Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur

Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur

Year: 1980

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Hiroshi Fukutomi

FantasyAnimationAdventureFamily

The 1980 animated film, based on the popular Doraemon manga and anime, follows the series' characters in a feature‑length adventure. It premiered in Japan on 15 March 1980, arriving a year after the TV series began and becoming the franchise’s first full‑length movie. The story was later revisited in a 2006 remake.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day and Late Cretaceous (about 100 million years ago), with brief 24th-century interference

The film toggles between Nobita’s life in present-day Japan and a perilous voyage back in time to the Late Cretaceous. Piisuke’s origin is ancient, and the heroes must navigate a world of dinosaurs while avoiding a 24th-century fossil hunter. The time-travel device breaks, forcing a trek back to Japan to restore the timeline.

Location

Japan, North American shore, Late Cretaceous Japan, Beringia

The story mostly unfolds in Nobita’s home in Japan and then expands across time and continents through a time-travel journey. The group travels to the North American shore and crosses the land bridge of Beringia in their bid to return Piisuke home. Key locations include a Late Cretaceous Japan and the present-day Japan when the time machine is involved, with a final return to Nobita’s desk in Japan to restore the timeline.

🗺️ Adventure 🧭 Time travel 🐾 Dinosaurs

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:51

Main Characters – Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980)

Meet the key characters of Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nobita Nobi (voice: Noriko Ohara)

A stubborn yet imaginative boy who longs to prove a living dinosaur exists. He drives the plan to protect Piisuke, even when others doubt him, showing resilience and a willingness to take risks for friendship.

🎯 Determined 🧭 Persistent 🧠 Curious

Doraemon (voice: Nobuyo Oyama)

A resourceful, loyal friend who helps navigate the dangerous journey and keeps the time machine functioning. He guides Nobita with gadgets and steady judgment, balancing mischief with responsibility.

🧠 Clever 🤝 Supportive 🛰️ Resourceful

Piisuke

A curious, adorable Futabasaurus who grows quickly, testing Nobita’s ability to care for a living creature. Piisuke’s presence fuels the adventure and moral choices around custody and safety.

🦕 Adorable 🧭 Curious 💚 Gentle

Takeshi Goda (Gian) (voice: Kazuya Tatekabe)

A brash, loud friend who challenges Nobita but ultimately joins the group’s efforts to reveal Piisuke’s existence. His boldness adds tension and comic energy to the journey.

💪 Brash 🗣️ Loud 🎯 Loyal

Suneo Honegawa (voice: Kaneta Kimotsuki)

Clever and sly, he teases Nobita and complicates the group’s dynamic, yet contributes to the plan to outsmart the fossil hunters. His actions reveal a mix of vanity and loyalty.

🧠 Clever 💬 Talkative 🎭 Showy

Shizuka Minamoto (voice: Michiko Nomura)

Kind and thoughtful, she initially doubts Nobita but ultimately offers support and friendship. Her presence helps mediate conflicts and keeps the group unified.

💖 Kind 🧭 Thoughtful 🤝 Compassionate

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:51

Major Themes – Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980)

Explore the central themes of Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

Friends defend each other and grow from misunderstandings as Nobita’s claim about Piisuke is tested by Gian, Suneo, and Shizuka. The group’s cooperation helps them survive dangers and outsmart adversaries. Trust and reconciliation prevail as they apologize and support Nobita’s discovery.

🧭 Responsibility

Nobita’s decision to care for Piisuke requires commitment beyond convenience. Doraemon’s gadgets and their teamwork are crucial in protecting the dinosaur and keeping the mission on track. The adventure emphasizes handling a powerful, unfamiliar creature with care.

⏳ Time Travel

The plot hinges on navigating time streams, paradoxes, and the lure of adventure across eras. The group races against the time machine’s limits and the clock of multiple timelines. The journey highlights both the wonder and peril of altering history.

💰 Greed

Fossil hunters from the 24th century seek Piisuke for profit, representing exploitation of living creatures. The pursuit creates danger and moral conflict for Nobita and friends. The confrontation with greed reinforces the value of guardianship over treasure.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:51

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Gentle childhood discovery adventures like Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur

Playful journeys where curiosity leads to wondrous and harmless discoveries.If you enjoyed the friendly, exploratory vibe of Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur, you'll find more movies like it here. These films capture the spirit of childhood wonder, often involving imaginative journeys, friendly creatures, and a steadily paced, heartwarming narrative.

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Friendly time-travel stories like Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur

Heartwarming trips through time where friendship is the most important tool.For viewers who liked the friendly time-travel quest in Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur, this section suggests similar movies. These films use time travel as a backdrop for lighthearted, steady-paced adventures that emphasize camaraderie and discovery over tension.

adventurousfriendlylightheartedcuriousloyaltyteamworkwondrous

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a group of friends gaining access to time travel, leading them on a mission—often to help a creature or solve a simple problem. The conflict is mild, and the story's heart comes from the group working together and learning about loyalty in an extraordinary setting.

Why These Movies?

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Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur Summary

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Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur Summary

Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur Timeline

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Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur Timeline

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