Latest news with #Nobita
Free Malaysia Today
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
‘I'm not done being Nobita,' says voice actor Azizah
Azizah Mat Jais deeply misses Nobita, a character she voiced for over 30 years. PETALING JAYA : After more than 30 years of crying while being chased by Giant and pleading with Doraemon, After more than 30 years of crying while being chased by Giant and pleading with Doraemon, Azizah Mat Jais is not ready to let go of voicing Nobita, the bespectacled boy who would constantly get into trouble. For the past two years, the 76-year-old artiste has not been called to reprise the character owing to health issues. But she is now back on her feet and keen to get back into the role. 'I'm not done being Nobita. We've become one. When someone else voices Nobita, audiences notice. They look for me, and that really touches my heart. It shows that people still remember and care,' she told FMT. For those who grew up watching cartoons in the 1980s, the voices of Nobita, Doraemon and their friends surely evoke cherished memories. For Azizah, voicing Nobita was more than just a dubbing job – it involved a deep emotional connection to the character, one that she believes still exists. 'As long as I still have the spirit, I can bring the character to life like I did before,' she said. Malaysians still have a soft spot for Doraemon and the bespectacled Nobita. Azizah recalls being moved when the original Japanese production team insisted the voices of Nobita and Doraemon remain unchanged over the years, even as other performers came and went. 'Other voices could be replaced, but not Nobita's and Doraemon's. The production team requested that our original voices be retained; they wanted the same sound, the same soul.' Azizah has lent her voice to many other popular shows including 'Oshin', 'Crayon Shin-chan', 'Dragon Ball', 'Naruto', 'Teletubbies', 'SpongeBob SquarePants', 'Detective Conan', 'Robocar Poli', 'Avatar', 'CatDog', and 'Tom & Jerry'. But like other voice actors, she has had to faced the harsh realities of low pay, lack of recognition, and an industry that seems to be closing its doors on new talent. Fellow artistes Ruhaiyah Ibrahim, who voiced Doraemon, and Charl Fitri are also fighting to survive in an ever-fading field. Nevertheless, Azizah harbours dreams of returning to the mic as Nobita. 'An actor's voice may change, but not the soul,' she stressed.
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Visit Saudi, ‘Doraemon' collaborate on culture at Expo 2025
OSAKA: Visit Saudi, the brand identity of the Saudi Tourism Authority, is collaborating with the creators of the renowned Japanese anime 'Doraemon' at Expo 2025 Osaka, to promote the Kingdom's culture in a fun and engaging manner. The collaboration is a part of the Saudi Pavilion's 'Wonders of Arabia' exhibition launched on Thursday, which also celebrates the 70th anniversary of relations between the two nations. Taking place until July 16, visitors can follow the iconic blue robot cat named Doraemon as he explores the Kingdom's destinations throughout the exhibition. A QR code can be scanned to take a quiz on various Saudi destinations. The first 250 guests daily will receive a special 'Doraemon' tote bag after completing the experience. 「ドラえもん＆ @VisitSaudi」 大阪・関西万博でドラえもんがサウジアラビアの魅力を紹介するよ♪ ドラえもんとサウジアラビアを巡る冒険を体験しよう！ のび太を見つけて、ドラえもん限定トートバッグをゲットしよう 7月10日（木）から7月16日（水）まで開催！ 詳細は — 【ドラえもん公式】ドラえもんチャンネル (@doraemonChannel) July 5, 2025 In a video released by Doraemon's creators, the character is seen wandering around Saudi Arabia landmarks through his popular pink portal door that allows him to explore any place at any time. Surrounded by Saudi Arabia's majestic landscapes, the character searches for his best friend Nobita, who makes a quick appearance. He returns to the Saudi Pavilion at the end of his journey, encouraging people to visit it. 'That was amazing. Come see it for yourself — and don't forget to collect your limited-edition Doraemon tote bag after the experience,' the character says at the end of the video. Located inside the Osaka Expo Exhibition Center, the 'Wonders of Arabia' exhibition offers workshops, interactive presentations, photobooths, and live demonstrations of Saudi and Japanese calligraphy. The exhibition is also offering an interactive virtual reality experience simulating Formula 1 races, and highlights of the Esports World Cup currently taking place in Riyadh. Doraemon has become a cultural icon in Japan since the manga debuted in 1969, appearing in more than 40 feature films and 3,000 TV episodes. Expo 2025 Osaka began in April and concludes in October. • This article also appears on Arab News Japan
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Simaran Kaur on why comedy films today lack the charm of the classics: We are confusing loudness with laughter
