doraemon
History In December 1969, the Doraemon manga appeared simultaneously in six different children's monthly magazines. The magazines were titled by the year of children's studies, which included Yoiko (good children), Yōchien (nursery school), and Shogaku Ichinensei (first grade of primary school) to Shogaku Yonnensei (fourth grade of primary school). By 1973, the series began to appear in two more magazines, Shogaku Gonensei (fifth grade of primary school) and Shogaku Rokunensei (sixth grade of primary school). The stories featured in each of the magazines were different, meaning the author was originally creating more than six stories each month. In 1977, CoroCoro Comic was launched as a magazine of Doraemon. Original manga based on the Doraemon movies were also released in CoroCoro Comic. The stories which are preserved under the Tentōmushi brand are the stories found in these magazines.Since the debut of Doraemon in 1969, the stories have been selectively collected into forty-five books published from 1974 to 1996, which had a circulation of over 80 million in 1992. In addition, Doraemon has appeared in a variety of manga series by Shōgakukan. In 2005, Shōgakukan published a series of five more manga volumes under the title Doraemon+ (Doraemon Plus), which were not found in the forty-five Tentōmushi volumes.∞[edit] Plot summaryThe first appearance of Doraemon, who came via the time machine.Doraemon is sent back in time by Nobita Nobi's great-great grandson Sewashi to improve Nobita's circumstances so that his descendants may enjoy a better future. In the original timeline, Nobita experienced nothing but misery and misfortune throughout his life. As a result of this, Nobita's failures in school and subsequently, his career, have left his family line beset with financial problems. In order to alter history and better the Nobi family's fortunes, Sewashi intended to send a "super robot" to aid Nobita, but due to his meager allowance (because of the family's financial problems), all he could afford was a 22nd-century toy - Doraemon - and a factory reject at that.Doraemon has a large, pouch-like compartment in his stomach from which he produces many gadgets from the future; the drawer being something of a 4th-dimensional "doorway" between the present age and the 22nd century. Although he can hear perfectly well, Doraemon has no ears: his robotic ears were eaten by a mouse, giving him a series-long phobia of the creatures.The stories are formulaic, usually focused on the everyday struggles of fourth grader Nobita, the protagonist of the story. In a typical chapter, Nobita comes home crying about a problem he faces in school and/or the local neighborhood. After hearing him out, Doraemon always offers helpful advice to his problem(s), but that's never enough for Nobita, who is consistently looking for the "quick, easy" way out (which offers insight to the viewers as to why Nobita's life turned out the way it did). Finally, after Nobita's pleading and/or goading, Doraemon produces a futuristic gadget out of his aforementioned pouch to help Nobita fix his problem, enact revenge, or flaunt to his friends.Nobita usually goes too far, despite Doraemon's best intentions and warnings, and gets into deeper trouble than before. Sometimes, Nobita's friends (usually Suneo or Jaian) steal the gadgets and end up misusing them. However, by the end of the story, there is usually retribution to the characters who end up misusing them, and a moral is taught.[edit] Series finale rumorsThere are three current and often quoted urban legends that started spreading in late 1980s of an ending to the Doraemon series.The first and the more optimistic ending was made public by Nobuo Sato several years ago. Doraemon's battery power ran out, and Nobita was given a choice between replacing the battery inside a frozen Doraemon, which would cause it to reset and lose all memory, or await a competent robotics technician who would be able to resurrect the cat-robot one day. Nobita swore that very day to work hard in school, graduate with honours, and become that robotics technician. He successfully resurrected Doraemon in the future as a robotics professor, became successful as an AI developer, and thus lived happily ever after, thus relieving his progeny of the financial burdens that caused Doraemon to be sent to his space-time in the first place. A dōjin manga for this ending was made by a "Tajima T Yasue" in 2005, and it sold 13,000 copies before Shogakukan halted its publication. Tajima apologized to Shogakukan in 2007 and paid an undisclosed amount of money for settlement.[6]. See reference for scans of the ending.