When you think about Doraemon, you probably picture a blue robotic cat from the future pulling some weird gadget out of his pocket to solve a minor schoolyard dispute. It’s formulaic. It’s comforting. But Doraemon The Movie Nobita's Treasure Island (2018) is a different beast entirely. Honestly, if you went into this expecting just another "Nobita gets bullied and cries to Doraemon" loop, you were likely floored by the sheer scale of the production. This isn’t just a movie; it’s a high-stakes, surprisingly emotional sci-fi epic that pays homage to Robert Louis Stevenson while carving out its own legacy.
Released as the 38th installment in the franchise, Nobita’s Treasure Island—or Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Takarajima—shattered box office records in Japan. It pulled in over 5.3 billion yen. That’s not just "good for a kids' movie" money; that’s a massive cultural phenomenon. Why? Because director Kazuaki Imai and screenwriter Genki Kawamura (the producer behind Your Name) decided to stop playing it safe. They leaned into the "Treasure Island" theme but twisted it into something about family, the end of the world, and what it actually means to inherit the future.
What Actually Happens in Nobita's Treasure Island?
The setup feels classic. Nobita, in a fit of overconfidence fueled by reading Stevenson's novel, bets Gian and Suneo that he can find a real treasure island. He makes a bold claim: he’ll find one or he’ll eat "spaghetti through his nose." Naturally, he runs to Doraemon. They use the "Treasure Finding Map" and, lo and behold, a new island has suddenly popped up in the Pacific.
They set sail on a massive ship called the "Nobita-ora." It’s all fun and games until they get attacked by pirates. Shizuka gets kidnapped because she looks exactly like the pirate captain's daughter, Sarah. This is where the movie shifts gears. It stops being a vacation and becomes a rescue mission involving a mysterious boy named Flock, a mechanical parrot named Quiz, and a floating fortress that is literally stealing the Earth's energy.
The stakes are weirdly high. We’re talking about the total destruction of the planet’s ecosystem to power a spaceship. It’s heavy stuff for a movie featuring a cat with a bell on his collar.
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The Genki Kawamura Influence
You can feel Genki Kawamura’s fingerprints all over this script. If you’ve seen Your Name or Weathering With You, you know he loves themes of connection and the environment. In Doraemon The Movie Nobita's Treasure Island, he replaces the standard "evil for the sake of evil" villain with Captain Silver. Silver isn’t a one-dimensional pirate. He’s a grieving father who has seen a dark future where the Earth is dead. His solution? Steal the planet's core energy to save his children.
It’s a classic "villain is the hero of his own story" trope, but it works so well here. The conflict isn’t just "good vs. bad." It’s about two different ways of looking at the future. Silver is cynical and desperate; Nobita and the gang are hopeful and determined.
Why the Animation Hits Different
The visual style in this film is a departure from the "stiff" look of some older Doraemon movies. It’s fluid. The character designs are slightly simplified to allow for more expressive movement. When the Nobita-ora is sailing through high seas, the water physics look incredible. The color palette shifts from the bright, sunny tones of the Caribbean to the dark, mechanical blues and oranges of the pirate ship, "Emerald City."
Breaking Down the "Hidden" Themes
Most people watch this and see a pirate adventure. But look closer. It’s really about father-son dynamics. We have Nobita and his dad, who is barely in the movie but looms large in Nobita's desire to prove himself. Then we have the tragic wreckage of Silver’s family—Flock and Sarah.
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Flock is a genius engineer, but he’s traumatized. He’s spent his life trying to stop his father from destroying the world. The scene where Flock finally confronts Silver isn't about a big fight. It's about a kid telling his dad that he’s wrong to give up on the world. It’s gut-wrenching.
- The Treasure: It’s not gold. It’s the experiences and the people you meet. Cliche? Sure. But executed with such sincerity that you actually buy it.
- The Mini-Doras: These guys are the MVP of the movie. They handle the ship’s operations and provide most of the physical comedy.
- The Quiz Parrot: He’s a literal plot device that forces the characters (and the audience) to think.
Is It Better Than the Original 1980s Version?
Long-time fans know there was a 1998 movie called Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas. It also featured pirates. However, Nobita's Treasure Island is not a remake. It’s a completely original story that just happens to share a theme.
The 1998 film was more of a traditional adventure. The 2018 film is a sci-fi drama. If you want nostalgia and simple fun, the 90s version is great. But if you want a film that feels like a "real" movie with emotional weight, the 2018 version wins every time.
The Soundtrack: More Than Just Background Noise
We have to talk about Gen Hoshino. He provided the theme song "Doraemon" and the insert song "Koko ni Inai Anata e." The theme song is a banger. It’s catchy, upbeat, and captures that sense of "we’re going on an adventure." But the insert song is what gets you. It plays during the more somber, reflective moments, and it anchors the emotional beats of the film.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Movie
People assume it’s just for kids. That’s the biggest mistake. Like the best Pixar films, Doraemon The Movie Nobita's Treasure Island operates on two levels. Kids love the gadgets and the pirates. Adults appreciate the commentary on climate change, the burden of parenting, and the fear of an uncertain future.
Also, some fans were annoyed by how "competent" Nobita becomes. He’s usually a klutz. Here, he shows real leadership. But that’s the point of the Doraemon movies—they allow Nobita to grow into the person we know he can be in the future. It’s not a plot hole; it’s character development that usually resets by the next TV episode.
How to Watch It Today
Depending on where you are, finding a legal stream can be tricky. In many regions, it’s available on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but often only with local dubs. If you’re a purist, the Japanese Blu-ray is the way to go because the sound mixing on the ship battles is phenomenal.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you’re planning to dive into this movie, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch for the Background Details: The technology on Captain Silver’s ship is a mix of futuristic sci-fi and 18th-century pirate aesthetics. It’s a masterclass in world-building.
- Pay Attention to the Colors: The use of light in the final scene on the deck of the ship is symbolic of the "dawn" of a new era for the characters.
- Listen to the Lyrics: If you can, find a subbed version of the songs. The lyrics to Gen Hoshino’s tracks actually mirror the character arcs of Nobita and Silver.
- Check Out the Manga Tie-in: There is a special manga adaptation by Shin-ei Animation that provides a bit more context on Flock’s life before he escaped his father’s ship.
The movie ends on a high note, leaving you with the sense that while the future might be scary, it's worth fighting for. It’s a reminder that even a "loser" like Nobita can change the world if he’s got a bit of courage and a 4D pocket.
Stop treating Doraemon as just a Saturday morning cartoon. Start treating movies like Nobita’s Treasure Island as the high-quality anime cinema they actually are. Go watch it. Pay attention to Captain Silver’s eyes in the final act. It’ll change how you see the whole franchise.