, a versatile Indian actress and acclaimed voice artist, is widely known for her breakthrough role in Agnifera and as the Hindi voice of Nobita in Doraemon. She currently stars as Riddhi Chotwani in the popular TV drama Jamai No. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 1. Beyond her current show, Simaran has a notable portfolio of past roles—including Agnifera, Tose Naina Milaai Ke, and Aggar Tum Na Hote—and has often wowed audiences with her grounded screen presence. Off screen, Simaran is someone who believes in meaningful cinema and shares her thoughts about the changing landscape of comedy in Indian films, offering a nostalgic yet insightful perspective. In an exclusive conversation, Simaran shared that while comedy continues to be a loved genre, its soul has somewhere gotten lost in translation over the years. 'I personally feel comedy films have lost a bit of their charm in recent years. Earlier, comedy had a warmth to it—it came from characters, situations, and genuine writing. Today, it's often reduced to loud punchlines and unnecessary chaos.' She fondly recalls the era of classic Indian comedy, citing legends like Mehmood, Kader Khan, and Govinda, who built a legacy based on wit and heart. 'There was a simplicity to the comedy films of the '80s, '90s, and even the early 2000s. Take a film like Chupke Chupke or Hera Pheri—they didn't need vulgarity or exaggerated acting to make us laugh. The humour was clean, situational, and relatable. That's why those films are still rewatchable today,' she says. When asked if filmmakers are struggling to keep up with the audience's evolving preferences, Simaran responds thoughtfully: 'I wouldn't say filmmakers are falling short, but I do think there's a rush to please everyone. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And in that rush, sometimes the story and soul of comedy are sidelined. Comedy is not just about delivering laughs—it's about creating characters and situations that stay with you.' Touching upon the current trend of slapstick and over-the-top gags, Simaran expresses concern: 'There's definitely an overuse of slapstick and forced humour today. Not all of it works. In fact, too much of it becomes jarring. Humour should flow naturally. When it's inserted just to fill the gaps, it loses its charm. We're confusing loudness with laughter, and that's a dangerous path to take.' However, she also acknowledges that humour, like everything else in cinema, is evolving. 'Audiences have evolved, yes. But that doesn't mean they've become less intelligent. They still love smart comedy—they just want it in new packaging. Look at some of the recent OTT content that's doing well—people are still laughing, but it's through sharp writing and modern-day irony. That proves that the audience hasn't changed as much as we think—we just need to stop underestimating them.' For someone like Simaran, who enjoys performing in light-hearted and humorous roles, this shift in tone is both a challenge and a motivation. 'As an actor, I crave well-written comic roles. It's easy to make someone cry on screen, but to make someone laugh with dignity and substance—that's the real test. I hope more writers and directors bring back that timeless touch to comedy. We need to stop relying solely on volume and start trusting the intelligence of our viewers again.' Simaran Kaur gives a walkthrough of her lavish and aesthetic adobe; reveals her 'prized possession'
Scroll.in
11-06-2025
- Scroll.in
For children: Everyone in the neighbourhood is suspicious in the eyes of two young detectives
One of the daily chores that Innocent Baby Chandy, all of eleven years, enjoyed was vegetable shopping every evening at 5.30, that she carried out for her mother, Radha Mercy. She would wait for Khan-chacha, the vegetable vendor, who would come from Badshahpur to Sector 41 every evening and park his covered autorickshaw loaded with potatoes, onions, peas, apples, and bananas. Around that time, Innocent usually cycled around the neighbourhood on her new sky-blue mountain bike which her father, Bijou Jolly Chandy, had bought for her from the Decathlon outlet at Millennium City Centre Metro Station, the last time he was back home from Dubai. It was a tough, rough and ready bike ideally suited for Innocent B Chandy's temperament. Within a week she had become an accomplished biker, and now in the evenings from 4.30 to 5.30 pm, could be seen zipping around the neighbourhood in gay abandon. Sometimes her good friend, Mata Rani Tomar, who was seven years old and the granddaughter of Mrs Tomar, the landlady, accompanied Innocent Baby on her daily adventures. Mata Rani rode a pink BSA bike which Innocent had outgrown and had now lent to her young friend. The pink bike still had its training wheels on both sides of the large rear wheel. Around five o'clock, as Innocent Baby and Mata Rani were on their second tour of the neighbourhood market, they saw a man pushing a handcart laden with vegetables and fruits towards the Dulcimer Luxury Housing Society. The man parked his cart at its gate and sold the watchman a kilo of potatoes and half a dozen bananas. Innocent quickly noted it down in her pocket diary. Now where was Khan-chacha? Who was this new man? Innocent Baby asked Mata Rani what the time was and Mata Rani looked into her new digital red and black smartwatch and said '17.05 hours'. Innocent duly noted that down as well. So it was still early. Khan-chacha usually arrived around 5.30 and parked his autorickshaw near Balwan Boys School. 'Let's follow this imposter, didi,' Mata Rani said to Innocent Baby. 'What's an imposter, Mata Rani?' 'Well, you know, that's a pig who is pretending to be something else, like a cow, for instance. For creating mischief.' Innocent Baby was again struck by how varied and extensive Mata Rani's vocabulary was in English and it was all due to Peppa Pig. Innocent remembered the role Doraemon and Nobita had played in her Hindi language fluency – as a three-year-old who had newly arrived in Gurugram from Kerala eight years ago, she only knew Malayalam – and she was once again thankful for the all-round benediction of Cartoon TV to both their childhoods and language skills. 