Page "Doraemon" Paragraph 21

In 1980, Toho released the first of a series of annual feature length animated films based on the lengthly special volumes published annually.

Unlike the anime and manga ( some based on the stories in select volumes ), they are more action-adventure oriented and have more of a shōnen demographic, taking the familiar characters of Doraemon and placing them in a variety of exotic and perilous settings.

Nobita and his friends have visited the age of the dinosaurs, the far reaches of the galaxy, the heart of darkest Africa ( where they encountered a race of sentient bipedal dogs ), the depths of the ocean, and a world of magic.

Some of the films are based on legends such as Atlantis, and on literary works such as Journey to the West and Arabian Nights.

Some films also have serious themes, especially on environmental topics and the use of technology.

Overall, the films have a somewhat darker tone in their stories, unlike the manga and anime.