Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs

Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs

Year: 1987

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Tsutomu Shibayama

AnimationFantasyFamilyAdventure

Nobita and Doraemon set out to discover whether a real dinosaur still exists. Their search leads them to a mysterious underwater cave that opens onto an underground realm inhabited by dinosaur‑like people. The friends are thrilled by the incredible civilization, but before they can stay, their memories are erased and they are sent back to the surface.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs (1987)

Trace every key event in Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs (1987) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Nobita challenges the dinosaur myth

Nobita argues that dinosaurs still exist. Suneo quickly disproves him, while Gian and Shizuka take Nobita's side and insist dinosaurs could still be around. The disagreement sets off Nobita's search for proof with Doraemon's help.

Day 1 School area
2

Doraemon's gadget suggests dinosaurs are extinct on Earth

Nobita asks if there are any dinosaurs still alive on Earth. Doraemon uses a gadget to show that dinosaurs are extinct, which dampens Nobita's curiosity. The moment shifts the group's attention from belief to a quest for other explanations.

Day 1 Nobita's room / Doraemon's pocket
3

Nobita hides his test papers from his mom

Nobita struggles to keep his test papers hidden from his mom, fearing punishment for neglecting studies. He looks for a secure place to stash them as distractions mount around him. The drive to hide them pushes him toward Doraemon's extraordinary options.

Day 1 Nobita's home
4

Gian's plane crashes into the river and a dinosaur appears

Gian loses control of Suneo's remote-controlled airplane, and it crashes into the river. Suneo spots a huge dinosaur in the water, which frightens him and makes him flee. The sighting marks the first extraordinary phenomenon beneath their town.

Day 1 - Night River behind school
5

Anywhere Hole reveals a tunnel behind the hill

Nobita and Doraemon reach the hill behind their school, where Doraemon uses the Anywhere Hole to reveal a hidden tunnel. They descend into darkness, entering an unknown underground world. The discovery raises questions about what else might lie beneath their town.

Night Hill behind school
6

Suneo sees the same dinosaur in his yard

That night, Suneo spots the same dinosaur in his yard and fears he is losing touch with reality. He suspects he might be imagining things or going mad. The event deepens the mystery and motivates him to seek help from his friends.

Night Suneo's yard
7

Next day, the tunnel trip proves there are dinosaurs

The next day, Nobita leads everyone to the tunnel, hoping to investigate. Suneo emerges from an exit and claims he saw a herd of dinosaurs, but the others don't believe him. The lack of belief adds tension as they explore further underground.

Next day Hill / tunnel
8

Underground adventures escalate; Suneo's plane record and a knight

They go underground again, and Suneo uses a camera to record the plane crash he witnessed earlier. Frightened, he runs into a cave, gets lost, and is captured by a knight riding a dinosaur. The group must react quickly to find a way to rescue him.

Day after Underground cave
9

Moms' fury and the destruction of the Anywhere Hole

Gian's and Nobita's moms become furious when they realize the kids lied to leave the house. The group has to hurry back, and the Anywhere Hole is destroyed by a passing truck. The disruption cuts off their secret path to the underground world.

Evening Empty lot
10

Doraemon apologizes; Suneo still missing; recordings reveal the truth

Doraemon goes to apologize to everyone and discovers Suneo hasn't returned. Nobita and Doraemon watch Suneo's recordings and learn that his plane is still flying inside the underground world. They vow to find him and uncover what is happening.

Night Nobita's room
11

A new underworld entrance leads to trouble; Kappas capture

The group reaches a river entrance to the underworld, but they are captured by native Kappas. A knight named Banhou intervenes and explains that Suneo is in the capital Enriru. The encounter hints at memory-erasure if they return to the surface.

Night River / underworld
12

Roo guides the team; underworld museum reveals evolution and ignorance of the sky

Banhou's sister Roo helps them navigate the underworld, and they visit a museum that shows underworld humans evolved from dinosaurs. They learn that many inhabitants are unaware of the true sky, Sun, and stars. The discoveries deepen the mystery of the underworld's origins.

Next day Underworld museum
13

Nobita uncovers a forbidden building and the plan to reclaim surface

While riding a dinosaur, Nobita is taken to a forbidden building where he overhears plans to reclaim Earth's surface from mammals. He rushes back to warn the others, and they prepare to flee from danger. The revelation sets up the ship's appearance as a means to escape.

Day Forbidden building
14

The ship is a time machine and takes them to the Cretaceous era

The ship is revealed to be a time machine and whisks them to the Cretaceous era. They witness the asteroid impact and the ensuing tsunami, forcing them to seek shelter underground. After the waters recede, they return to the surface, hailed as heroes with memories intact and their belongings restored from underground.

End Surface / ship

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:15

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Movies about hidden worlds like Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs

Stories of imaginative discovery where children uncover secret realms and civilizations.If you enjoyed the discovery of a secret dinosaur civilization in Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs, you'll love these movies. This section features similar family-friendly adventures where curious characters stumble upon wondrous, hidden worlds, offering a sense of imaginative escapism and discovery.

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Gentle sci-fi adventures like Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs

Heartwarming tales where a group of friends uses incredible technology for imaginative adventures.Fans of the friendly sci-fi and teamwork in Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs will enjoy these movies. This collection highlights stories where childhood friends go on incredible adventures using amazing technology, focusing on heartwarming bonds and positive outcomes rather than dark conflicts.

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The narrative pattern involves a group of young friends gaining access to a miraculous technology or power, such as time travel. They use this power not for personal gain, but to explore, solve a mystery, or help someone in need. The journey strengthens their friendship, and the plot resolves in a way that reinforces the value of curiosity and teamwork, often with a touch of mild, non-threatening peril.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their unique blend of sci-fi concepts with a gentle, character-driven approach. They share a light emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows for character moments, and a core theme of friendship overcoming challenges, making the sci-fi elements feel accessible and comforting.

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