News
Doraemon to Debut on British Cable and Satellite
posted on by Andrew Osmond
The newspaper Asashi Shimbun reports that the quintessential children's anime Doraemon will debut on morning British television on August 17.
According to the paper, the English-dubbed Doraemon will air on weekdays between 7.30 a.m. and 8 a.m., on Boomerang, a cable and satellite channel. Boomerang is on Sky channel 603 (and a +1 service on 618) and Virgin Media channel 730 (and a +1 service on 731). The channel has a page on Doraemon here.
Asashi Shimbun quotes Yasuo Kawashima, the head of the general business department of TV Asahi. "Having the show air in another English-speaking country following the United States is sure to have a significant impact. We hope for Doraemon to become a beloved character in Britain as well."
44 years after the original manga about a robotic cat from the future debuted, the anime has already aired in 38 countries and territories in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. However, this will be the first television showing of Doraemon in Britiain.
The manga creator duo Fujiko Fujio (Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko) created Doraemon in 1969. In the story, the robotic cat was sent by a boy in the future to the present day to help the boy's hapless grandfather, Nobita. Doraemon, Nobita, and other children deal with everyday childhood issues, solve (and cause) problems with the gadgets in Doraemon's fourth-dimensional pocket, and embark on escapades through time and space.
When the series was screened dubbed in America on Disney XD, the story and names of characters and gadgets were partially changed out of consideration for American culture and customs. Doraemon's owner Nobita was renamed "Noby," the bully Gian became "Big G," the flying contraption Takecopter became the "Hopter," and the magical portal "Dokodemo Door" became the "Anywhere Door."
Via UK Anime News
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history