Doraemon heads back to Indian cinemas on Oct. 2
Doraemon the Movie: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil opens across India on Oct. 2. The cinema release follows 21 years on Indian television for the Japanese series, according to Variety. It will play in three language versions: Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
The theatrical run, meaning the run in cinemas, is led in India by TV Asahi and PVR Inox Pictures. TV Asahi carries the animation business behind the franchise. PVR Inox Pictures brings the local theatre network and release operation.
Work around the opening is divided by job. Black White Orange is handling fan engagement, consumer experiences and promotional activations. Happening 365 Synergies is advising on strategy and the local market, according to Variety. One team runs events for ticket buyers. The other guides planning for the territory.
The film comes from producer Shin-Ei Animation, with Nakajima Susumu credited as chief producer. It reworks a story that first reached Japanese cinemas in 1983, built around Nobita and a castle beneath the sea. The character originates with Fujiko F. Fujio, the pen name of Fujimoto Hiroshi, whose rights office is Fujiko Pro.
TV Asahi's side is managed through its international business department, where Sumida Maiko heads animation and sales. Variety first flagged the India plan in a report titled "'Doraemon the Movie' Sets India Theatrical Debut" on June 18, with full release details following on Oct. 1, according to Variety. The gap allowed time for language versions and cinema bookings.
The India date follows cinema play elsewhere in Asia. In Korea, the film ranked eighth at the box office with $82,132 in ticket sales, as reported by Variety on July 13. That figure covers Korea only.
What makes this stand out is the path to the screen. An early-1980s cinema story returns in new form. A television regular of two decades gets a theatre outing. For families in India, this means a choice of language and a shared trip timed to Oct. 2.
