Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-packed anime space adventure is heavy on violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes
What's the Story?
Inspired by their favorite TV show, Nobita and the gang want to make an action movie set in outer space in DORAEMON: NOBITA AND THE SPACE HEROES. Doraemon, Nobita's robot cat, magically creates a movie director in the shape of a hamburger to help them. But while they're making their movie, an actual alien happens upon their set and believes them to be the space heroes they're portraying. The alien, Aron, tells them he had to flee his own planet because evil space pirates have taken it over. Aron is unsure what the pirates are up to on his planet, but he suspects they mean harm to it and its inhabitants. The gang accompanies Aron into outer space, and when they finally realize they're no longer on Doraemon's movie set, they commit to helping Aron defeat the pirates and save his planet.
Is It Any Good?
The prioritizing of action over story in this anime adventure may make it more appealing to younger fans, but the unrelenting cartoon violence also makes it less appropriate for them. It's always fun to watch how magical Doraemon turns children's imaginary games into real-life adventures, and the characters' sweetness and loyalty to one another is unendingly gratifying. But older viewers might miss more of the series' usual touches of character-driven charm and humor.
Those touches are here in smaller doses, seen especially in the transformation of each character's hobby -- like Nobita's Cat's Cradle string skills -- into super powers, or a sequence where Nobita keeps losing his pants on rocket launch. Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes also has some bigger messages related to corporations' lack of respect for the environment, embodied in the space pirate storyline. And kids can learn a little about filmmaking from this movie, including terms (like "genre," "set," and "script") and roles (director, actor, etc). They'll just have to sit through lots of shoot-'em-up space battles to enjoy these subtler aspects.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the space pirates' plans in Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes. How do they compare to the agendas of companies mining the natural resources of our own planet?
Did you find any parts scary? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Nobita and the gang are making a movie within the movie. What film terms did you pick up from these scenes? Does moviemaking look like hard work?
How does this film compare with the series or other Doraemon films you've seen?
How do the characters turn their individual hobbies or talents into superpowers? What would your superpower be if you could have one?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 7, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : January 1, 2015
- Cast : Flavor Flav , Chiaki Fujimoto , So-Young Hong
- Directors : Hyeong-Cheol Kang , Yoshihiro Osugi
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : CJ Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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