[7]The second, more pessimistic ending suggests that Nobita Nobi is suffering from autism and that all the characters (including Doraemon) are simply his delusion. The idea that Nobita was a sick and dying little boy who imagined the entire series on his sickbed to help him ease his pain and depression no doubt angered quite a lot of fans. Many Japanese fans staged a protest outside the headquarters of the publisher of the series after learning about this suggestion. The publisher had to issue a public statement that this is not true. (This ending actually correlates to the ending for the series St. Elsewhere, which ended in 1988.)The third ending suggests that Nobita fell and hit his head on a rock. He fell into a deep coma, and eventually into a semi-vegetative state. To raise money for an operation to save Nobita, Doraemon sold all the tools and devices in his four-dimensional pocket. However, the operation failed. Doraemon sold all his tools except for one used as a last resort. He used it to enable Nobita to go wherever he wanted, whichever time or era he wished to go. In the end, the very place Nobita wanted to go was heaven.The plausibility of these issues was discussed here and it was concluded that there is no ending to Doraemon. [8]There are three official endings to Doraemon that were made. Doraemon was discontinued in two media because readers were advancing in grades and an ending was believed to be needed. These two are not reprinted.In the March 1971 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei [9]: Due to the fact that visitors from the future were causing too much trouble, the government in the 22nd Century passed a bill to ban time-travelling altogether, meaning Doraemon would have to return to his time era. He leaves Nobita.In the March 1972 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei: Doraemon, for some reason, had to go back to the future but fakes a mechanical problem so that Nobita would let him go. Nobita believes him and promises to wait until Doraemon gets well. Realizing that Nobita can handle his departure, Doraemon tells the truth and Nobita accepts. Doraemon returns to the future.The third ending was actually meant to be the official ending due to low TV ratings and the Fujiko Fujio duo was busy with other works. But Doraemon did not leave their minds and restarted from next month's issue. In 1981, this episode was made into anime (called "Doraemon Comes Back"), and in 1998, this was released as an anime movie.In the March 1973 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei, Nobita again returns home after losing a fight against Gian. Doraemon then explains that he has to return. Nobita tries to have Doraemon stay but after talking it over with his parents, he accepts Doraemon's departure. They take a last walk in the park. After they split up, Nobita encounters Jaian and gets into a fight again. After a long duel with Nobita trying to win at all costs so that Doraemon can leave without worries, Gian lets Nobita win for not giving up. Doraemon finds Nobita passed out and takes him home. Sitting beside sleeping Nobita and after a moment of thought, Doraemon returns to the future. (It is also found at the last chapter of the manga Book 6).The animated version is completely similar but lengthened. Nobita finds a box the shape of Doraemon in his drawer. The next day, which happens to be April Fool's day, Nobita is jeered at by Suneo and Jaian, the latter tricking him about Doraemon's return. He happily runs home and asked his mother whether Doraemon came back and finds out the truth. Nobita couldn't stand it and opens the box. Inside of it was a bottle of liquid. He hears Doraemon's voice explaining that the potion is called Uso 800 (Lies 800) it is used to make all untruths the drinker says true. Nobita uses it to play a few tricks on Jaian and Suneo, like first taking cover then say that the weather sure is good, which becomes a lie and it started to rain heavily before he said it is raining heavily and the rain stopped. Jian and Suneo was scared away after a few tricks and when Nobita mentioned what is happening. Nobita was very happy at first but quickly loses interest in the absence of Doraemon. As he walks home, due to his earlier questioning if Doraemon returned or not, his mother asked him if he could find Doraemon, he unwittingly said, in great disappointment, the truth about Doraemon never coming back, just like what Doraemon told Nobita before his departure. Since the potion was still in effect, when he arrives his room he finds Doraemon there, and they have a happy reunion, but due to the effects of the potion, all his greets and joyful words have to be spoken in the opposite way like I am so unhappy that we can never be together again.. The extended ending from the animated series was eventually adapted to the first story of Book 7 in the manga series, with a few changes (i.e. Instead of hearing Doraemon's voice explaining the use of the potion, he finds a card inside the box describing the use of the potion).When the Fujiko Fujio duo broke up in 1987, the very idea of an official ending to the series was never discussed. Since Fujiko F. died in 1996 before any decisions were reached, any "endings" of Doraemon are fan fiction. However, it is apparent from many episodes and movies where Nobita travels to the future that in the end he does marry Shizuka, leads a happy life and separates with Doraemon, although Nobita and his friends fondly remember him. [10][edit] CharactersMain article: List of Doraemon charactersThe only main female character is Shizuka Minamoto (源 静香, Minamoto Shizuka?), who serves as a semi-romantic girlfriend of Nobita, but otherwise a supporting, minor character. Nobita's main human friends include Gian, a known bully, and Suneo, a gloating spoiled wealthy kid. There are many recurring supporting characters, such as Dekisugi, Nobita's parents, his school teacher, his descendants from the future, and Doraemon's sister, Dorami.