance. Ultimately, they learn that they need each other’s special skills to do the job well.
• Don’t jump to conclusions without adequate information – Sushi Pack members overhear part a conversation and conclude that they need to rescue Tako from the Octopus clan who have carried him off. They are surprised when they finally discover that Tako is being named “Octopus of the Year,” and the rest of the Sushi Pack is in for a special honor of their own.

Activity Ideas

• Use the story about animated pieces of sushi to help children understand another culture. Talk with them about Japan, an island nation where things from the sea are most readily available. Read the book “I Live in Tokyo.”

• Take them to a sushi restaurant, meet the chef, talk about how sushi is made and how it is eaten with chop sticks. Don’t expect children to sample sushi! But, they may find some other food to try.

• Help children make sushi sock puppets out of old white socks decorated with poster paint and other things. Have them name their puppets and make up their own “Sushi Pack” story to put on a puppet show.

• Read the book “Where Are You Going? To See My Friend!” outloud to children. (See book suggestion list below) Talk about how the animals are similar to and different from their human friend. Talk about how the members of the Sushi Pack are similar to and different from one another. Ask children to think about how they are similar to and different from their friends. Talk about how similarities and differences work out in friendships.

• Encourage cooperation by having children talk about jobs or activities that go better when they cooperate with someone else. Examples might include clearing the table, sorting the laundry, doing a puzzle, being partners in a board game. Have each child list “Two ways that I can better cooperate.”

Book Suggestions
These books are recommended to encourage you to read to and with children about the themes from the movie.

I Live in Tokyo. (Learning about Japanese culture, including the eating of sushi!) Written by Mari Takabayashi.

Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! (Learning to appreciate differences in friends.) Written by Eric Carle

Frog and Road Together. (One of four books about the friendship and adventures of two unusual friends.) Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel

I Live in Tokyo. (Learning about Japanese cultures, including the eating of sushi.) Written by Mari Takabayashi.