Doraemon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the media franchise. For the title character, see Doraemon (character). For
other uses, see Doraemon (disambiguation).

This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding
article in Japanese. (April 2016) Click [show] for important translation
instructions. [show]

Doraemon

D1 cover

Genre Comedy-drama, Science fiction

Manga
 Written by Fujiko F. Fujio

Published by Shogakukan

English publisher Fujiko Pro (North America)

Shogakukan (Singapore)

Demographic Children

Imprint Tentmushi Comics

Magazine Various Shogakukan kids magazines

Original run December 15, 1969 June 23, 1996

Volumes 45 (List of volumes)

Anime television series

Doraemon (1973 anime)

Doraemon (1979 anime)

Doraemon (2005 anime)

Related works

The Doraemons

Dorabase

Kiteretsu Daihyakka

Anime and Manga portal

Doraemon (Japanese: ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko

F. Fujio. The series has also been adapted into a successful anime series and media franchise.
The story revolves around a robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the
22nd century to aid a pre-teen boy named Nobita Nobi ( Nobi Nobita).
The Doraemon manga series was first published in December 1969 in six different magazines. A
total of 1,345 stories were created in the original series, which are published by Shogakukan.
The volumes are collected in the Takaoka Central Library in Toyama, Japan, where Fujiko Fujio
was born. Turner Broadcasting System bought the rights to the Doraemon anime series in the
mid-1980s for an English-language release in the United States,[1] but cancelled it without
explanation before broadcasting any episodes. In July 2013 Voyager Japan announced the
manga would be released digitally in English via the Amazon Kindle e-book service. It is one of
the best-selling manga in the world, having sold over 100 million copies as of 2015.
 Awards for Doraemon include the Japan Cartoonists Association Award for excellence in 1973,
the first Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga in 1982, and the first Osamu Tezuka
Culture Award in 1997. In March 2008, Japan's Foreign Ministry appointed Doraemon as the
nation's first "anime ambassador." A Ministry spokesperson explained the novel decision as an
attempt to help people in other countries understand Japanese anime better and to deepen their
interest in Japanese culture."[2] The Foreign Ministry action confirms that Doraemon has come to
be considered a Japanese cultural icon. In India, its Hindi, Telugu, Tamil translation has been
telecasted, where the anime version is the highest-rated kids' show; it won the best Kids' Show
award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India.[3] In 2002 Time Asia magazine acclaimed
the character as an "Asian Hero" in a special feature survey. An edited English dub distributed
by TV Asahi aired on Disney XD in the United States started on July 7, 2014. On August 17,
2015, another English dub distributed by Luk Internacional began broadcast by Boomerang UK.
The film series is the largest by number of admissions in Japan.

Contents
[hide]

1Plot
2Media
o 2.1Manga
o 2.2Anime
2.2.1Television series
2.2.2Feature films
o 2.3Video games
o 2.4Musical
3Reception
o 3.1Criticism
4Legacy
5See also
6References
7External links

Plot[edit]
Main article: List of Doraemon characters
Nobita Nobi is a young boy who suffers from poor grades, frequent bullying and negative
emotions like sadness, jealousy, etc. Many years in the future, one of his descendants sends the
robotic cat Doraemon back in time to protect and guide Nobita. Doraemon has a pocket from
which he produces items known as "gadgets", which range from toys and medicine, to
technology from the future. Examples include the "Bamboo-Copter" ("Take-Koputa" in
Japanese), a small piece of headgear that allows flight and the "Anywhere Door" ("Doko Demo
Doa" in Japanese), a door that opens up to any place the user wishes.
Nobita's closest friend is Shizuka Minamoto, who also serves as his romantic interest. Nobita is
usually tormented by the bullying Takeshi Goda (nicknamed "Gian"), and the cunning and
arrogant Suneo Honekawa. A typical story consists of Doraemon using one of his gadgets in
order to assist Nobita in various ways, often causing more trouble than he was trying to solve.

Media[edit]
Main article: List of non-Japanese Doraemon versions

Manga[edit]
See also: List of Doraemon chapters and List of Doraemon Plus chapters
The first appearance of Doraemon, who came via the time machine.

