There are several hit anime series that have made it huge in America. Even among older folks, names such asPokemon,Yu-Gi-Oh!, andDragon Ball Zare as common to the average person as Mickey Mouse, Woody Woodpecker, and Bugs Bunny. Not every show can be a hit though. Sometimes you throw something out there and it doesn’t connect with audiences. This is despite the fact that the title could be a huge hit in its native country.Doraemonis one of those shows that didn’t catch on in America. The surprising thing is thatDoraemonis one of the most popular shows to come out of Japan, and is considered one of the defining anime from the country.
When you visit Japan there isn’t a single person who doesn’t know whoDoraemonis, and his shows and movies are watched by people of all ages, and the character has been noted as being a source of pride for Japan. With all this love, why did the series not catch on?
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What isDoraemon?
Doraemonis a popular Japanese manga and anime series created by the late great manga author Fujiko F. Fujio. It follows the story of a robotic cat named Doraemon who travels back in time from the 22nd century to help a young boy named Nobita Nobi. Doraemon was sent by Nobita’s great-great-grandson to improve Nobita’s life and prevent him from making mistakes that would negatively impact his future (this includes working on his manners, giving life advice, and helping him have a relationship with his school crush).
The seriesoften explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and the consequences of one’s actions, but in a way that can appreciated by parents as well as the kids (whom the show primarily is targeted towards). With various gadgets and a wry sense of humor, the series has been noted by critics throughout the years for its creativity and sense of fun, and its not difficult for the average viewer to understand the appeal of the show.
How Popular isDoraemon?
Doraemonis incredibly popular in Japan and has been a cultural phenomenon since its debut in 1969. It is one of the most beloved and enduring franchises in Japanese pop culture. The manga series was serialized in the children’s magazine Weekly Shonen Sunday for over four decades, from 1969 to 1996 (until the author’sunfortunate death), and the anime adaptation has been on air since 1979 with no end in sight.
Doraemon’spopularity has even extended beyond manga and anime, and its expansion has included such areas like movies, merchandise,video games, theme parks, and much more.Doraemon-themed attractions can be found in various locations across Japan, including theFujiko F. Fujio Museumin Kawasaki, which is dedicated to the works of the series creator. Pop up cafe’s featuring Doraemon-themed treats and drinks also make regular appearances on a yearly basis.
The character is deeply ingrained in Japanese pop culture, and its characters and catchphrases are widely recognized. The franchise continues to be popular among children and adults with new anime episodes and movies still being produced on a regular basis (with it’s first CGI 3D film being released a couple of years ago).
DidDoraemonAir in America?
Yes,Doraemondid air in the United States. In 2016, an English-dubbed version of the series aired on Disney XD. The dub was produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment and was intended to introduceDoraemonto American audiences. Great care was taken with the dub and viewers who did watch it did generally seem to enjoy the show. However, the series did not gain significant traction and was eventually taken off the air due to low ratings (much like another animeDisney XD decided to air).
The reasons for the low ratings ranged from Disney giving the series weak time slots in comparison to their own homemade shows. Likewise, since the dub was not co-produced by Disney, the company would not have profited much from the show being a success, and thus it’s easy to see executives not doing much to promote the show (and prioritizing more in-house shows likePhineas & Ferb). Had the series become a hit they likely wouldn’t have complained, but they weren’t incentivized to promote the show themselves.
Doraemon’s Popularity Lives on
Despite the limited success of the English dub,Doraemonstill has a dedicated fan base in the US who watch the original Japanese version of the series on various streaming platforms (though most fans have to use a VPN,Netflix has localized a few movies). In Japan, the show is still very popular, and new movies are still being produced to this day. As for American’s, the manga remains untranslated and the few English episodes that were produced for Disney XD remain unreleased on streaming or physical media. Fans can see a couple of the videos on Netflix, but otherwise,Doraemonis a classic anime that is still waiting to be discovered in America.
WatchDoraemon: Stand By MeonNetflix.
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