I heart Doraemon!

doraemon

Last month, I decided to reread my Doraemon comics, both for some stress relief and in preparation for meeting the cute and cuddly robo-cat himself!

I first watched Doraemon on local tv (dubbed in Filipino), back in high school, because it was shown around the time I got home, before the local news. My brother was crazy about the cartoons so I couldn’t switch channels, but before long, I was hooked on Doraemon as well.

I read my cousin Chickoy’s copy of the comics (that he got in Bangkok) some years back, but I was eventually able to get some volumes through a BookMoocher friend in Japan, wired_lain.

doraemonFor over three decades now, Doraemon has been a familiar face throughout Asia, with his round face, button nose, long whiskers, cheeky grin, and red collar with a tiny bell.

Doraemon was first introduced in 1969 as a children’s manga series (by Fujiko F. Fujio) in Japan, the stories featuring gags involving Doraemon’s four-dimensional magic pocket with helpful gadgets from the future.

The success of the comics (over 80 million sold in the ’90s) led to an anime series that launched a media franchise as well as a cult following in Asia and the rest of the world. Doraemon was named as one of Time Magazine’s Asian Heroes in 2002 for being “The Cuddliest Hero in Asia”, and was appointed as Japan’s “Cultural Ambassador for Anime” in 2008, and most recently, an endorser for the United Nations Environment Program.

Trivia: This weird-looking cat is said to be earless after being attacked by robot mice. The incident turned him blue with embarrassment, and gave him a lifelong fear of mice. Born on September 3, 2112, Doraemon stands at 129.3 cm, weighs 129.3 kg, can leap 129.3 cm in the air and runs at 129.3 km per hour. His favorite food is dorayaki (similar to hopia or mung bean cakes).

In the first book, Doraemon climbs out from the desk drawer of fourth-grader Nobita Nobi. Apparently, he has come from the 22nd century, sent by Nobita’s great great grandson to improve the family fortune, as Nobita’s mistakes have led his descendants to a life of poverty.

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Doraemon comics -- the real ones, not the cheapo pirated newsprint copies!

Doraemon’s magic 4D (four dimensional) pocket has a wide array of gadgets that help Nobita out of the scrapes he gets into, which happens quite a lot, as Nobita isn’t very bright or popular, and always gets scolded by his parents, and this leads to hilarious adventures throughout the comic books.

The range of gadgets introduced by Doraemon in the books numbers thousands, including the take-copter, a portable helicopter similar to a propeller hat; the Gulliver tunnel, a cone-shaped tunnel which enlarges or shrinks objects and creatures depending on the side they emerge from; a magic mouth that allows the wearer to eat food from a distance; jelly snacks that give the ability to understand and speak any language; a machine that can control weather; a duplicating mirror that creates copies of objects it reflects; and animal crackers that turn the eater into actual animals for 5 minutes.

Doraemon highlights the Japanese fascination for gadgets, introducing the rest of the world to Japanese culture. His helpful nature also has a universal appeal – wish fulfillment. Don’t we all wish we had a gadget cat like Doraemon to help us with homework, chores, and becoming popular?

doraemon at pixie court

13538_236453290048_537570048_4615307_3983671_nLast December, I watched the Doraemon show at Festival Mall and actually met Doraemon! It was so cool — the mall was even decked out with Doraemon decor — giant presents, lollipops, ice-cream cones, and giant Doraemon figures! I felt like a little kid giddy with excitement!

Doraemon, who has endorsed everything from cars to banks and convenience stores, has recently appeared in the UNEP’s carbon-free campaign, which has been playing in local movie theaters.

Taking the environmental campaign one step further, Doraemon and his friends join the movement for climate change with the Hello Earth! Musical Show. Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Suneo, Gian, teach kids about pollution and climate change, and encourage them to change their habits to achieve a clean and green community for a better and healthier future.

doraemon4

Doraemon is one of my favorite characters, and that cheeky grin of his never fails to make me smile. I do hope I get more Doraemon comics in the future!

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My copies: Doraemon comics vols. 1,2 and 4, trade paperback (Shogakukan comics)

My rating: all 5/5 stars!

(books 112-114 for 2009)

10 thoughts on “I heart Doraemon!”

  1. Pingback: Bookish Stamps
  2. Hi there, its me again.

    Didn’t know you had this post.

    By the way, how clumsy of me, I work for Animation International Licensing Philippines and I belive I met you during our event at Festival Supermall in Alabang.

    My name is Giovanni – hope its ok with you but I need to talk to you about Doraemon here’s my number 0908-2020715.

    Hope to hear from you soon, thanks.

  3. Wee, I love watching the cartoon series of Doraemon! I’ve been meaning to buy comics for a while rin, I see it in Booksale stores, sometimes nga lang walang number 1,2 or the starting ones. I’ll see to it ma complete ko sana yung Doraemon comics by 2011. :)

    1. The ones in book sale are on newsprint, and I don’t even know if those are licensed. I like the English ones and I have a couple, but they’re really expensive!

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