[edit] EpisodesMain article: List of Doraemon episodes[edit] DōguMain article: List of Doraemon's DōguDoraemon can take out various devices known as dōgu (道具, lit. tool?) from his fourth-dimensional pocket. Some of the gadgets are based on real Japanese household devices with fanciful twists, but most are completely science fiction (although some may be based on folklore or religious stories).Thousands of dōgu have been featured in Doraemon. Some[who?] have placed the number of dōgu at approximately 4,500.[edit] Other appearancesDoraemon is a cultural phenomenon in Japan and can be seen in many places. For example, Doraemon is used as a promotional character by Art Hikkoshi Center (アート引越センター, Āto hikkoshi sentā?), by a removals company, and by Cocos, a restaurant chain. Doraemon also appears in appeals for charity, the "Doraemon Fund". Doraemon toys and novelties are also often found in Japan, with literally thousands of items for sale.Doraemon, Nobita, and the other characters also appear in various educational manga. Doraemon is also mentioned in several anime and manga by other mangakas.Doraemon is referenced in the current Blue Man Group show running in Tokyo. The Blue Men play a short snippet of the show's theme song, and one dons Doraemon's beanie.There are nearly 50 Japanese only video games ranging from Action Adventure, to RPG games, that began with the Emerson's Arcadia 2001 system. For a complete list of these games see List of Doraemon media.[edit] PopularityDoraemon was awarded the first Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga in 1982, and the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award in 1997.[edit] Anime[edit] Television seriesAfter a brief and unpopular animated series in 1973 by Nippon Television, Doraemon remained fairly exclusive in manga form until 1979 when TV Asahi produced an anime series of Doraemon. This series became incredibly popular, and ended with 1,049 episodes on March 25, 2005.Celebrating Doraemon's anniversary, Studio Deen produced a new Doraemon series which began airing on TV Asahi on April 15, 2005 with new voice actors and staff, and updated character designs.[edit] Foreign channels that air DoraemonMain article: List of non-Japanese Doraemon versions[edit] Feature filmsMain article: List of Doraemon mediaIn 1980, Toho released the first of a series of annual feature length animated films based on the lengthly special volumes published annually. The films are more action-adventure oriented and unlike the anime and manga, they have more of a shōnen 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 such as Journey to the West and Arabian Nights. Some films also have serious themes, especially on environmental topics and the use of technology.The most recent Doraemon film is The New Record of Nobita: Spaceblazer, slated for a 2009 release.[edit] Voice actorsFrom 1979 to April 2005, the same five voice actors provided the main voices in Doraemon. However, they retired in April 2005 partially due to the 25th anniversary of the Doraemon television series. On March 13, 2005, TV Asahi announced the new voice actors for the five main characters:[11]CharacterVoice actor for April 1979 - March 2005Voice actor for March 2005 - PresentDoraemonNobuyo ŌyamaWasabi MizutaNobitaNoriko OharaMegumi Ōhara (大原めぐみ, Megumi Ōhara?)ShizukaMichiko NomuraYumi KakazuJaianKazuya TatekabeSubaru Kimura (木村昴, Subaru Kimura?)SuneoKaneta KimotsukiTomokazu SekiDoramiKeiko YokozawaChiakiHidetoshiSumiko Shirakawa (白川澄子, Sumiko Shirakawa?)Shihoko Hagino (萩野志保子, Shihoko Hagino?)Nobita's MamaSachiko ChijimatsuKotono MitsuishiNobita's PapaYōsuke Naka (中庸助, Yōsuke Naka?)Yasunori MatsumotoSewashiYoshiko Ōta (太田淑子, Yoshiko Ōta?)Sachi MatsumotoSenseiRyōichi TanakaWataru TakagiKaminariTakeshi WatabeKatsuhisa HōkiShizuka's MotherMasako Matsubara (松原雅子, Masako Matsubara?)Ai OrikasaSuneo's MotherMari Yokoo (横尾まり, Mari Yokoo?)Minami TakayamaSuneo's FatherOsamu Katō (加藤治, Osamu Katō?)Hideyuki TanakaJaian's MotherKazuyo AokiMiyako Takeuchi (竹内都子, Miyako Takeuchi?)JaikoKazuyo AokiBanira Yamazaki (山崎バニラ, Banira Yamazaki?)DekisugiNobita - Hiroko Maruyama (stand-in for Ohara, July 23, 1979 ~ July 28, 1979)Suneo - Naoki Tatsuta (stand-in for Kimotsuki, November 15, 1985 ~ December 6, 1985)Nobita's Papa - Masayuki Katō (Start ~ October 2, 1992)Sensei - Ritsuo Sawa → Osamu Katou → Kazuhiko Inoue (Start ~ September 1981)Kaminari - Shingo Kanemoto (February 8, 1985 (character debut) ~ September 14, 1990)Shizuka's Mother - Keiko Yokozawa (Start ~ August 1981)Suneo's Mother - Yoshino Ōtori (Start ~ March 8, 1991)NTV CastCharacterVoice actorDoraemonKousei Tomita (episodes 1 ~ 13)Masako NozawaNobitaYoshiko Ōta (太田淑子, Yoshiko Ōta?)ShizukaMasako EbisuJaianKaneta KimotsukiSuneoShun YashiroNobita's MamaNoriko OharaNobita's PapaIchirou MurakoshiSuneo's MamaKazue TakahashiGatchakoJunko HoriSewashiKeiko YamamotoSenseiOsamu Katō (加藤 治, Katō Osamu?)Masashi Amenomori[edit] Opening themesThe opening theme used for the weekly Doraemon series airing between 1979 and 2005 was Song of Doraemon (ドラえもんのうた, doraemon no uta?), which was performed by five different performers over the course of its years:PerformerStarting dateEnding date1.Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Ōsugi?)April 2, 1979October 2, 19922.Satoko Yamano (山野さと子, Satoko Yamano?)October 9, 1992September 20, 20023.Tokyo Purin (東京プリン, Tokyo Purin?)October 4, 2002April 11, 20034.Misato WatanabeApril 18, 2003April 23, 20045.AJIApril 30, 2004March 18, 2005In the New Doraemon Series (2005), new opening themes songs were used, except for the first one.PerformerSong TitleStarting dateEnding date1.12 Girls Band (女子十二楽坊, 12 Girls Band?)"Doraemon no Uta" (ドラえもんのうた, "Doraemon no Uta"?)April 15, 2005(episode 1)October 21, 2005(episode 24)2.Rimi Natsukawa"Hug Shichao" (ハグしちゃお, "Hug Shichao"?)October 28, 2005(episode 25)April 20, 2007(episode 86)3.mao"Yume wo Kanaete Doraemon" (夢をかなえてドラえもん, "Yume wo Kanaete Doraemon"?)May 11, 2007(episode 87)March 14, 2008Two songs were used for a separate weekday Doraemon series which is a part of Fujiko Fujio Theater (藤子不二雄劇場, Fujiko Fujio Gekijoo), the first song being the same as the first song of the weekly series.NameSong TitleStarting dateEnding date1.Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Ōsugi?)"Doraemon no Uta" (ドラえもんのうた, "Doraemon no Uta"?)April 2, 1979September 29, 19792.Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73 (大山のぶ代, こおろぎ'73, Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73?)"Boku Doraemon" (ぼくドラえもん, "Boku Doraemon"?)October 1, 1979September 26, 1981[edit] Ending themesThe ending themes used for the weekly Doraemon series airing between 1979 and 2005 were:Song TitlePerformerStarting dateEnding date1."Aoi Sora wa Pocket sa" (青い空はポケットさ, "Aoi Sora wa Pocket sa"?)Kumiko Oosugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Oosugi?)April 8, 1979September 27, 19812."Maru-gao no Uta" (まる顔のうた, "Maru-gao no Uta"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)October 2, 1981March 30, 19843."Santa Claus wa Doko no Hito" (サンタクロースはどこのひと, "Santa Claus wa Doko no Hito"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)November 18, 1983December 30, 19834."Boku-tachi Chikyuu-jin" (ぼくたち地球人, "Boku-tachi Chikyuu-jin"?)Mitsuko Horie (堀江美都子, Mitsuko Horie?)April 6, 1984April 8, 19885."Aozora-tte Iina" (青空っていいな, "Aozora-tte Iina"?)Mitsuko Horie (堀江美都子, Mitsuko Horie?)April 15, 1988October 2, 19926."Ashita mo Tomodachi" (あしたも♥ともだち, "Ashita mo Tomodachi"?)Yui Nishiwaki (にしわきゆい, Yui Nishiwaki?)October 9, 1992April 7, 19957."Boku Doraemon 2112" (ぼくドラえもん2112, "Boku Doraemon 2112"?)Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73 (大山のぶ代、こおろぎ'73, Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73?)April 14, 1995September 20, 20028."Mata Aeru Hi Made" (またあえる日まで, "Mata Aeru Hi Made"?)Yuzu (ゆず, Yuzu?)October 4, 2002April 11, 20039."Tanpopo no Uta" (タンポポの詩 歌, "Tanpopo no Uta"?)The Alfee (ジ・アルフィー, The Alfee?)April 18, 2003October 4, 200310."YUME Biyori" (YUME日和, "YUME Biyori"?)Hitomi Shimatani (島谷ひとみ, Hitomi Shimatani?)October 10, 2003May 28, 200411."Aa Ii na!" (あぁ いいな!, "Aa Ii na!"?)W (ダブルユー, W?)June 4, 2004March 18, 2005Since the 2005 series incorporated all the credits into the Opening Sequence, these three themes were used as the Ending Theme.Song TitlePerformerStarting dateEnding date1."Odore Dore Dora Doraemon Ondo 2007" (踊れ・どれ・ドラ ドラえもん音頭2007, "Odore Dore Dora Doraemon Ondo 2007"?)Wasabi Mizuta (水田わさび, Wasabi Mizuta?)August 5, 2005October 21, 20052."Doraemon Ekaki-uta" (ドラえもん・えかきうた, "Doraemon Ekaki-uta"?)Wasabi Mizuta (水田わさび, Wasabi Mizuta?)3."Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta" (ドラミちゃんのえかきうた, "Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta"?)Chiaki (千秋, Chiaki?)Three songs were used for the separate weekday Doraemon series.Song TitlePerformer1."Doraemon Ekaki-uta" (ドラえもん・えかきうた, "Doraemon Ekaki-uta"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)2."Doraemon Ondo" (ドラえもん音頭, "Doraemon Ondo"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)3."Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta" (ドラミちゃんのえかきうた, "Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta"?)Keiko Yokozawa (横沢啓子, Keiko Yokozawa?)[edit] SignificanceOn 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 cartoon character selected, Doraemon was described as "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia".In 2005, the Japan 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. In Murakami's analysis, he states that Doraemon's formulaic plotlines typified the "wish fulfilment" mentality of 1970s Japan, where the electronics revolution glamorized the idea that one could solve their problems with machines and gadgets rather than hard work or individual intelligence.[citation needed][edit] References^ I.e. a new name for the former Yok Long Holdings purchased by Sing Tao Daily since 1990.^ Yamaguchi, Mari. "Doraemon appointed Japan's first ever cartoon ambassador," China Post, March 20, 2008.^ "Doraemon named 'anime ambassador'," Japan Today. March 15, 2008.^ Iyer, Pico. "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia." Time (Asia).^ "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.^ 「ドラえもん」最終話、勝手に出版した男性が謝罪, asahi.com^ The Last Episode (Ending) of Doraemon / Episode Terakhir (Ending) Doraemon^ [1] (Japanese)^ [2]^ All About Doraemon the robotic cat (Chinese).^ Announcement by TV Asahi[edit] See alsoList of non-Japanese Doraemon versionsList of Doraemon mediaKiteretsu Daihyakka, a similar manga by Fujiko F. FujioThe Doraemons, a spin-off about Doraemon and his friends from Robot SchoolDorabase, a spin-off about robot cats who play on a baseball team.
