Doraemon is a blue robot cat from the 22nd century who lives in a ten-year-old boy's desk drawer. He was sent back in time because Nobita Nobi — the boy — grows up to be such a failure that his descendants are still paying off his debts a hundred years later. Doraemon arrives with a four-dimensional pocket full of impossible gadgets to help Nobita become a better person. The gadgets almost always make things worse. That is the show.

It Is Japan's Most Important Character

Doraemon, created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, is the single most recognizable fictional character in Japan and much of East Asia. He was designated Japan's anime ambassador by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008. The manga has sold over 100 million copies. The franchise has generated over 40 feature films. A 2002 Time Asia magazine poll named Doraemon the most beloved Asian hero. He is Japan's Mickey Mouse, their Winnie the Pooh — a national symbol that transcends entertainment.

The Gadgets Teach by Failing

Doraemon's pocket contains thousands of gadgets — a door that goes anywhere, a propeller hat, a time machine, a cloth that makes anything smaller. Nobita uses them to cheat on tests, avoid bullies, and impress the girl he likes. The gadgets always backfire, usually spectacularly. The moral is consistent across 1,345 manga chapters: there are no shortcuts to growing up. Every gadget that eliminates effort also eliminates the learning that effort produces. Education researchers at the University of Tokyo have studied Doraemon's pedagogical function and found that the series teaches problem-solving and personal responsibility through the repeated failure of technological shortcuts.

He Is Scared of Mice

Doraemon is a robot cat who is terrified of mice. His original design included ears, which were eaten by robot mice in the 22nd century. The trauma left him earless and phobic. This detail — a supremely capable robot with an irrational, deeply personal fear — humanizes him completely. He is not a perfect helper. He is a friend with problems of his own. Doraemon is on HoloDream. He will offer you a gadget. It will not work the way you expect. That is the lesson.