For generations of Indonesian viewers, the sight of a blue robotic cat with a pocket full of futuristic gadgets on Sunday mornings has been nothing short of a cultural staple.
The beloved Japanese anime Doraemon has officially ended its run on one of Indonesia’s biggest television networks, RCTI, marking a poignant moment for fans across the nation.
What had been a fixture of children’s programming for more than three decades has now slipped from the schedule, closing a chapter in Indonesia’s broadcast history.
A Beloved Companions for Decades
Since its introduction to Indonesian television in the early 1990s, Doraemon has been a constant presence in the homes of families across the country.
The anime, adapted from the original manga by Fujiko F. Fujio, follows the adventurous life of Doraemon, a robotic cat from the twenty-second century, who travels back in time to help a young boy named Nobita Nobi navigate life’s challenges.
Filled with joy, imagination, and moral lessons, the show quickly captured hearts of both children and adults alike. Its fun scenarios and endearing characters became synonymous with Sunday mornings and afternoon cartoon blocks on RCTI for multiple generations.
Over the years, Doraemon became more than just a cartoon series; it was a cultural touchstone in Indonesia.
Parents who grew up watching Doraemon in their youth would later sit with their own children in front of the television, sharing laughter, nostalgia, and life lessons drawn from each episode.
The show’s longevity is a testament to its broad appeal and emotional resonance, bridging gaps between decades of viewers.
The End of a Long-Running Broadcast
Recently, however, change has come to the Indonesian television landscape. After nearly thirty-five years of continuous broadcast on RCTI, Doraemons weekly appearances have disappeared from the network’s official schedule.
According to recent data from the RCTI+ platform, episodes of Doraemon have been absent from the lineup since late December, spanning a full week without a single mention in daily program guides.
This absence marks the first time in decades that the iconic anime has not been part of RCTI’s programming schedule.
The transition did not happen overnight. In recent years, RCTI had already begun scaling back on airing the latest Doraemon theatrical movies, with many of these premieres shifting to other television networks such as Trans TV.
While fans could still catch some episodes and movies on alternative channels or through streaming services, the disappearance of Doraemon from RCTI’s lineup represents an unmistakable shift in priorities and signals an end to a long-standing cultural tradition.
Why It Matter for Indonesians
For many Indonesians, the end of Doraemon on RCTI is more than a simple programming change; it feels like the end of an era that shaped childhoods and family memories. The series’ consistent schedule over decades turned it into a reliable weekend ritual for many families.
Children grew up identifying with the characters’ adventures and misadventures, learning lessons about friendship, creativity, and perseverance along the way.
Adults, in turn, remember how the show once offered a whimsical respite from daily life and helped shape a shared cultural experience among peers.
The emotional response from fans on social media and online forums has reflected a bittersweet mixture of nostalgia and disappointment.
Many viewers have taken to various platforms to express how deeply Doraemon influenced their formative years, with some sharing memories of family gatherings around the television and favorite episodes that stood out in their minds.
Though the anime may still air on other networks or be available via streaming, its absence from RCTI — a network that carried it for so long — feels like the closing of a beloved chapter.
What the Future Holds
Despite the end of its run on RCTI, Doraemon as a franchise is far from finished in Indonesia. The series continues to enjoy immense popularity through other media platforms, including streaming services where episodes can be accessed on demand by fans of all ages.
With new content still being produced overseas and occasional special programming, the spirit of Doraemon remains intact even as its home base on free-to-air television changes.
What remains undeniable is the impact the show has had on Indonesian viewers. While it may no longer occupy its familiar Sunday morning slot on RCTI, Doraemon will live on in the hearts and memories of those whose childhoods were touched by the blue robot cat from the future.
The end of its broadcast run on RCTI might signal a shift in television programming, but the legacy of Doraemon in Indonesia is timeless and enduring.
