π¬ Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Little Star Wars 2021 (2022)
Part of Doraemon Movies
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Little Star Wars 2021 is a 2022 Japanese animated space opera film and the 41st installment in the Doraemon film series. Directed by Susumu Yamaguchi and written by Dai SatΕ, it serves as a direct remake of the 1985 film Doraemon: Nobita's Little Star Wars, updating the classic story with modern animation and a new soundtrack. The film was produced by Shin-Ei Animation, Shirogumi, TV Asahi, and ADK, with music by Takayuki Hattori.
The plot follows Nobita and his friends as they befriend Papi, the tiny president of Planet Pirika, who is fleeing a rebel army. Using Doraemon's Small Light, they shrink themselves to join Papi's fight against the dictatorship of General Gilmore and his agent Dorakorulu. The adventure takes them to Pirika, where they help the Freedom Alliance restore peace, culminating in a battle that sees the friends return to full size and rally the planet's people. The film ends with the group screening a movie based on their real experiences.
Notable changes from the original include a new theme song, Universe by Official Hige Dandism, and an insert song by Billy BanBan. The film received positive reviews for its faithful yet refreshed take on the beloved story, with praise for its animation quality and emotional depth. It was released in Japanese theaters on March 4, 2022, and later made available internationally through streaming platforms.
The Doraemon film series is a long-running collection of animated feature films based on the beloved manga and anime franchise created by Fujiko F. Fujio. Beginning in 1980 with 'Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur', the series has become an annual tradition in Japanese cinema, with new installments released almost every spring. These films typically follow the titular robotic cat from the 22nd century and his young friend Nobita Nobi as they embark on extraordinary adventures across time, space, and fantastical realms, often utilizing Doraemon's ingenious gadgets from his four-dimensional pocket. While the original manga and television series focus on everyday slice-of-life scenarios, the movies expand the narrative scope, introducing higher stakes, epic journeys, and environmental or moral themes that resonate with family audiences. The series has evolved through different eras of animation and storytelling, with many early films being direct adaptations of manga storylines, while later entries explore original plots and even reimaginings of classic tales. This enduring collection has cemented Doraemon as a cornerstone of Japanese popular culture, with the films consistently drawing large audiences and contributing to the character's status as an official cultural ambassador of Japan.
