For more than 30 years, Indonesian households gathered in front of the television sets every Sunday morning to watch the famous Japanese anime series named Doraemon. RCTI has now removed Doraemon from its weekly lineup, thereby ending a 35-year tradition that has influenced many.
Soon after the removal, this sparked disappointment amongst fans, as it evoked nostalgia.
Doraemon was introduced in Indonesia in the early 90s, and it quickly turned into a must-see show on children’s weekend mornings. The story is about the unsuccessful efforts of a schoolboy named Nobita and his future cat robot, Doraemon, who is tasked with helping him. With his bag filled with super-tech gadgets, Doraemon guides Nobita through the troubles of life, such as hard schoolwork, making friends, and more.
The curtain call of Doraemon broadcasts coincides with a shift in home viewing habits, driven by the widespread adoption of streaming and the growing preference for on-demand content. However, the love for the show on social media is one piece of evidence that it has become an important part of Indonesian cultural identity. A lot of people remember the good old days when they were kids, watching Doraemon, learning the hard lessons of life with Nobita, and fantasizing about having the ‘Anywhere Door’, among other gadgets.
Doraemon’s nemesis in Indonesia is still up in the air, but the character’s and the show’s legacies are carried by millions. The series has certainly made a huge impact on Indonesian pop culture, and its stories will always find an audience among those who were there when the stories were first told. Fans are still hoping for the moment that shall herald the news about a comeback, and in the meantime, they are cherishing the memories of those Sunday mornings spent with a blue robotic cat and his amazing adventures.
