STAND BY ME DORAEMON: “I was taking things that were truly important for granted”
A film that reminds us that nothing lasts forever and gives us a renewed sense of the preciousness of everyday life.
by IGNITION Staff
Written by Fujio F. Fujiko, the manga “Doraemon” is a Japanese national institution. A master of his craft, Fujiko’s work has made a lasting impression on the world of manga, and even after his death continues to be loved by young and old alike.
“Stand By Me Doraemon” was made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Fujiko’s birthday, and is the first Doraemon movie ever to be made in full 3DCG. The movie, released on the 8th of August, is the work of Takashi Yamazaki and Ryuichi Yagi, who have directed a number of masterpieces of Japanese cinema.
Anyone wondering what prompted the decision to break away from 2D will only have to see the movie to understand; 3D animation is incredibly well-suited to rendering Doraemon’s “secret gadgets”, which in turn enables audiences to experience the magical world of Doraemon and Nobita.
3D animation has the unique ability to allow audiences to experience what it would be like to use Doraemon’s futuristic gadgets. His “Anywhere Door” may look like a run-of-the-mill door on first glance, but open it and you find a completely different location stretching out in front of you, while putting on his “Bamboo Copter” gives you a spectacular view of the world below you as it takes you up into the sky — 3D is perfectly suited to rendering such scenes.
Furthermore, the directors have taken a step away from previous Doraemon movies, which up until now have depicted the characters jumping from the everyday into a world of adventure. Stand By Me Doraemon is a movie-lenght version of the first ever Doraemon manga series that depicts Nobita and Doraemon’s day-to-day life, made to please veteran fans as well as new ones.
Director and script-writer Mr. Yamazaki commented that “I wanted this movie to tell the beginning of the Doraemon story. As such, it needed to start from Nobita and Doraemon’s first encounter”.
3DCG has enabled the directors to add an extra sense of realism to their depiction of Doraemon and Nobita’s daily life, as opposed to the grand adventures of earlier movies, and it is sure to engage new and veteran fans alike. It allows the audience to see what it would be like to live with a robot from the future, to experience what kind of daily life would await them.
Plot Summary
Nobita is a young boy who cannot make a success of anything he does. One day, his great-great grandson, Sewashi, and a cat-shaped robot from the 22nd century appear before him. They tell him about his future and that of his descendants. According to their story, Nobita not only fails to get a job after graduation, but goes bankrupt after he tries and fails to make his own company. His descendants are then burdened with the enormous debt he leaves behind.
Though Sewashi brings Doraemon with him to the future to act as Nobita’s tutor, Doraemon seems less than enthusiastic. So, Sewashi sets in place the “accomplishment program”, by which Doraemon won’t be able to return the 22nd century until he helps Nobita achieve happiness in life.
Despite Doraemon’s initial reluctance to live with Nobita, they gradually open up to one-another and become close friends. Then, in order to help Nobita become happy, Doraemon tries to bring him together with his crush, Shizuka, hoping that they will get married in the future.
Will Doraemon’s efforts be enough to secure a happy future for Nobita? And, if so, will Doraemon be able to return to the 22nd century?
STAND BY ME DORAEMON Film Official Site
(translation: Rebecca Bourke)
Originally published at ignition.co.
