Doraemon

Eryu 344

This is Doraemon. He is a cat-like robot from the 22nd century carrying all sorts of gadgets that is used to help a boy named Nobita.

In many occasions, Doraemon helped Nobita to get out of difficult situations or tried to make his life better and happier. Most of the time, Nobita used the gadgets to create disastrous endings. There are also some of the longer stories where the entire group of main characters ( Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Suneo and Giant) get into situations involving science fiction, adventure and stuff.

Somehow I feel a close attachment to these stories. Partly because I've been reading and watching it since 1994. Still remembered that the first book I read was Doraemon volume 41. It has stayed with me ever since. I can read and reread and reread the manga and it will still be new to me. I can watch and rewatch and rewatch the anime and I would still feel touched. It just never gets boring. I just went to watch the Doraemon movie in the cinema today and I can't hold back the tears. To many others it is just an ordinary cartoon, and Straits Times said the movie is "only suitable for 8 year olds and below". Why did this cartoon character invoke such an emotional response from me?

I wonder why I feel so close to a cartoon. I think in terms media constructs, wheter it it is film, movie, book or comic, nothing else can ever come close to Doraemon for me. Even 'real' people, 'real' characters do not inspire and influence me as much as Doraemon.

From one perspective, we have the TIME magazine that has voted Doraemon as one of Asia's modern heroes. He is described as a symbol of optimism innocence and imagination. Shouldn't plagiarize anymore so just go the link to read more:
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/doraemon.html

For me, Doraemon is an imperfect being, like everyone of us, and unlike those super hyped up superheroes and protagonists. He usually screws up the situation and makes it worse than before. What makes him truly stand out is the imperfection and the values he carry in such everyday lives that really make me believe that such friendship, trust and loyalty do exist in the messed up world that we live in. Many of its stories emphasize the unconditional care and trust Doraemon have in his friends despite the fact that he is rather bad-termpered and panics in difficult situations.

Such flaws actually make him more real than imaginary. Other stories show Doraemon perservering and unrelenting in whatever he does, be it making Nobita or the other friends happy. Such qualities coupled with his imperfections really bring out the 'realness' in him that makes me feel the optimism and help to alleviate my latent angst of the world.

I think some of my principles and values are also shape by Doraemon. The belief in promises came from Doraemon, there was one story where Nobita fulfilled his promise to deliver presents on christmas with the help of Doraemon after screwing up by promising some kids to deliver presents to them. The belief that there is some form of good in everyone also came from Doraemon as the bullies ( Suneo and Giant) tend to show that they are of strong character and will fight to the end when in difficult situatiuons.

Well, it seems that Doraemon will continue to be somehow part of my life. Even now I am still reading the comics and watching the anime and still find them funny and meaningful, despite the advent of "3D graphics" and all the wadeva coolio films and animes.

I hope that I can remain this way, finding optimism in difficulty, and believing in the good that exists within everyone.