History In December 1969, the Doraemon manga appeared simultaneously in six different children's monthly magazines. The magazines were titled by the year of children's studies, which included Yoiko (good children), Yōchien (nursery school), and Shogaku Ichinensei (first grade of primary school) to Shogaku Yonnensei (fourth grade of primary school). By 1973, the series began to appear in two more magazines, Shogaku Gonensei (fifth grade of primary school) and Shogaku Rokunensei (sixth grade of primary school). The stories featured in each of the magazines were different, meaning the author was originally creating more than six stories each month. In 1977, CoroCoro Comic was launched as a magazine of Doraemon. Original manga based on the Doraemon movies were also released in CoroCoro Comic. The stories which are preserved under the Tentōmushi brand are the stories found in these magazines.Since the debut of Doraemon in 1969, the stories have been selectively collected into forty-five books published from 1974 to 1996, which had a circulation of over 80 million in 1992. In addition, Doraemon has appeared in a variety of manga series by Shōgakukan. In 2005, Shōgakukan published a series of five more manga volumes under the title Doraemon+ (Doraemon Plus), which were not found in the forty-five Tentōmushi volumes.∞[edit] Plot summaryThe first appearance of Doraemon, who came via the time machine.Doraemon is sent back in time by Nobita Nobi's great-great grandson Sewashi to improve Nobita's circumstances so that his descendants may enjoy a better future. In the original timeline, Nobita experienced nothing but misery and misfortune throughout his life. As a result of this, Nobita's failures in school and subsequently, his career, have left his family line beset with financial problems. In order to alter history and better the Nobi family's fortunes, Sewashi intended to send a "super robot" to aid Nobita, but due to his meager allowance (because of the family's financial problems), all he could afford was a 22nd-century toy - Doraemon - and a factory reject at that.Doraemon has a large, pouch-like compartment in his stomach from which he produces many gadgets from the future; the drawer being something of a 4th-dimensional "doorway" between the present age and the 22nd century. Although he can hear perfectly well, Doraemon has no ears: his robotic ears were eaten by a mouse, giving him a series-long phobia of the creatures.The stories are formulaic, usually focused on the everyday struggles of fourth grader Nobita, the protagonist of the story. In a typical chapter, Nobita comes home crying about a problem he faces in school and/or the local neighborhood. After hearing him out, Doraemon always offers helpful advice to his problem(s), but that's never enough for Nobita, who is consistently looking for the "quick, easy" way out (which offers insight to the viewers as to why Nobita's life turned out the way it did). Finally, after Nobita's pleading and/or goading, Doraemon produces a futuristic gadget out of his aforementioned pouch to help Nobita fix his problem, enact revenge, or flaunt to his friends.Nobita usually goes too far, despite Doraemon's best intentions and warnings, and gets into deeper trouble than before. Sometimes, Nobita's friends (usually Suneo or Jaian) steal the gadgets and end up misusing them. However, by the end of the story, there is usually retribution to the characters who end up misusing them, and a moral is taught.[edit] Series finale rumorsThere are three current and often quoted urban legends that started spreading in late 1980s of an ending to the Doraemon series.The first and the more optimistic ending was made public by Nobuo Sato several years ago. Doraemon's battery power ran out, and Nobita was given a choice between replacing the battery inside a frozen Doraemon, which would cause it to reset and lose all memory, or await a competent robotics technician who would be able to resurrect the cat-robot one day. Nobita swore that very day to work hard in school, graduate with honours, and become that robotics technician. He successfully resurrected Doraemon in the future as a robotics professor, became successful as an AI developer, and thus lived happily ever after, thus relieving his progeny of the financial burdens that caused Doraemon to be sent to his space-time in the first place. A dōjin manga for this ending was made by a "Tajima T Yasue" in 2005, and it sold 13,000 copies before Shogakukan halted its publication. Tajima apologized to Shogakukan in 2007 and paid an undisclosed amount of money for settlement.[6]. See reference for scans of the ending.