What is Doraemon?#
Doraemon tells the story of Nobita, an incredibly unlucky 4th grader who faces constant struggle. From being yelled at by his parents and teachers to being bullied by his peers and failing to win the heart of the girl he likes, Nobita’s life is a series of misfortunes. Everything changes when Doraemon, a robot cat from the future, arrives to save Nobita from a terrible fate.
Using a variety of futuristic equipment pulled from a special pocket, Doraemon helps Nobita navigate the challenges of childhood and attempt to rewrite his cursed destiny. The series blends comedy, science fiction, and slice-of-life elements with overarching themes of robots and time travel.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
If you are looking for a definitive “end” to the series, you might be waiting a long time. Doraemon is a massive franchise that has evolved through multiple eras. While specific anime runs have ended (such as the 1973 and 1979 versions), the franchise remains very active.
Recent news confirms that the series continues to be a powerhouse in Japanese television, consistently appearing in the Japanese Animation TV Rankings throughout 2026. Furthermore, new theatrical releases continue to arrive, such as Eiga Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjō, which opened in early 2026 and expanded into international markets like India.
Because of the episodic nature of the show and the constant stream of new movies and remakes, viewers can find plenty of satisfying content within the anime alone, though the experience is more about the journey and the gadgets than a single, closed-ended plot. If you want to dive into the origins of the characters, you can buy the original manga to see where it all began.
Who Should Watch Doraemon?#
Doraemon is best suited for audiences who enjoy lighthearted comedy and imaginative science fiction. Its appeal lies in the “what if” scenarios created by Doraemon’s future gadgets, combined with the relatable struggles of a young boy trying his best. It is a perfect series for those who appreciate slice-of-life stories with a fantastical twist.
If you love the series, you might also want to pick up some Doraemon merchandise to bring a piece of the future into your own home!
Recommended Watch Orders#
Given the complex history of the series—including multiple adaptations, retellings, and a vast array of movies—the order in which you watch can vary depending on your goals. You can refer to our relationship tree for a visual map of these connections.
The Release Order#
For those who want to see the evolution of the animation and storytelling, follow the release timeline:
- The 1973 Series: The original adaptation.
- The 1979 Series: An alternate retelling that ran for decades.
- The 2005 Series: The modern continuation/sequel to the 1979 era.
- Modern Films and Specials: Including the Stand By Me films and the 2021+ movie remakes.
The Recommended Order (For Newcomers)#
If you want the best visual quality and modern pacing, we recommend starting with the 2005 anime series. This provides the most accessible entry point into Nobita and Doraemon’s world. From there, you can branch out into the Stand By Me Doraemon films for a high-quality alternate retelling of key moments.
The Completionist Order#
For those who want every single piece of content, the path is long:
- Start with the 1973 series, move to the 1979 series, and then the 2005 series.
- Watch all associated sequels and specials (such as Doraemon: It’s New Year! or 2112: The Birth of Doraemon).
- Explore the Dorami-chan and Doraemons spinoffs.
- Watch every single movie, from the 1980s classics like Nobita’s Dinosaur to the modern 2026 releases.
The Source-Material Hybrid Order#
If you don’t mind reading, the best way to experience the story is to start with the original 1969 manga. This gives you the foundation of the characters. You can then supplement your reading with the 2005 anime for the most up-to-date visual representation of the characters and their adventures.
