Doraemon (Japanese: ) is a Japanese manga series written

and illustrated by the manga writing team Fujiko Fujio. The series
has also been adapted into an successful anime series and media
franchise. The story reoles around a robotic cat named Doraemon!
who traels back in time from the ""nd century to aid a pre#teen boy
named $obita $obi ( $obi $obita
?
).
The Doraemon manga series was first published in December %&'& in si(
different maga)ines. * total of %!+,, stories were created in the
original series! which are published by -hogakukan under the
Tent.mushi (
?
) manga brand! e(tending to forty#fie
olumes. The olumes are collected in the Takaoka /entral 0ibrary in
Toyama! Japan! where Fujiko Fujio was born. Turner 1roadcasting
-ystem bought the rights to the Doraemon anime series in the mid#
%&23s for a 4- 5nglish#language release!
6%7
but canceled it without
e(planation before broadcasting any episodes. 8n July "3%+ it was
announced that the manga would be released digitally in 5nglish ia
the *ma)on 9indle e#book serice.
6"7
8t is one of the best#selling
manga in the world! haing sold oer %33 million copies.
*wards for Doraemon include the Japan /artoonists *ssociation *ward
for e(cellence in %&:+! the first -hogakukan ;anga *ward for
children<s manga in %&2"!
6+7
and the first =samu Te)uka /ulture *ward
in %&&:. 8n ;arch "332 Japan<s Foreign ;inistry appointed Doraemon as
the nation<s first >anime ambassador.>
6,7
;inistry spokesman e(plained
the noel decision as an attempt to help people in other countries
understand Japanese anime better and to deepen their interest in
Japanese culture.>
6?7
The Foreign ;inistry action confirms that
Doraemon has come to be considered a Japanese cultural icon. 8n
8ndia! its @indi translation has been telecasted ! where the anime
ersion is the highest#rated 9ids show! it won the best 9ids -how
award at the $ickelodeon 9ids< /hoice *wards 8ndia.
6'7
8n "33" the
anime character was acclaimed as an >*sian @ero> in a special feature
surey conducted by Time *sia maga)ine.
6:7
*n edited 5nglish dub
distributed by TA *sahi aired on Disney BD in the 4nited -tates
starting on July :! "3%, at %":+3 C;! %%:+3 *; (/entral).