Fujiko Pro and Viz Media have opened an English website for the Doraemon television anime series. The website also features an intro video with the English dub cast.
The website features character descriptions, a free preview of the manga, and a link to the "Doraemon Repair Shop" app for iOS and Android devices. The character description for Doraemon notes that the name of his favorite snack food dorayaki has been changed to "Yummy Buns" for the dub.
Doraemon will premiere with an English dub on Disney XD, a children's channel available in 78 million households, this summer. Disney XD will run a total of 26 episodes five times a week.
The manga creator duo Fujiko Fujio (Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko) created Doraemon in 1969. In the story, the robotic cat was sent by a boy in the future to the present day to help the boy's hapless grandfather, Nobita. Doraemon, Nobita, and other children deal with everyday childhood issues, solve (and cause) problems with the gadgets in Doraemon's fourth-dimensional pocket, and embark on escapades through time and space.
The story and the names of characters and gadgets have been partially changed out of consideration for American culture and customs. Doraemon's owner Nobita is now "Noby," the bully Gian is now "Big G," the flying contraption Takecopter is now the "Hopter," and the magical portal "Dokodemo Door" is now the "Anywhere Door." The recent English edition of the manga also has similar names. The adaptation will move the setting from Japan to a fictional place in America. Other changes have been detailed here.