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Doraemon • manga • 1969-12 (Begins serialization in Shogakukan's learning magazines)
└─(adaptation)→ Doraemon • anime • 1973-04-01 to 1973-09-30
└─(alternate retelling)→ Doraemon • anime • 1979-04-02 to 2005-03-25
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: It's New Year! • anime • 1979-01
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Norainu Ichi no Kuni • anime • 1987-01-02
└─(remake)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey • anime • 2004-02-28
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon Meets Hattori the Ninja • anime • 1979-01
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon's Time Capsule for 2001 • anime • 1979-01
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Come back Doraemon • anime • 1979-01
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Featherplace • anime • 1979-01
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: It's Autumn! • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: It's Spring! • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: It's Summer! • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: It's Winter! • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Summer Holiday • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Treasure of the Shinugumi Mountain • anime • 1986-04-04
└─(sequel)→ X'mas da yo! Doraemon & Doraemons Chō Special • anime • 1996-12-21
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon • anime • 2005-04-15
└─(alternate retelling)→ Stand By Me Doraemon • anime • 2014-07-20
└─(sequel)→ Stand By Me Doraemon 2 • anime • 2020-11-20
└─(side story)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 • anime • 2006-02-05
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld • anime • 2007-03-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend • anime • 2008-02-27
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: The New Record of Nobita's Spaceblazer • anime • 2009-02-15
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Mermaid Legend • anime • 2010-02-28
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age • anime • 2011-02-13
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Last Haven - Animal Adventure • anime • 2012-02-26
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita in the Secret Gadgets Museum • anime • 2013-02-24
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita in the New Haunts of Evil - Peko and the Five Explore • anime • 2014-02-25
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Space Heroes • anime • 2015-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016 • anime • 2016-03-05
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: "Kachi-Kochi" Nobita's Great Adventure in the Antarctic • anime • 2017-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island • anime • 2018-03-03
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Chronicle of the Moon Exploration • anime • 2019-02-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Dinosaur • anime • 2020-08-07
└─(related)→ Doraemon & F Chara All-Stars: Sukoshi Fushigi Express • anime • 2021-09-01
└─(side story)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dinosaur • anime • 1980-03-15
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: The Record of Nobita's Spaceblazer • anime • 1981-03-14
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita in the Haunts of Evil • anime • 1982-03-13
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil • anime • 1983-03-12
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld • anime • 1984-03-17
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Little Space War • anime • 1985-03-16
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Steel Troops • anime • 1986-03-15
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs • anime • 1987-03-14
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West • anime • 1988-03-12
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Birth of Japan • anime • 1989-03-11
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Animal Planet • anime • 1990-03-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dorabian Nights • anime • 1991-03-09
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds • anime • 1992-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Tin Labyrinth • anime • 1993-03-06
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen • anime • 1994-03-12
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Diary on the Creation of the World • anime • 1995-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express • anime • 1996-03-02
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Spiral City • anime • 1997-03-08
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas • anime • 1998-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita Drifts in the Universe • anime • 1999-03-06
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's the Legend of the Sun King • anime • 2000-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Winged Braves • anime • 2001-03-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita in the Robot Kingdom • anime • 2002-03-09
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Windmasters • anime • 2003-03-08
└─(remake)→ Doraemon: Nobita's Little "Star Wars" 2021 • anime • 2022-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon the Movie 2023: Nobita's Sky Utopia • anime • 2023-03-03
└─(sequel)→ Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyū Symphony • anime • 2024-03-01
└─(sequel)→ Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Esekai Monogatari • anime • 2025-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Eiga Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjō • anime • 2026-02-27
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: What Am I for Momotaro • anime • 1981
└─(sequel)→ 2112: The Birth of Doraemon • anime • 1995-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Doraemon Comes Back • anime • 1998-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding • anime • 1999-03-06
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Obāchan no Omoide • anime • 2000-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Ganbare! Gian!! • anime • 2001-03-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemon: Boku no Umareta Hi • anime • 2002-03-09
└─(spinoff)→ Dorami-chan: Mini-Dora SOS • anime • 1989-03-11
└─(sequel)→ Dorami-chan: Hello Dino Kids!! • anime • 1993-03-06
└─(sequel)→ Dorami-chan: Wow, The Kid Gang of Bandits • anime • 1991-03-09
└─(sequel)→ Dorami-chan: A Blue Straw Hat • anime • 1994-03-12
└─(sequel)→ Dorami & Doraemons: Robot School's Seven Mysteries • anime • 1996-03-02
└─(sequel)→ Doraemons: The Mysterious Thief Dorapan The Mysterious Cartel • anime • 1997-03-08
└─(sequel)→ Doraemons: The Great Operation of Springing Insects • anime • 1998-03-07
└─(sequel)→ Doraemons: Strange, Sweets, Strange? • anime • 1999-03-06
└─(sequel)→ Doraemons: Doki Doki Wildcat Engine • anime • 2000-03-04
└─(sequel)→ Dorami & Doraemons: Space Land's Critical Event • anime • 2001-03-10
└─(sequel)→ Doraemons: Goal! Goal! Goal!! • anime • 2002-03-09
└─(related)→ 40-Shūnen da yo! Coro Coro All-Star Shōgakkō • anime • 2017-07-15 to 2017-11-15
└─(spinoff)→ Dorabase • manga • 2000-08-15 to 2011-09-15 (CoroCoro Comic, Sep 2000 - Oct 2011)
└─(sequel)→ Shin Dorabase • manga • 2012-07-14 to 2014-09-13 (CoroCoro Comic, Aug 2012 - Oct 2014)
└─(side story)→ Doraemon+ • manga • 2005-03-25
