TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese anime series Doraemon bid farewell to the Indonesian TV channel RCTI after 35 years of accompanying Sunday morning anime enthusiasts in Indonesia. The legendary anime series has ceased to appear in RCTI's broadcasting schedule since the end of last year. This event has stirred much speculation on social media. However, to date, there has been no official statement from RCTI regarding the discontinuation of the broadcast of the story of the robot cat's friendship with Nobita, a seemingly lazy boy, in Japan.
Fans Requesting RCTI to Re-Air Doraemon
This situation has led netizens to bombard RCTI's social media accounts since Sunday, January 4, 2026. RCTI's official Instagram account @officialrcti, which made posts alongside MNC TV's official account about favorite programs on December 24, 2025, did not escape the scrutiny of Doraemon fans. They are requesting an explanation and the re-airing of the all-age favorite anime series.
"Team, please re-air Doraemon on RCTI," wrote the fan account Agnezmo, @agnationbogor. "Doraemon has stopped airing, RCTI is no longer exciting," wrote @bin_tang***. "Bring back the airing of Doraemon. I watch RCTI just to watch Doraemon," wrote @khav***. "How come Doraemon is no longer there, Min," wrote @dina***.
The Instagram account Catatan Film made a post about Doraemon ceasing to air on Monday, January 5, 2026. "Based on the schedule data on the RCTI+ website, as of December 29, 2025, until January 4, 2026, Doraemon has disappeared from RCTI's schedule. Previously, RCTI has also very rarely broadcasted Doraemon the movie," wrote the verified account.
The Journey of The Robot Cat Doraemon in Indonesia
For over three decades, Doraemon has been part of the Indonesian family's routine, especially on Sunday morning at 8 a.m., which is synonymous with the adventures of Nobita and friends. The news of the anime series' discontinuation, which first aired on April 2, 1979, on TV Asahi, Japan, has become a hot topic on social media. One of them is the account X @indoPopBase announcing that the animated cartoon Doraemon is no longer airing on RCTI, yesterday. "Doraemon officially ends its run on RCTI after nearly four decades," the account wrote.
Netizens, especially the generation that grew up with Doraemon, have shown various reactions. Most expressed surprise and longing for the traditional Sunday morning rhythm that is traditionally synonymous with Doraemon's adventures.
Doraemon has been well-known in Indonesia, especially since it started airing on RCTI in the early 1990s, and became one of the favorite Sunday morning programs for children in Indonesia.
With several anime versions (such as the 1979 and 2005 versions), Doraemon has always stood out as a story that combines futuristic fantasy with everyday life values. This combination makes it relevant from generation to generation.
Doraemon tells the story of a blue robot cat from the 22nd century who comes to help an elementary school boy named Nobita Nobi. Nobita is depicted as careless, lazy in studying, often getting poor grades, and frequently unlucky.
From his fourth-dimensional pocket, Doraemon produces various futuristic gadgets, ranging from anywhere doors, bamboo copters, time machines, to devices to fulfill Nobita's desires. Along with Nobita's friends Shizuka, Suneo, and Giant, Doraemon's story presents a mix of comedy, adventure, and moral values about friendship, responsibility, honesty, and the courage to try again despite frequent failures. This is what makes Doraemon not just a children's cartoon, but a story full of imagination that leaves a strong impression on its audience until today.
Read: 5 Facts About the Recently Deceased Noriko Ohara, the Voice Behind Doraemon's Nobita
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