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Surely you remember the excitement of holding a Doraemon comic book for the first time, exploring the magical gadgets with Nobita? A visual feast for die-hard Doraemon fans is being held at the exhibition "From Doraemon to Doraemon, 30 Years of the Robot Cat's Journey in Vietnam," recreating the journey of the intelligent robot cat through incredibly vivid images and comic books. The event is organized by the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts in collaboration with Kim Dong Publishing House and Lan Tinh Foundation, and curated by independent researcher ChuKim.
The transformative journey of Vietnamese publishing through the comic series from Doraemon to Doraemon.
The exhibition is a special event looking back over three decades since the Japanese manga series by author Fujiko F. Fujio was introduced to Vietnam in 1992 by Kim Dong Publishing House. Under the leadership of the late Director Nguyen Thang Vu, the series quickly became a cultural phenomenon with massive print runs and widespread popularity throughout the country. The image of the intelligent robotic cat has become a beloved friend of many generations of Vietnamese children and parents to this day.
The robotic cat remains a familiar icon in everyone's memory.
The exhibition created a space where generations of Doraemon fans could look back on the past, from their childhood days to their present adulthood.
In 1992, Fujiko F. Fujio's manga "Doraemon" was first published in Vietnam, read from left to right. In 1998, Kim Dong Publishing House officially acquired the Japanese rights. Since 2010, the book has been published under its original title, "Doraemon," using the original binding and readable from right to left format. For over 30 years, "Doraemon" has continued to be loved by Vietnamese children. Along with the development of the Vietnamese publishing industry, the publishing format of "Doraemon" has also undergone significant changes.
The exhibition focuses on exploring the development of the comic series through three main stages.
"From Doraemon to Doraemon: 30 Years of the Robot Cat's Journey in Vietnam" focuses on exploring the development of Doraemon through three main stages: from the unlicensed Doraemon version in 1992, the licensed version from 1998, and the Doraemon version from 2010. Each version reflects the shift in social awareness, as well as the integration and development of the Vietnamese comic book publishing industry.
ChuKim - Exhibition curator, independent researcher on comics in Vietnam
ChuKim, the exhibition curator and independent researcher on comics in Vietnam, stated: "From 1992 to 2010 is a huge gap; the translations of Doraemon have undergone significant changes. For example, the 'bamboo propeller' gadget from 1992 was later translated more accurately as 'bamboo helicopter' to better suit the original version and the understanding and level of modern readers. This not only shows the development of language but also provides a clearer understanding of how reading culture has changed over time. It can be said that this manga is a prime example of the development and integration of the Vietnamese comic publishing industry in particular, and the overall landscape of Vietnamese popular culture in general. The exhibition is also an opportunity for readers to admire, reflect on, and explore the historical, educational, and cultural journey of the robotic cat in Vietnam over the past 30 years."
The exhibition also provides an opportunity for readers to admire, reflect upon, and explore its historical and educational value.
Exhibition curator and independent researcher ChuKim has created a unique space where generations of "Doraemon" fans can look back on the past, from their childhood days to their adult present, where the robotic cat remains a familiar symbol in everyone's memory.
Now, those readers from back then, now adults, can once again admire the children of today's passionate love for Doraemon. Once again, the generation of Doraemon fans in Vietnam has the opportunity to return to the past, to their childhood memories, to look through their desk drawers and see that the robotic cat from the future is still there, alongside the changes in each of our lives.
The exhibition also provides an opportunity for viewers to reflect on Doraemon's cultural journey in Vietnam, spanning over 30 years.
The exhibition "From Doraemon to Doraemon, 30 Years of the Robot Cat's Journey in Vietnam" is open daily (9am - 5pm) free of charge from September 13th to 22nd, 2024 at VICAS Art Studio, 32 Hao Nam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
From the unlicensed version of "Doraemon" in 1992, the licensed version from 1998, and the "Doraemon" version from 2010.
