What Am I for Momotaro
1981 Japanese film
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Doraemon: What Am I for Momotaro? (ドラえもん: ぼく、桃太郎のなんなのさ, Doraemon: Boku, Momotarō no Nan'na no Sa) is a 1981 Japanese animated science fiction comedy-drama short film.[2] It premiered in Japan on August 1, 1981[3][2] on a double feature with 21 Emon: Welcome to Space!. It is largely an expanded and modified version of the 1975 Doraemon, Bakeru-kun, and Another Story chapter "What Am I for Momotaro?", albeit removing all Bakeru-kun elements and characters.
- Souichi Besshi
- Tetsuo Sugano
| Doraemon: What Am I for Momotaro? | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Takeyuki Kanda |
| Screenplay by | Noboru Shiroyama |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Edited by | Hajime Okayasu |
| Music by | Shunsuke Kikuchi |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release date |
|
Running time | 46 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | $3 million[1] |
Synopsis
For his school's summer vacation homework assignment, Nobita decides to research his town's history. He uses Doraemon's secret gadget, the "Time Camera", to photograph the past, but to his surprise, it captures the image of Momotaro and his companions hauling a cart full of treasure.
Meanwhile, a small picture held by a man named Dutch, a foreigner who Nobita's mother Tamako had just met, happens to depict a samurai dressed just like Momotaro, with the photograph-like picture having been passed down through Dutch's family for generations.
Thinking Momotaro might have been a real person, Nobita and Doraemon both go back in time to past Japan alongside Shizuka, Suneo, and Gian.
Cast
| Doraemon | Nobuyo Ōyama |
| Nobita Nobi | Noriko Ohara |
| Shizuka Minamoto | Michiko Nomura |
| Suneo Honekawa | Kaneta Kimotsuki |
| Takeshi Goda | Kazuya Tatekabe |
| Tamako Nobi Grandma |
Sachiko Chijimatsu |
| Nobisuke Nobi Grandpa |
Masayuki Katō |
| Dutch | Takashi Kuwabara |
| Oni | Teiji Ōmiya |
| Village Chief | Mahito Tsujimura |
| Villagers | Reizō Nomoto Toku Nishio Ritsuo Sawa |
| Villager 21 Emon |
Kazuhiko Inoue |
Production
The first Doraemon feature film, Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur, was released in March 1980, followed by Doraemon: The Records of Nobita, Spaceblazer in March 1981. Five months after Spaceblazer however, this half hour film was released as a summer holiday film (making 1981 a year with two Doraemon films), but because it was the sole exception to the tradition of March releases for Doraemon feature films at the time, it is often distinguished from the Doraemon feature films as a short film.
The title is a play on the iconic catchphrase "What are you to her?" (あんた、あの娘のなんなのさ?) from the hit 1975 Japanese rock song "Port of Yoko, Yokohama, Yokosuka" (港のヨーコ ヨコハマ ヨコスカ).
Soundtrack
Theme songs
- "I'm Doraemon"
- Lyrics: Fujiko F. Fujio / Composition and Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi / Vocals: Nobuyo Ōyama, Koorogi '73
- "Blue Sky in the Pocket"
- Lyrics: Hiroo Takada / Composition and Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi / Vocals: Kumiko Osugi
Insert song
- "Doraemon's Song"
- Lyrics: Takumi Kusube / Composition and Arrangement: Shunsuke Kikuchi / Vocals: Kumiko Osugi
Release
The short film was released in Japan on August 1, 1981.[2]
It was screened theatrically in a double feature with the 21 Emon film 21 Emon: Welcome to Space!.
Reception
Box office reception
Because the short film was screened as a double feature with 21 Emon: Welcome to Space!, it grossed ¥500 million yen ($3 million) at the Japan box office.[1]