Can you imagine a world without music, a place devoid of rhythm and melody? Without this fundamental element of life, how would existence on Earth feel?

Doraemon’s latest film Nobita’s Earth Symphony delves into this intriguing concept. The Japanese-animated musical fantasy film with English subtitles takes us to a world without music, where Nobita’s idea to skip the next class makes music disappear from the world.

The story begins with Nobita, the series’ lovable underdog, struggling to play the recorder for his school’s concert. His friends (Shizuka, Gian and Suneo) make fun of him, and he is about to quit when he meets a mysterious girl, Mikka. Mikka loves the soothing sound of Nobita’s recorder and invites him, Doraemon (the robotic cat from the future), and the gang to the “Hall of Music” on her planet Museaca. The story introduces broader themes about protecting the environment as their bond develops.

As is evident, music was once the energy source at Museaca, but an evil life-form attacked and drained it completely. The next target of the evil life-form is Earth, and it’s up to the group to stop it. Will Nobita and his friends be able to prevent Earth from losing its music forever? Can kids step up to protect their home?

The film suggests that kids can create meaningful change; they can save the planet, as everyone can contribute to saving the Earth. The story is thoughtfully crafted and, like previous Doraemon films, it quickly establishes a strong connection with the audience. A gadget called the Future Diary allows the group to glimpse possible futures, adding a fun and suspenseful twist to the plot.

Mikka and Nobita develop a sweet sibling-like bond and their relationship adds a nice touch. The film explains concepts like greenhouse gases, melting glaciers and global warming easily, and emphasises solutions like reforestation, reducing waste and clean energy.

Nobita’s Earth Symphony is still a fun, creative and bold movie that has charm, new characters and great music. It emphasises the value of life on Earth and inspires us to consider how it can be preserved for generations to come. It evokes memories of Captain Planet and the Planeteers, where such concepts were discussed.

The movie addresses pressing issues like pollution, deforestation and climate change through an engaging narrative, helping young audiences understand their impact on the planet.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 30th, 2024