Films

Childhood Era Comes to an End as Doraemon Officially Exits RCTI After 37 Years


Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

After an extraordinary 37-year run, Doraemon has officially ended its broadcast on Indonesian television network RCTI, bringing an emotional close to a chapter that shaped the childhoods of multiple generations. First airing in 1989, the iconic Japanese anime quickly became a household staple, accompanying viewers through school days, weekends, and family evenings for nearly four decades.

The absence of Doraemon from RCTI’s programming schedule was noticed by viewers in late 2025 and early 2026, with the show no longer appearing on the channel’s traditional time slots or digital platform. Though no formal announcement was initially made, the removal confirmed what many fans feared — the beloved series had quietly exited one of its longest-running broadcast homes.

For millions, Doraemon was far more than an animated show. Through the friendship between Doraemon and Nobita, and the imaginative gadgets pulled from the robot cat’s four-dimensional pocket, the series delivered humor, emotional depth, and gentle life lessons. Its stories transcended age, language, and time, making it one of the most culturally influential animated series in Asian television history.

The end of Doraemon on RCTI also reflects a broader shift in media consumption. As audiences increasingly move toward streaming platforms and digital content, traditional television schedules continue to evolve, even for legacy programs with deep emotional resonance. While Doraemon continues to live on through other platforms, films, and global broadcasts, its departure from RCTI marks the end of an era that defined childhood for generations in Indonesia.

Though the screen may have gone quiet, the memories of Doraemon, Nobita, and their adventures remain timeless — reminding viewers that while broadcasts may end, stories that shape our growing years never truly fade.

Films

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle—Part 1: Akaza Returns Surpasses Titanic in Japan, Earns $28.5M in IMAX Before Global Release


The anime juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down—before even hitting major markets like the U.S., Europe, and China.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle—Part 1: Akaza Returns, directed by Haruo Sotozaki, is rewriting the global box office playbook.

According to trade analyst Luiz Fernando, the film has already raked in a staggering $28.5 million from IMAX screenings alone—without launching in the world’s biggest markets. Currently running in Asia Pacific territories including Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, the film’s early performance hints at a massive global impact once it rolls out internationally.

In South Korea, the movie opened to a record-breaking $13 million in its first 3-day weekend, setting a new benchmark for animated features in the country.

But the real triumph came in its home country. In Japan, Infinity Castle has officially surpassed James Cameron’s Titanic with a total of ¥28 billion (~$190.1 million) in box office earnings, climbing to the 3rd highest-grossing film of all time in Japan.

Not just in revenue—Demon Slayer also broke into the elite league of audience admissions. With 20.3 million tickets sold, it overtook Disney’s Frozen, becoming the 3rd most-watched film in Japan’s cinematic history.

The film continues the epic saga of Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps as they descend into Muzan Kibutsuji’s domain—the terrifying Infinity Castle—for one final, climactic showdown. The return of Akaza and the rise of the Upper Rank demons sets the stage for one of the most intense arcs in anime history.

With anticipation building for its North American release in September, global exhibitors are preparing for a box office surge that could see Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle enter the ranks of the top-grossing animated films of all time.

Fans worldwide are bracing for the final battle—anime, it seems, is no longer a niche but a global box office force to be reckoned with.