[7]The second, more pessimistic ending suggests that Nobita Nobi is suffering from autism and that all the characters (including Doraemon) are simply his delusion. The idea that Nobita was a sick and dying little boy who imagined the entire series on his sickbed to help him ease his pain and depression no doubt angered quite a lot of fans. Many Japanese fans staged a protest outside the headquarters of the publisher of the series after learning about this suggestion. The publisher had to issue a public statement that this is not true. (This ending actually correlates to the ending for the series St. Elsewhere, which ended in 1988.)The third ending suggests that Nobita fell and hit his head on a rock. He fell into a deep coma, and eventually into a semi-vegetative state. To raise money for an operation to save Nobita, Doraemon sold all the tools and devices in his four-dimensional pocket. However, the operation failed. Doraemon sold all his tools except for one used as a last resort. He used it to enable Nobita to go wherever he wanted, whichever time or era he wished to go. In the end, the very place Nobita wanted to go was heaven.The plausibility of these issues was discussed here and it was concluded that there is no ending to Doraemon. [8]There are three official endings to Doraemon that were made. Doraemon was discontinued in two media because readers were advancing in grades and an ending was believed to be needed. These two are not reprinted.In the March 1971 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei [9]: Due to the fact that visitors from the future were causing too much trouble, the government in the 22nd Century passed a bill to ban time-travelling altogether, meaning Doraemon would have to return to his time era. He leaves Nobita.In the March 1972 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei: Doraemon, for some reason, had to go back to the future but fakes a mechanical problem so that Nobita would let him go. Nobita believes him and promises to wait until Doraemon gets well. Realizing that Nobita can handle his departure, Doraemon tells the truth and Nobita accepts. Doraemon returns to the future.The third ending was actually meant to be the official ending due to low TV ratings and the Fujiko Fujio duo was busy with other works. But Doraemon did not leave their minds and restarted from next month's issue. In 1981, this episode was made into anime (called "Doraemon Comes Back"), and in 1998, this was released as an anime movie.In the March 1973 issue of the magazine Shogaku 4-nensei, Nobita again returns home after losing a fight against Gian. Doraemon then explains that he has to return. Nobita tries to have Doraemon stay but after talking it over with his parents, he accepts Doraemon's departure. They take a last walk in the park. After they split up, Nobita encounters Jaian and gets into a fight again. After a long duel with Nobita trying to win at all costs so that Doraemon can leave without worries, Gian lets Nobita win for not giving up. Doraemon finds Nobita passed out and takes him home. Sitting beside sleeping Nobita and after a moment of thought, Doraemon returns to the future. (It is also found at the last chapter of the manga Book 6).The animated version is completely similar but lengthened. Nobita finds a box the shape of Doraemon in his drawer. The next day, which happens to be April Fool's day, Nobita is jeered at by Suneo and Jaian, the latter tricking him about Doraemon's return. He happily runs home and asked his mother whether Doraemon came back and finds out the truth. Nobita couldn't stand it and opens the box. Inside of it was a bottle of liquid. He hears Doraemon's voice explaining that the potion is called Uso 800 (Lies 800) it is used to make all untruths the drinker says true. Nobita uses it to play a few tricks on Jaian and Suneo, like first taking cover then say that the weather sure is good, which becomes a lie and it started to rain heavily before he said it is raining heavily and the rain stopped. Jian and Suneo was scared away after a few tricks and when Nobita mentioned what is happening. Nobita was very happy at first but quickly loses interest in the absence of Doraemon. As he walks home, due to his earlier questioning if Doraemon returned or not, his mother asked him if he could find Doraemon, he unwittingly said, in great disappointment, the truth about Doraemon never coming back, just like what Doraemon told Nobita before his departure. Since the potion was still in effect, when he arrives his room he finds Doraemon there, and they have a happy reunion, but due to the effects of the potion, all his greets and joyful words have to be spoken in the opposite way like I am so unhappy that we can never be together again.. The extended ending from the animated series was eventually adapted to the first story of Book 7 in the manga series, with a few changes (i.e. Instead of hearing Doraemon's voice explaining the use of the potion, he finds a card inside the box describing the use of the potion).When the Fujiko Fujio duo broke up in 1987, the very idea of an official ending to the series was never discussed. Since Fujiko F. died in 1996 before any decisions were reached, any "endings" of Doraemon are fan fiction. However, it is apparent from many episodes and movies where Nobita travels to the future that in the end he does marry Shizuka, leads a happy life and separates with Doraemon, although Nobita and his friends fondly remember him. [10][edit] CharactersMain article: List of Doraemon charactersThe only main female character is Shizuka Minamoto (源 静香, Minamoto Shizuka?), who serves as a semi-romantic girlfriend of Nobita, but otherwise a supporting, minor character. Nobita's main human friends include Gian, a known bully, and Suneo, a gloating spoiled wealthy kid. There are many recurring supporting characters, such as Dekisugi, Nobita's parents, his school teacher, his descendants from the future, and Doraemon's sister, Dorami.