JAPAN’S beloved manga and anime character Doraemon has made it to Disney! The TV and film series “Doraemon” is being broadcast in the United States for the first time after playing to a huge following in Asia over the past four decades. Disney XD, a children’s channel available in 78 million households, began broadcasting 26 English-dubbed episodes five times a week in July 2014.
The series, targeted at elementary school children, is about the robotic cat Doraemon who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a pre-teen boy named Nobita Nobi. The program has been slightly localized for American viewers. Nobita is called “Noby.” The bully Gian is now “Big G,” while Nobita’s friend Suneo Honekawa is “Sneech,” the flying Takecopter is “Hopter,” and the magical portal “Dokodemo Door” is called the “Anywhere Door.”
The series, owned by TV Asahi, Fujiko F. Fujio Production and Shin-Ei Animation, began as a manga series in 1969 created by Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko. The animated TV series was launched in 1973 and has been broadcast in 35 countries and spawned 36 feature movies. tj