In December 1969 the Doraemon manga appeared in six different children's monthly magazines
published by Shogakukan. The magazines were aimed at children from nursery school to fourth
grade. In 1977 CoroCoro Comic was launched as the flagship magazine of Doraemon.[4]
Since the debut of Doraemon in 1969, the stories have been selectively collected into forty-
five tankbon volumes, which were published under Shogakukan's Tentmushi Comics imprint,
from 1974 to 1996. Shogakukan published a master works collection consisting of Twenty
volumes between July 24, 2009 and September 25, 2012.[5][6]
In addition, Doraemon has appeared in a variety of manga series by Shgakukan. In 2005
Shgakukan published a series of five more manga volumes under the
title Doraemon+ (Doraemon Plus), which were not found in the forty-five original volumes. On
December 1, 2014, a sixth volume of Doraemon Plus was published. This was the first volume in
eight years.[7]
There have been two series of bilingual, Japanese and English, volumes of the manga by
SHOGAKUKAN ENGLISH COMICS under the title Doraemon: Gadget Cat from the Future, and
two audio versions.[8][9] The first series has ten volumes and the second six.[8]
In July 2013, Fujiko Fujio Productions announced that they would be collaborating with ebook
publisher Voyager Japan and localization company AltJapan Co., Ltd. to release an English
language version of the manga in full-color digitally via the Amazon Kindle platform in North
America.[10] Shogakukan released the first volume in November 2013.[11] This English version
incorporates a variety of changes to character names; Nobita is "Noby", Shizuka is "Sue", Suneo
is "Sneech", and Gian is "Big G", while dorayaki is "Yummy Bun/Fudgy Pudgy Pie."[12] A total of
200 volumes have been released.
The manga has been published in English in print by Shogakukan Asia, using the same
translation as the manga available on Amazon Kindle. Unlike the Amazon Kindle releases these
volumes are in black and white instead of color. They have released four volumes.[13]
Shogakukan started digital distribution of all forty-five original volumes throughout Japan from
July 16, 2015.[14]
Anime[edit]
Television series[edit]
Main articles: Doraemon (1973 anime), Doraemon (1979 anime), and Doraemon (2005 anime)

After a brief animated series in 1973 by Nippon Television, Doraemon remained fairly exclusive
in manga form until 1979 when a newly formed animation studio, Shin-Ei Animation(now owned
by TV Asahi) produced an anime series of Doraemon.[15] This series became incredibly popular,
and ended with 1,787 episodes on March 25, 2005. In Asia, this version is sometimes referred to
as the yama Edition, after the voice actress who voiced Doraemon in this series.[16]
Celebrating the anniversary of the franchise, a new Doraemon series began airing on TV Asahi
on April 15, 2005 with new voice actors and staff, and updated character designs.[17]This version
is sometimes referred to in Asia as the Mizuta Edition, as Wasabi Mizuta is the voice actress for
Doraemon in this series.[16]
On May 12, 2014, TV Asahi Corporation announced an agreement with The Walt Disney
Company to bring the 2005 series to the Disney XD television channel in the United
Statesbeginning in the summer of that year.[18][19][20] Besides using the name changes that were
used in AltJapan's English adaptation of the original manga, other changes and edits have also
been made to make the show more relatable to an American audience, such as Japanese text
being replaced with English text on certain objects like signs and graded papers, and items such
as yen notes being replaced by US dollar bills.[21] Confirmed cast member of the new American
adaptation include veteran anime voice actress Mona Marshall of South Park fame in the title
role of Doraemon and Johnny Yong Bosch of Power Rangers and Bleach fame as Noby. The
English dub is produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.[22]Initial response to the edited dub was
positive.[23] The Disney adaptation began broadcast in Japan on Disney Channel from February
1, 2016. The broadcast offered the choice of the English voice track or a newly recorded
Japanese track by the US cast.[24]
In EMEA regions, the series is licensed by LUK International.[25] The series began broadcast in
the United Kingdom on August 17, 2015 on Boomerang.[26]
Feature films[edit]
Further information: List of Doraemon films

