Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cartoon violence in anime with friendship, courage themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Doraemon: New Nobita's Great Demon-Peko and the Exploration Party of Five
What's the Story?
DORAEMON: NEW NOBITA'S GREAT DEMON-PEKO AND THE EXPLORATION PARTY OF FIVE sends Nobita, Doraemon, and their gang of friends on a jungle adventure. Nobita (voiced by Megumi Ohara) is hunting for summer excitement when he comes upon what he believes is an abandoned dog, which he adopts and names Peko (Yû Kobayashi). When satellite photos that Doraemon (Wasabi Mizuta), Nobita's robot cat, is taking of the jungles of Africa reveal a mysterious statue, the gang thinks they've found a mission. Using Doraemon's magical powers, they travel to Africa, where they face a series of dangers, both real and perceived. Peko finally reveals himself to be a humanoid dog who can talk and walk upright. He's also the rightful heir to the throne of a secret dog kingdom that's currently under the rule of evil soldiers wielding powerful weapons. The group decides to put their own lives at risk to help Peko defeat the bad dogs, save his kingdom, reunite with his fiancée, and take back the throne.
Is It Any Good?
This fun anime movie combines adventure, exotic locations, and magic in a tale about friendship and courage. Doraemon: New Nobita's Great Demon-Peko and the Exploration Party of Five has moments of great tenderness, especially seen in the character of Peko, as well as clever humor, like when Nobita uses Doraemon's magic portal to leave Africa and sneak back home to hide his grades from his mom.
Adults might wonder a bit about the portrayal of a threatening native species, the idea of a parallel evolutionary process, or the messages behind scientific advances being seen as threatening to peace and harmony. But, through children's eyes, this adventure into Africa and the discovery of a hidden dog kingdom is full of amazement and wonder. When the gang fends off evil soldiers and restores kind, brave Peko to his rightful throne by "moving the heart" of the prophetic statue, the literal and figurative messages are clear.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how each individual character in Doraemon: New Nobita's Great Demon-Peko and the Exploration Party of Five contributes to the group's safety and wellbeing. Do they work well as a team?
Doraemon, a robot cat from the future, has a collection of magical tools that gives the gang special powers to fight, hide, time travel, and alter reality. If you could have any magical tool, what would you want it to do?
Which parts of the movie were scary to you? Why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Does the animation style of this film remind you of others you've seen? How does the film compare to the Dorameon series, if you've seen it?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 8, 2014
- Cast : Yumi Kakazu , Subaru Kimura , Yu Kobayashi
- Director : Shinnosuke Yakuwa
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Asatsu-DK
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Animals , Friendship
- Run time : 109 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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