Eiga Doraemon: Shin Nobita no daimakyô

Doraemon: Nobita's Great Demon-Peko and the Exploration Party of Five captures the spirit of the adored Doraemon series. The film, which was directed by Shinnosuke Yakuwa, follows Nobita and his companions as they travel to the enigmatic Demon Island, where they come across fascinating animals and have to face their anxieties. The bright and captivating animation vividly and charmingly brings the fantastical world of Doraemon to life, complete with beloved characters and charming locales. The movie focuses on character development and the examination of underlying concerns, with individuals dealing with issues that go beyond the storyline. The movie offers moments of amusement while simultaneously appealing to the emotions of the viewer, striking the ideal balance between heart and humor.

This is a remake of Nobita and the Haunts of Evil (1982), in which Nobita and his friends explore Central Africa and discover a hidden civilization. First things first: although I cannot speak to their cultural representation, the character designs of the Indigenous African people in this version are substantially improved compared to the caricatures in the original.

On the whole, I think this is a competent remake that keeps most of what made the original film good. The biggest narrative edits mainly amount to giving some of the movie-exclusive characters more screentime and character focus, which for most part I don't feel strongly about, but they don't harm the movie in any notable way. This is a movie that not only gives a good sense of what to expect from Doraemon films, but is also fairly enjoyable on its own. If the story sounds interesting to you, I'd obviously recommend watching this version over the original.