In 1980, Toho released the first of a series of annual feature length animated films based on the
lengthy special volumes published annually. Unlike the anime and manga (some based on the
stories in select volumes), they are more action-adventure oriented and have more of
a shnen demographic, taking the familiar characters of Doraemon and placing them in a variety
of exotic and perilous settings. Nobita and his friends have visited the age of the dinosaurs, the
far reaches of the galaxy, the heart of darkest Africa (where they encountered a race of sentient
bipedal dogs), the depths of the ocean, and a world of magic. Some of the films are based
on legends such as Atlantis, and on literary works including Journey to the West and Arabian
Nights. Some films also have serious themes, especially on environmental topics and the use of
technology. Overall, the films have a somewhat darker tone in their stories, unlike the manga and
anime.
Video games[edit]
For more details on this topic, see List of Doraemon video games.

There are a total of 63 Japanese-only video games ranging from platformer games to RPG
games, which began with the Emerson's Arcadia 2001 system. Doraemon can also be seen
in Namco's popular Taiko no Tatsujin rhythm game series like Taiko no Tatsujin (11
14 only), Metcha! Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Nanatsu no Shima no Daibouken, Taiko no Tatsujin
Wii, Taiko no Tatsujin Plus, and Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Dororon! Yokai Daikessen!!. The Chinese
version of Microsoft's 3D Movie Maker contained a Doraemon-themed expansion pack.
Musical[edit]
Doraemon the Musical: Nobita and the Animal Planet (
() Butaiban Doraemon: Nobita to Animaru Puranetto) was a 2008 musical based
on the 1990 anime film of the same name.[27] It debuted at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space on
September 4, 2008 running through September 14.[28] Wasabi Mizutavoiced Doraemon.

Reception[edit]
Until 2015, more than 100 million copies of the manga have been sold and the animated series is
available in over 30 countries.[29][30]
Doraemon was awarded the first Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga in 1982. In
1997, it was awarded the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award.[31] In 2008, the Japanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs appointed Doraemon as the first anime cultural ambassador.[32][33][34]
On 22 April 2002, on the special issue of Asian Hero in Time magazine, Doraemon was selected
as one of the 22 Asian Heroes. Being the only anime character selected, Doraemon was
described as "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia".[35] In 2005, the Taiwan Society of New York
selected Doraemon as a culturally significant work of Japanese otaku pop-culture in its
exhibit Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture, curated by renowned artist Takashi
Murakami.[citation needed]
Jason Thompson praised the "silly situations" and "old fashioned, simple artwork", with
Doraemon's expression and comments adding to the "surrounding elementary-school mischief".[9]
On September 3, 2012, Doraemon was granted official residence in the city of Kawasaki, one
hundred years before he was born.[36]
With the 2013 film, Doraemon: Nobita no Himitsu Dgu Museum, Doraemon has
surpassed Godzilla in terms of overall ticket sales for a film franchise as Toho's most lucrative
movie property. The 33-year series (19802013) has sold a combined 100 million tickets vs. the
50-year Godzilla series (19542004), which sold a combined 99 million tickets.[37] It also became
the largest franchise by numbers of admissions in Japan.[38]
Criticism[edit]
In Pakistan the series has been targeted by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as having a "negative
impact" on children alongside attempts to ban the Hindi dub of the series as well as 24
hour cartoon channels in general. The issue will be debated[when?] at the Provincial Assembly of
the Punjab. Legal notice also been served against several companies in Indiaagainst Doraemon
and Crayon Shin-chan as "having an adverse effect on children.[39]

Legacy[edit]

Shuttle bus featuring Doraemon to Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki

A Fujiko F. Fujio museum opened in Kawasaki on September 3, 2011, featuring Doraemon as

