The facts:

Title: Doraemon

Creator: Fujio F. Fujiko

Producers: Shin-Ei Animation and Asatsu-DK

Series: There are 3 anime TV series from 1973, 1979, and 2005.

Plot summary:

Doraemon is a robotic cat from the 22nd century who used a time machine to come to the present day where he lives with the family of Nobi Nobita. The only child, Nobi, is bullied every day by his friends Jaianand Suneo and Doraemon, who helps Nobi with the aid of mind-blowing and fantastical tools and gadgets from the 22nd century (stored in his stomach). Doraemon really is the secret best friend we all wish we had. Someone who always has your back. 

What I like most:

What I like most about Doraemon is that it takes you away, and transports you out of your own school day and into Nobi’s life where are protected, saved and supported by the ultimate best friend, a futuristic robotic cat with gadgets.

What I like least:

Absolutely nothing. It is impossible to find something about Doraemon to not like.

Interesting fact:

Doraemon is considered a Japanese cultural icon, and in 2008 the Japanese Foreign Ministry appointed Doraemon as the first “anime ambassador”: “By appointing Doraemon, we hope people in other countries will understand Japanese anime better and deepen their interest in Japanese culture,” said Yuko Hotta, a foreign ministry official.” (Japan Today, 2022)

Recommended age:

I would recommend this to kids aged 7+. This is an awesome fun anime, that brings comfort and joy to all viewers. It is common for older kids who have loved this anime as a child to revisit it again and again.

How to explain to your parents:

This is the story of a best friend robot cat from the 22^nd century that aids a young boy Nobi as he grapples with primary school life and bullying. Doraemon has 22nd-century gadgets for everything, making the ways he helps Nobi thrilling!

Film/Tv crossover:

The manga was first released in 1969, by way of 1,345 individual chapters. This was compiled into 45　volumes and published by Shogakukan from 1970 to 1996.

Bibliography:

‘Doraemon Named ‘Anime Ambassador”, 2022, Japan Today [Online] Available https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/doraemon-named-anime-ambassador, Accessed 22 October 2022.

Fujiko, F. 2022, ‘Doraemon’, IMDb [image] Available https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4083422/, Accessed 22 October 2022.