AFTER a flurry of viral posts sent fans into panic mode, it turns out that
Doraemon has not ended at all, despite claims racing around social media.
What actually ended was a decades-long broadcast run on Indonesia’s RCTI, a routine programming change that snowballed into a global misunderstanding.
Advertisement
For many Indonesian households, Sunday mornings once meant waking up at 8am to follow the gentle chaos of Nobita and his round, blue helper with the bottomless gadget pocket.
When the cartoon quietly disappeared from the channel’s schedule between late December 2025 and early January 2026, nostalgia quickly filled the gap.
The absence was soon misread as a worldwide farewell, prompting dramatic headlines that suggested a childhood staple had taken its final bow.
In reality, the franchise remains very much alive, with new episodes and films still being produced and screened across multiple regions.
No official announcement has been made anywhere to signal a full stop for the series, despite the speed at which the rumour travelled.
Observers noted that the channel had already reduced the frequency of
Doraemon films in recent months, hinting that the decision was more practical than sentimental.
First airing on Japan’s TV Asahi in 1979 after its manga debut a decade earlier, the robotic cat has long since escaped national borders.
So while Indonesian viewers may miss a familiar weekend ritual, the rest of the world can rest easy knowing Doraemon is still rummaging through his pocket somewhere on screen.