the star of the museum.[40][41]
As one of the oldest, continuously running icons, Doraemon is a recognizable character in this
contemporary generation. Nobita, the show's protagonist, is a break from other characters
typically portrayed as special or extraordinary, and this portrayal has been seen as reasons of its
appeal as well as the contrary, especially in the United States.[42] Mexican filmmaker Guillermo
del Toro considers Doraemon to be "the greatest kids series ever created".[43]
ESP Guitars have made several Doraemon guitars aimed at children.[44][45]
In late 2011, Shogakukan and Toyota joined forces to create a series of live-action commercials
as part of Toyota's ReBorn ad campaign. The commercials depict the characters nearly 20 years
older. Hollywood actor Jean Reno plays Doraemon.[46]
Doraemon has become a prevalent part of popular culture in Japan. Newspapers also regularly
make references to Doraemon and his pocket as something with the ability to satisfy all wishes.
The series is frequently referenced in other series such as Gin Tama and Great Teacher
Onizuka.[47][48]
 Doraemon appears in appeals for charity. TV Asahi launched the Doraemon Fund charity fund to
raise money for natural disasters.[49]
Doraemon, Nobita, and the other characters also appear in various educational manga.[50][51]
Doraemon appeared in the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony to promote the 2020
Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In his appearance, he helped prime minister Shinz Abe by planting
a Warp Pipe from Shibuya Crossing to Maracan Stadium.[52][53]

See also[edit]

Anime and Manga portal

Book: Doraemon

List of non-Japanese Doraemon versions

Dorabase, a spin-off about robot cats who play on a baseball team.

