Movies
More CG Doraemon madness. The first film was decent but a bit basic, this second part offers a slightly more complex story, which makes for a slightly more gratifying film. Doraemon is still very consciously aimed at kids, but there's a certain charm that makes it rather enjoyable for the rest of us too. When Nobita is scolded for his bad school results, he remembers his grandma, someone who always supported and comforted him. He travels back to the past with Doraemon to visit his already departed grandma, which set a bunch of future-altering events in motion that seriously mess up Nobita life. The art style is quite peculiar, a mix of minimalist and detailed CG animation that fits the franchise surprisingly well. The plot is pretty fun, the atmosphere breezy and pleasant and the pacing plenty fast, so there's no chance of things becomes dull. A step up from the first film and quite entertainment, but a masterpiece this is not.Read all
While I'm pretty aware of who Doraemon is and the enormous franchise power it represents, I don't think I've ever watched a Doraemon film or TV episode in full. But the little blue cat robot is so ubiquitous in Japanese media that it already felt quite familiar. The fact that it's aimed at kids and isn't very complex also made things a little easier. That said, the film is a bit of mess. Doraemon travels back from the future to help Nobita get the girl he loves, but the plot was surprisingly fragmented. It's a constant repetition of Nobita getting an idea, Doraemon providing some sci-fi gadget to help, only to result in inevitable failure. The art style is nice enough, especially since it's the first time they used CG. It's a pretty simple style, but cute and pleasing to the eye. There are a few decent gags and the jolly tone makes for an easy watch, but overall it felt too much like a collection of 10-minute episodes strung together to make a feature-length film.Read all