Doraemon is one of the most famous anime characters in Japan. It is loved by children and adults alike. It is also well known in other countries.

Its popularity can be attributed to many factors. One factor is its depiction of the most affluent period for Japan and the eternal theme of human hopes and dreams.

1. Japan

Since the series’s first publication in 1969, Doraemon has become one of Japan’s most recognizable icons. It was the country’s best-selling manga for a time, and a movie and TV show were also made. The character is even featured on a variety of t-shirts and keychains, stickers, stationery, toy products, and tableware. The name recognition of the little robot cat goes far beyond anime and manga, and is nearly as famous as Disney’s Mickey Mouse in the US.

In Japan, the character became popular for its light-hearted stories about children and their interactions with technology. These stories are not meant to denigrate technology; rather, they portray it as a tool that can help kids develop their own capabilities and character. This is in contrast to Western cartoons, which frequently depict the use of advanced technology as either terrifying or a threat to human safety and happiness.

The manga series and subsequent TV show quickly became popular in neighbouring Asian countries. Hong Kong and Thailand were the first overseas locations where the anime was broadcast, followed by Indonesia, South Korea, and Taiwan. A large illegal market grew out of these countries, and even after legal editions began to be published in the 1970s, piracy persisted.

2. Asia

Throughout Asia, Doraemon has a huge following. The chubby blue cat is considered an ambassador of Japanese manga culture. He has deeply influenced more than one generation in Japan’s biggest neighbor, China. The anime has even made it to the top of Chinese box office charts, a feat that few other Japanese productions have been able to accomplish.

Many Asian kids grew up on Doraemon and have fond memories of it. The popularity of the show has also made some politicians nervous, as they fear that it might encourage children to abandon their native language and embrace English (Adhikary 2015). In fact, there are some countries in Asia where Doraemon is banned to air on television for this reason.

Although Doraemon is a science fiction series, its focus on character-improving lessons and gentle humor has earned it a wide following in Japan and beyond. The characters never experience any technological mishaps that result in fear, enslavement or harm. This is perhaps because the anime tries to teach children that technology should be used in the service of people, not for selfish or harmful ends.

The popularity of Doraemon has also made it to South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where it gained immense popularity thanks to the availability of pirated editions in the early 1970s. This continued even after legal versions based on the Universal Copyright Convention began to be published.

3. Europe

The popularity of doraemon spread overseas as the anime adapted for television. The franchise has reportedly generated over $4.3 billion in merchandise sales by 2019.

As the manga and animated series gained popularity, so too did the many Doraemon-themed products that popped up all over the world. From t-shirts to backpacks, from figurines to even ice cream, Doraemon is all around us.

But while Doraemon’s cuteness and likability certainly contribute to its success, it’s also rooted in some darker themes. For one, it’s often touched by a sense of education and morality. It has stories about saving stray animals and putting them back in their place, for example.

Another key theme is the relationship between technology and human nature. Despite the fact that Doraemon is set in a futuristic society, its characters are largely conservative if not Luddite in their sentiments about the value of home life and the role of gadgets.

This is a stark contrast to most American cartoons which tend to have more complex character stories and clear protagonists, such as Little Star Wars or Treasure Island. This may explain why many European and North American audiences seem to have less of an affinity for the character compared to Asian audiences.

4. North America

Doraemon is one of the most famous anime to ever originate from Japan. Its popularity extends far beyond its native land, with the cartoon being watched around the globe and appearing on T-shirts, keychains, stationary, and even food products like candy. The character is so recognizable that people who are not fans of anime know about him simply by osmosis.

In North America, Doraemon is somewhat less popular than its Asian counterparts. This could be because the United States has a more mature comic/cartoon culture and is often hesitant to import foreign children’s shows. Also, the series depicts everyday Japanese suburban life, which may not resonate with American children.

However, it is likely that the most significant reason for the lack of interest in Doraemon in the United States is due to the nature of its narrative. The show centers around a cat robot who creates gadgets from the fourth-dimensional pocket in his tummy to assist his 22nd-century host, Nobita Nobi. Doraemon’s gadgets allow him to perform a multitude of tasks, such as travel through time and enchant objects.

This is a very different story from other popular anime shows, which are generally characterized by fantastical or exotic content. These include favorites such as Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, One Piece, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. These themes may be what generates the most interest in these shows abroad, but it is possible that the same is true of Doraemon as well.