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ "Fujiko F. Fujio Museum". Japan Reference. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
2. Jump up^ "Doraemon named 'anime ambassador'," Japan Today. March 15, 2008.
3. Jump up^ Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India
4. Jump up^ S. Yada, Jason. The Rough Guide to Manga. Rough Guides. pp. 114115. ISBN 978-
1-85828-561-0.
5. Jump up^ " ". Retrieved January 5, 2015.
6. Jump up^ " ". Retrieved January 5, 2015.
7. Jump up^ "1st Doraemon Manga Volume in 8 Years Ships in December". Anime News Network.
November 15, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
8. ^ Jump up to:a b https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/books/series/B30012
9. ^ Jump up to:a b Thompson, Jason. Manga:The Complete Guide. Del Rey Books. pp. 85
86. ISBN 978-0-345-48590-8.
10. Jump up^ "Classic Kids' Manga Doraemon Coming to N. America Digitally". Anime News
Network. July 28, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
11. Jump up^ "DORAEMON Vol.1 [Kindle Edition]". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
12. Jump up^ "English version of 'Doraemon' to enter North American market". Asahi Shimbun.
November 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December
4, 2013.
13. Jump up^ http://shogakukan.asia/doraemon-4/
14. Jump up^ Chapman, Paul (16 July 2015). ""Doraemon" Begins Digital Distribution in
Japan". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
15. Jump up^ Schilling, Mark (1997). The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture. New York:
Weatherhill. p. 39.
16. ^ Jump up to:a b " (Old Wine In New Bottle? It's Rich)". inmediahk.net. 25
February 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
17. Jump up^ "The all-new "Doraemon" premieres on TV Asahi with an hour-long special and
more". The Japan Times. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
18. Jump up^ Hongo, Jun (9 May 2014). "Japanese Anime Star Doraemon Finally Makes U.S.
Debut". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
19. Jump up^ Kagawa, Marcie (25 June 2014). "Doraemon hitting U.S. airwaves this summer". The
Japan Times. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
20. Jump up^ "Doraemon plans to make US debut this summer". Nikkey Shimbun. 9 May 2014.
Retrieved 16 April 2016.
21. Jump up^ "Doraemon Anime's Visual & Script Changes for U.S. TV Detailed". Anime News
Network. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
22. Jump up^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
23. Jump up^ Kagawa, Marcie (9 July 2014). "Doraemon charms U.S. viewers in first remake for a
foreign market". The Japan Times. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
24. Jump up^ "Disney XD's Doraemon Adaptation to Run in Japan With Bilingual Tracks". Anime
News Network. January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
25. Jump up^ "Catalogue / DORAEMON". LUK International. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
26. Jump up^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160308192946/http://www.doraemon-
world.com/en/NEWS/attention%2Ball%2Buk%2Bfans%2C%2Bdoraemon%2Bis%2Bcoming%2Bt
o%2Bboomerang
27. Jump up^ Event information, News about the musical
28. Jump up^ "Events Calendar". Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space. Retrieved August 13, 2008.[dead link]
29. Jump up^ "TV" (in Japanese). Shogakukan Production. Retrieved 2013-
11-28.
30. Jump up^ McCurray, Justin (June 3, 2015). "Japanese robot cat Doraemon helps ease
diplomatic tensions with China". The Guardian. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
31. Jump up^ 1 . Asahi Shimbun (in
Japanese). Retrieved July 18, 2010.
32. Jump up^ McCurry, Justin (20 March 2008). "Japan enlists cartoon cat as ambassador". The
Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
33. Jump up^ ". (March 15, 2008) AFPBB News.
Retrieved February 11, 2010.
34. Jump up^ (in Japanese)Shingo, Takaoka . "Secret power of Otaku culture Spirits Archived 2010-
04-26 at the Wayback Machine.". The WASEDA Guardian. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
35. Jump up^ Iyer, Pico (April 29, 2002). "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia". Time Asia. Archived from the
original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
36. Jump up^ "Doraemon becomes official resident of Kawasaki a century before his birth". Japan
Times. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
37. Jump up^ Sekiguchi, Toko (March 26, 2013). "Godzilla Loses Top Spot to Kittybot
Doraemon". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
38. Jump up^ Gavin J. Blair (April 6, 2015). "Japan Box Office: 'Doraemon' Anime Still All-
Conquering". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
39. Jump up^ "Resolution to Ban Doraemon Anime Series Submitted in Pakistan". Anime News
network. August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
40. Jump up^ "Anime star Doraemon to have own museum". The Independent. London. 29 August
2011.
41. Jump up^ "Doraemon museum opens its doors". The Japan Times. 4 September 2011.
Retrieved 17 April 2016.
42. Jump up^ TETSUO IWAMOTO, Asahi Staff Writer (2012-09-03). "Happy birthday! Doraemon will
be born 100 years from today". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16.
Retrieved 2014-01-15.
43. Jump up^ Guillermo del Toro [@RealGDT] (14 January 2017). "Love that u guys love
Trollhunters. May I suggest that you seek the greatest kids series ever created... Doraemon by
master Fujiko F. Fujio" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 January 2017 via Twitter.
44. Jump up^ "ESP X Doraemon". ESP Guitars. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013.
45. Jump up^ "ESP X Doraemon". ESP Guitars. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
46. Jump up^ "Jean Reno Goes to Olympics as Doraemon in New Live-Action Ad News". Anime
News Network. 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
47. Jump up^ McNulty, Amy (May 21, 2015). "Gintama Episode 272". Anime News Network.
Retrieved April 16, 2016.
48. Jump up^ Santos, Carlo (September 23, 2012). "GTO: 14 Days in Shonan GN 4". Anime News
Network. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
49. Jump up^ "Doraemon Fund". TV Asahi. Archived from the original on January 11, 2004.
50. Jump up^ Gravett, Paul. Manga:Sixty years of Japanese Comics. Laurence King
Publishing. ISBN 1-85669-391-0.
51. Jump up^ "Shogakukan Publishes Doraemon Earthquake Survival Guide". Anime News Network.
June 22, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
52. Jump up^ Palazzo, Chiara (August 22, 2016). "Shinzo Abe emerges from a green pipe disguised
as Super Mario during Rio Closing Ceremony". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 22,2016.
53. Jump up^ Samuelson, Kate (August 22, 2016). "Shinzo Abe Dresses as Super Mario for Rio
Closing Ceremony". TIME.com. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related
to Doraemon.

Doraemon Official Website (in Japanese)

Doraemon Movie Official Website (19802009) (in Japanese)
Doraemon Official TV Asahi Website (in Japanese)
Doraemon Official US website
Doraemon features for adults (Opens January and closes May every year) (in Japanese)
Doraemon Secret Dgu List, a comprehensive list of dgu featured in Doraemon (in
Japanese)
Doraemon English Comics from Shogakukan; Complete set (in Japanese)
Doraemon (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Science fiction portal

Anime and manga portal

Japan portal

[show]

Doraemon by Fujiko Fujio

[show]

Fujiko Fujio's major works

[show]

Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize

 [show]

GMA Network programming (current and upcoming)

Categories:

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1969 manga
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Shunsuke Kikuchi
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