'Let's follow the imposter.' Innocent said to Mata Rani as the vegetable vendor pushed his cart and loudly advertised his wares: 'Come one, come all, buy fresh tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and pepsicum.' 'Did the man just say pepsicum?' Mata Rani inquired; her eyes had enlarged and were popping out like ping-pong balls. 'Yes, he did. Pepsicum, not 'Capsicum',' Innocent assured Mata Rani. 'What did I tell you? The man is an inveterate imposter.' Mata Rani said triumphantly and flicked back her jet-black curls. 'What does 'invete…', oh never mind. Let's keep following the man,' Innocent said somewhat exasperated with her young friend and ward. 'A man who pronounces capsicum as pepsicum surely can't be a vegetable seller. Everyone knows what a capsicum is.' Mata Rani made her suspicions very apparent. 'Perhaps he is part of a burglar's ring, observing vulnerable houses they can attack in the night,' Innocent said to Mata Rani, as they both slowly cycled behind the cart. 'Or perhaps he is a bootlegger. And Pepsicum is code for Mallya No1, which incidentally is my grandmother's brand of choice. You know like Pepsi 'Kum', that is less and whisky more.' Mata Rani gave her extremely precocious mind, one more almighty whirl. 'Mata Rani, you are too much, but that is certainly a person of interest to us. Let us go and interrogate him. What is he doing in our territory? What has he done with Khan-chacha? I anyway have to buy a kilo of potatoes and some green chillies.' Innocent said to Mata Rani and they both cycled a bit faster and caught up with the vendor. 'Hello, hello, Mr Sabziwale, we want to buy some potatoes,' Innocent said to the vegetable vendor as she and Mata Rani overtook the poor man from both sides and screeched to a halt. 'Yes, of course, why not? How much do you want? A kilo, a mon, a ton?' 'Just a kilo please,' Innocent primly said to the man. Stiff upper lip and all. The vendor started sorting out potatoes to weigh them properly. All this while Mata Rani Tomar was watching the vendor like a hawk. Her eyes had become like slits and her nose had grown sharper at the tip. 'Where's Khan-chacha? He sells vegetables here,' Mata Rani started her inquisition. 'Khan-chacha?' The vendor laughed and pointed towards the sky. 'What do you mean?' Innocent asked the vendor. 'Dead kargaye. From now onwards, I will sell vegetables here. I am Ram Bharose.' Both Innocent and Mata Rani were too shocked to utter anything for a while. It was only yesterday that Innocent had bought tomatoes and cabbage from the poor man and chacha had given them both slices of sweet crunchy coconut. 'Do you want anything more? Onions? Bhindi? Mango? Pepsicum?' Ram Bharose asked Innocent while rapidly filling up a polythene bag with a kilo of potatoes. 'Pepsicum? What pray is a pepsicum?' Innocent asked the vendor. 'This 'pray' is a pepsicum. Also called shimla mirchi. You harvest it not with water but with Pepsi-Cola. The rich and famous eat it by the kilo.' Ram Bharose picked up a large bottle-green bell pepper and dangled it in front of the two girls. 'That's not a pepsicum. It is a capsicum.' Mata Rani Tomar shook her head and corrected the vendor. 'Pepsicum.' Ram Bharose patiently corrected the girls. 'Capsicum.' Innocent Baby stood her ground. 'Just because you study in an English-medium school, you think you know more than all those who have studied in the vernacular schools?' 'Capsicum. And listen, I go to a Hindi-medium school in Sohna. It is Innocent who studies in an English medium school,' Mata Rani reiterated her stand. 'Mata Rani, never divulge personal information before strangers,' Innocent cautioned her young friend.
Mint
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Nobita ka bag': Indian mother's video of son's light school bag goes viral
A video shared by an Indian-origin woman living in China is gaining attention online for offering a rare look into everyday school life for young children in the country. The clip, which has sparked admiration and surprise, shows what her child carries in a school bag - and it's very different from what most Indian parents might expect. In the video, the woman shows a school bag with a special waterproof design. When she opens it, there are only a few basic clothing items inside: two T-shirts, one pair of shorts, and one pair of trousers. Notably, there are no books, notebooks, lunchboxes, or water bottles — a sharp contrast to the heavy bags many children carry in other countries. She explains that the school provides all meals, drinking water, and study materials, so parents don't need to pack anything else. A name tag is also neatly attached to the bag, showing the school's organised system. According to the mother, her child leaves for school at 8 a.m. and returns home by 4 p.m., suggesting a full-day schedule focused on both learning and extra activities. The video quickly gained thousands of views and comments. Many viewers were impressed by the school's simple and thoughtful approach. One user commented, 'It's amazing how much lighter and stress-free this looks compared to what we're used to.''These bags are often gifted by grandparents to their grandchildren as a custom,' shedding light on a cultural tradition in China," another wrote. Others compared the bag to the one carried by the cartoon character Nobita from Doraemon, calling it 'Nobita ka bag"