[edit] EpisodesMain article: List of Doraemon episodes[edit] DōguMain article: List of Doraemon's DōguDoraemon can take out various devices known as dōgu (道具, lit. tool?) from his fourth-dimensional pocket. Some of the gadgets are based on real Japanese household devices with fanciful twists, but most are completely science fiction (although some may be based on folklore or religious stories).Thousands of dōgu have been featured in Doraemon. Some[who?] have placed the number of dōgu at approximately 4,500.[edit] Other appearancesDoraemon is a cultural phenomenon in Japan and can be seen in many places. For example, Doraemon is used as a promotional character by Art Hikkoshi Center (アート引越センター, Āto hikkoshi sentā?), by a removals company, and by Cocos, a restaurant chain. Doraemon also appears in appeals for charity, the "Doraemon Fund". Doraemon toys and novelties are also often found in Japan, with literally thousands of items for sale.Doraemon, Nobita, and the other characters also appear in various educational manga. Doraemon is also mentioned in several anime and manga by other mangakas.Doraemon is referenced in the current Blue Man Group show running in Tokyo. The Blue Men play a short snippet of the show's theme song, and one dons Doraemon's beanie.There are nearly 50 Japanese only video games ranging from Action Adventure, to RPG games, that began with the Emerson's Arcadia 2001 system. For a complete list of these games see List of Doraemon media.[edit] PopularityDoraemon was awarded the first Shogakukan Manga Award for children's manga in 1982, and the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award in 1997.[edit] Anime[edit] Television seriesAfter a brief and unpopular animated series in 1973 by Nippon Television, Doraemon remained fairly exclusive in manga form until 1979 when TV Asahi produced an anime series of Doraemon. This series became incredibly popular, and ended with 1,049 episodes on March 25, 2005.Celebrating Doraemon's anniversary, Studio Deen produced a new Doraemon series which began airing on TV Asahi on April 15, 2005 with new voice actors and staff, and updated character designs.[edit] Foreign channels that air DoraemonMain article: List of non-Japanese Doraemon versions[edit] Feature filmsMain article: List of Doraemon mediaIn 1980, Toho released the first of a series of annual feature length animated films based on the lengthly special volumes published annually. The films are more action-adventure oriented and unlike the anime and manga, they have more of a shōnen 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 such as Journey to the West and Arabian Nights. Some films also have serious themes, especially on environmental topics and the use of technology.The most recent Doraemon film is The New Record of Nobita: Spaceblazer, slated for a 2009 release.[edit] Voice actorsFrom 1979 to April 2005, the same five voice actors provided the main voices in Doraemon. However, they retired in April 2005 partially due to the 25th anniversary of the Doraemon television series. On March 13, 2005, TV Asahi announced the new voice actors for the five main characters:[11]CharacterVoice actor for April 1979 - March 2005Voice actor for March 2005 - PresentDoraemonNobuyo ŌyamaWasabi MizutaNobitaNoriko OharaMegumi Ōhara (大原めぐみ, Megumi Ōhara?)ShizukaMichiko NomuraYumi KakazuJaianKazuya TatekabeSubaru Kimura (木村昴, Subaru Kimura?)SuneoKaneta KimotsukiTomokazu SekiDoramiKeiko YokozawaChiakiHidetoshiSumiko Shirakawa (白川澄子, Sumiko Shirakawa?)Shihoko Hagino (萩野志保子, Shihoko Hagino?)Nobita's MamaSachiko ChijimatsuKotono MitsuishiNobita's PapaYōsuke Naka (中庸助, Yōsuke Naka?)Yasunori MatsumotoSewashiYoshiko Ōta (太田淑子, Yoshiko Ōta?)Sachi MatsumotoSenseiRyōichi TanakaWataru TakagiKaminariTakeshi WatabeKatsuhisa HōkiShizuka's MotherMasako Matsubara (松原雅子, Masako Matsubara?)Ai OrikasaSuneo's MotherMari Yokoo (横尾まり, Mari Yokoo?)Minami TakayamaSuneo's FatherOsamu Katō (加藤治, Osamu Katō?)Hideyuki TanakaJaian's MotherKazuyo AokiMiyako Takeuchi (竹内都子, Miyako Takeuchi?)JaikoKazuyo AokiBanira Yamazaki (山崎バニラ, Banira Yamazaki?)DekisugiNobita - Hiroko Maruyama (stand-in for Ohara, July 23, 1979 ~ July 28, 1979)Suneo - Naoki Tatsuta (stand-in for Kimotsuki, November 15, 1985 ~ December 6, 1985)Nobita's Papa - Masayuki Katō (Start ~ October 2, 1992)Sensei - Ritsuo Sawa → Osamu Katou → Kazuhiko Inoue (Start ~ September 1981)Kaminari - Shingo Kanemoto (February 8, 1985 (character debut) ~ September 14, 1990)Shizuka's Mother - Keiko Yokozawa (Start ~ August 1981)Suneo's Mother - Yoshino Ōtori (Start ~ March 8, 1991)NTV CastCharacterVoice actorDoraemonKousei Tomita (episodes 1 ~ 13)Masako NozawaNobitaYoshiko Ōta (太田淑子, Yoshiko Ōta?)ShizukaMasako EbisuJaianKaneta KimotsukiSuneoShun YashiroNobita's MamaNoriko OharaNobita's PapaIchirou MurakoshiSuneo's MamaKazue TakahashiGatchakoJunko HoriSewashiKeiko YamamotoSenseiOsamu Katō (加藤 治, Katō Osamu?)Masashi Amenomori[edit] Opening themesThe opening theme used for the weekly Doraemon series airing between 1979 and 2005 was Song of Doraemon (ドラえもんのうた, doraemon no uta?), which was performed by five different performers over the course of its years:PerformerStarting dateEnding date1.Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Ōsugi?)April 2, 1979October 2, 19922.Satoko Yamano (山野さと子, Satoko Yamano?)October 9, 1992September 20, 20023.Tokyo Purin (東京プリン, Tokyo Purin?)October 4, 2002April 11, 20034.Misato WatanabeApril 18, 2003April 23, 20045.AJIApril 30, 2004March 18, 2005In the New Doraemon Series (2005), new opening themes songs were used, except for the first one.PerformerSong TitleStarting dateEnding date1.12 Girls Band (女子十二楽坊, 12 Girls Band?)"Doraemon no Uta" (ドラえもんのうた, "Doraemon no Uta"?)April 15, 2005(episode 1)October 21, 2005(episode 24)2.Rimi Natsukawa"Hug Shichao" (ハグしちゃお, "Hug Shichao"?)October 28, 2005(episode 25)April 20, 2007(episode 86)3.mao"Yume wo Kanaete Doraemon" (夢をかなえてドラえもん, "Yume wo Kanaete Doraemon"?)May 11, 2007(episode 87)March 14, 2008Two songs were used for a separate weekday Doraemon series which is a part of Fujiko Fujio Theater (藤子不二雄劇場, Fujiko Fujio Gekijoo), the first song being the same as the first song of the weekly series.NameSong TitleStarting dateEnding date1.Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Ōsugi?)"Doraemon no Uta" (ドラえもんのうた, "Doraemon no Uta"?)April 2, 1979September 29, 19792.Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73 (大山のぶ代, こおろぎ'73, Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73?)"Boku Doraemon" (ぼくドラえもん, "Boku Doraemon"?)October 1, 1979September 26, 1981[edit] Ending themesThe ending themes used for the weekly Doraemon series airing between 1979 and 2005 were:Song TitlePerformerStarting dateEnding date1."Aoi Sora wa Pocket sa" (青い空はポケットさ, "Aoi Sora wa Pocket sa"?)Kumiko Oosugi (大杉久美子, Kumiko Oosugi?)April 8, 1979September 27, 19812."Maru-gao no Uta" (まる顔のうた, "Maru-gao no Uta"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)October 2, 1981March 30, 19843."Santa Claus wa Doko no Hito" (サンタクロースはどこのひと, "Santa Claus wa Doko no Hito"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)November 18, 1983December 30, 19834."Boku-tachi Chikyuu-jin" (ぼくたち地球人, "Boku-tachi Chikyuu-jin"?)Mitsuko Horie (堀江美都子, Mitsuko Horie?)April 6, 1984April 8, 19885."Aozora-tte Iina" (青空っていいな, "Aozora-tte Iina"?)Mitsuko Horie (堀江美都子, Mitsuko Horie?)April 15, 1988October 2, 19926."Ashita mo Tomodachi" (あしたも♥ともだち, "Ashita mo Tomodachi"?)Yui Nishiwaki (にしわきゆい, Yui Nishiwaki?)October 9, 1992April 7, 19957."Boku Doraemon 2112" (ぼくドラえもん2112, "Boku Doraemon 2112"?)Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73 (大山のぶ代、こおろぎ'73, Nobuyo Oyama, Koorogi '73?)April 14, 1995September 20, 20028."Mata Aeru Hi Made" (またあえる日まで, "Mata Aeru Hi Made"?)Yuzu (ゆず, Yuzu?)October 4, 2002April 11, 20039."Tanpopo no Uta" (タンポポの詩 歌, "Tanpopo no Uta"?)The Alfee (ジ・アルフィー, The Alfee?)April 18, 2003October 4, 200310."YUME Biyori" (YUME日和, "YUME Biyori"?)Hitomi Shimatani (島谷ひとみ, Hitomi Shimatani?)October 10, 2003May 28, 200411."Aa Ii na!" (あぁ いいな!, "Aa Ii na!"?)W (ダブルユー, W?)June 4, 2004March 18, 2005Since the 2005 series incorporated all the credits into the Opening Sequence, these three themes were used as the Ending Theme.Song TitlePerformerStarting dateEnding date1."Odore Dore Dora Doraemon Ondo 2007" (踊れ・どれ・ドラ ドラえもん音頭2007, "Odore Dore Dora Doraemon Ondo 2007"?)Wasabi Mizuta (水田わさび, Wasabi Mizuta?)August 5, 2005October 21, 20052."Doraemon Ekaki-uta" (ドラえもん・えかきうた, "Doraemon Ekaki-uta"?)Wasabi Mizuta (水田わさび, Wasabi Mizuta?)3."Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta" (ドラミちゃんのえかきうた, "Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta"?)Chiaki (千秋, Chiaki?)Three songs were used for the separate weekday Doraemon series.Song TitlePerformer1."Doraemon Ekaki-uta" (ドラえもん・えかきうた, "Doraemon Ekaki-uta"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)2."Doraemon Ondo" (ドラえもん音頭, "Doraemon Ondo"?)Nobuyo Oyama (大山のぶ代, Nobuyo Oyama?)3."Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta" (ドラミちゃんのえかきうた, "Dorami-chan Ekaki-uta"?)Keiko Yokozawa (横沢啓子, Keiko Yokozawa?)[edit] SignificanceOn 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 cartoon character selected, Doraemon was described as "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia".In 2005, the Japan 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. In Murakami's analysis, he states that Doraemon's formulaic plotlines typified the "wish fulfilment" mentality of 1970s Japan, where the electronics revolution glamorized the idea that one could solve their problems with machines and gadgets rather than hard work or individual intelligence.[citation needed][edit] References^ I.e. a new name for the former Yok Long Holdings purchased by Sing Tao Daily since 1990.^ Yamaguchi, Mari. "Doraemon appointed Japan's first ever cartoon ambassador," China Post, March 20, 2008.^ "Doraemon named 'anime ambassador'," Japan Today. March 15, 2008.^ Iyer, Pico. "The Cuddliest Hero in Asia." Time (Asia).^ "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.^ 「ドラえもん」最終話、勝手に出版した男性が謝罪, asahi.com^ The Last Episode (Ending) of Doraemon / Episode Terakhir (Ending) Doraemon^ [1] (Japanese)^ [2]^ All About Doraemon the robotic cat (Chinese).^ Announcement by TV Asahi[edit] See alsoList of non-Japanese Doraemon versionsList of Doraemon mediaKiteretsu Daihyakka, a similar manga by Fujiko F. FujioThe Doraemons, a spin-off about Doraemon and his friends from Robot SchoolDorabase, a spin-off about robot cats who play on a baseball team.
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