Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights

Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights

Year: 1991

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Tsutomu Shibayama

FantasyAnimationFamilyAdventure

Using Doraemon’s “Storybook Shoes” gadget, Doraemon and Nobita step into the pages of various stories, observing the adventures within each tale. When Nobita asks to let Shizuka experience the magic as well, Doraemon gladly agrees, opening the doorway for her to join their literary journey.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights (1991)

Trace every key event in Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights (1991) 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

Bored Nobita Enters Sinbad’s Storybook World

Nobita, Doraemon, Gian, and Suneo enter Sinbad's Arabian Nights through the storybook gadget for the third time, but Nobita grows bored watching from a distance. He pulls Shizuka into the tale, accidentally dragging the others along, and their meddling twists the story into a fresh version. Shizuka dislikes the altered narrative and is knocked out by Sinbad's magic carpet, ending up in the desert; Nobita is drawn back to the real world when his mother asks him to clean up.

Present day Storybook World (Sinbad tale)
2

Shizuka Goes Missing; Original Book Destroyed

The next day, Doraemon discovers Shizuka has not returned from the story world. As they search, the original storybook is destroyed, preventing a quick return home. Nobita dreams that Shizuka has been taken as a slave on a ship, heightening their urgency to rescue her.

Present day Nobita's home
3

Rescue Plan: Travel to 8th-Century Baghdad

To save Shizuka, the friends decide to travel to 8th-century Baghdad in the Abbasid Caliphate. They disguise themselves as foreign traders and servants, heading from Basra while Cassim the trader plots to betray them. Doraemon confirms the story world aligns with Baghdad's era, bolstering their plan.

8th century Basra to Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate
4

Rescued by Caliph Harun al-Rashid

The quartet is rescued from Cassim and his bandits by Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who grants them a permit to travel beyond Basra. His intervention provides safe passage but also foreshadows Cassim's ongoing schemes. The group continues their journey under the Caliph's watchful eye.

8th century Basra
5

Mikujin Joins, Then Leaves in Dudgeon

Mikujin the guide genie joins the travelers, offering aid as they press on. He becomes upset after an insult and leaves, though he still tracks the group in case they need help. The team continues with a more uneasy ally watching from the shadows.

8th century En route to Sinbad's city
6

Ship Purchase and Betrayal

The group buys a ship to keep moving, but Cassim doubles-crosses them and they are thrown overboard. Nobita and friends fight to stay afloat as their plan to reach Sinbad's city sinks with the betrayal. The sea ordeal isolates them, raising the stakes of the mission.

8th century Sea near Basra
7

Desert Landing and Sinbad’s City

After washing ashore in the Arabian Desert, they must walk because Doraemon's pocket has been taken by Cassim. They are rescued by a gigantic genie allied with Sinbad, who rules a desert city introduced by a mysterious time traveler. The city offers a beacon of hope amid the perilous journey.

8th century Arabian Desert / Sinbad's Desert City
8

Rescuing Shizuka from Abdil

With Sinbad's help and his gadgets, they rescue Shizuka from the bandit Abdil, who plans to present her to Sinbad as a gift. Abdil vows revenge and agrees to join Cassim in hunting for the lost city. The rescue marks a turning point in their perilous mission.

8th century Sinbad's desert city
9

Abdil and Cassim Strike Inside

Abdil and Cassim slip into Sinbad's city through a secret passage, and both groups race to seize control of the gigantic genie. Tensions rise as the two factions collide in a bid to leverage the city's power. The fate of the lost city hangs in the balance.

8th century Sinbad's city
10

Genie Battle and Escape

Abdil seizes the genie and uses its power against Doraemon's group, imprisoning them. Mikujin returns to help recover Doraemon's pocket from the desert, enabling a daring escape, though they slip past the time hole and are briefly locked out again. The adventure intensifies as escape becomes the immediate goal.

8th century Sinbad's city
11

Hope Rekindled; Retaking the City

Realizing the stakes, Sinbad regains hope and is urged by Nobita and friends to embody the hero of his past. The group fights back, defeats Abdil and Cassim, and retakes Sinbad's city. This time the memories are erased again, leaving the group ready to depart with a clean slate.

8th century Sinbad's city
12

Farewell to Sinbad; Return to Present

Although Sinbad offers them to stay, Nobita and friends choose to return to the present day. They bid farewell to Sinbad and prepare to leave the desert city, ending on a light note with Mikujin in the end credits as they return to their world.

Present day Sinbad's city / Present day

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:01

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Characters step into the pages of beloved tales for a magical journey.If you enjoyed the magical journey into storybooks in Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights, you'll love these other movies. Discover animated and family-friendly films where characters step into the pages of fairy tales for hopeful and friendship-driven adventures. Find movies similar to Doraemon that capture the same playful, storybook mashup vibe.

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A tight-knit group of friends embarks on a magical quest to save one of their own.Fans of the loyal friend group dynamic in Doraemon: Nobita’s Dorabian Nights will enjoy these movies. Explore animated adventures and family films where a central rescue mission tests the bonds of friendship. Find similar stories to Doraemon that feature hopeful quests, light-hearted humor, and a focus on teamwork and courage.

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The plot is triggered by a friend being lost, captured, or endangered within a fantastical setting. The remaining group must navigate a strange new world, facing challenges that test their courage and teamwork. The narrative arc is straightforward, focusing on the sequential overcoming of obstacles, and is punctuated by moments of humor and heart that highlight the characters' care for one another. The resolution is triumphant and reaffirming.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects movies where the core emotional engine is friendship. They share a light emotional weight, a hopeful atmosphere, and a steady pacing that allows for character interaction amidst the adventure. The similarity lies in the feel-good, cooperative spirit of the journey rather than the specific fantasy setting.

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