Doraemon (1979) - Episode 1601 Notes

In this entry I'll go over some extra notes on this episode for the curious ones out here.

Original Manga Chapter

As many Doraemon episodes, this one was adapted from a manga chapter, in this case one with the same name:

Manga cover on the left, anime Title Card on the right

Unlike most chapters of the manga, this one was made in full color, as such it was only included in the Volume. 1 of the Color Works manga collection. 

It was originally published on the April of 1984 issue of the Shogakukan Ichinensei or First Grade magazine.

This has a 2005 series version too, on the Segment B of episode "322" [バードキャップで大空へ] (the 2005 series has various numerations, using the one people usually uses here). 

To make into 10 minutes both versions expands on the original story from the manga, albeit in different ways.

Now, some quick notes on some of the names seen on the episode ahead.

Gadget Names

Takecopter

Starting with what may as well be Doraemon's most famous one, the Bamboo-Copter (Takecopter/タケコプター).

Despite being Doraemon's most recognizable gadget, translations across various languages have gone through accurate translations through less ones.

In itself is simple 'Take' being Bamboo and "Copter", well, that. However this name has an origin and references something in a quite nice way.

This is based on 'take-tonbo' (たけ‐とんぼ), which would be like a "Bamboo Dragonfly", they are small Japanese bamboo wood toys with the form of a propeller, which one spins with the hands to make it fly on the air. 

Doraemon playing with an actual Take-tonbo

This link is more clear also with it's original name, on the early manga it was called 'heri tonbo' (ヘリトンボ) before being changed to its current name.

Original name on the early manga

Momotarō's Kibi Dango

Going on we have 'Momotarō Jirushi no Kibi Dango' (桃太郎印のきびだんご), these are 'kibi dango' that can tame and make the animals or others that ate it follow the orders of the person who gave it to them.

These are based on the 'dango' the Momotarō from the folktale gives out to their animals companions in exchange to help him out to defeat the 'onis'. 

If you are wondering what's a dango though.

'dango' is a traditional Japanese sweet said to have origins on Indian sweet dumplings called 'modak', appearing at least around the Heian period. 'kibi dango' specifically refers to millet flour ones in this case. 

Note that despite having origins on a type dumpling and you can consider them a kind of dumpling, they aren't the same as the dumplings most people know and people in some places may not even make a relation with the two. 

So remember to don't confuse them with normal dumplings!

First appearance on the manga

Takaiyama/Takai-san References

To end up this entry we have "Mt. Takai", which is the mountain Doraemon suggests them to go to.

This is a recurring mountain of the various ones there's on the series, it may sound straight forward, however it's written with kanjis that give some curious insight.

高井山 (Takaiyama or Takai-san in some chapters of the manga), normally 'takai' would refer to something high or tall in this case, but with the kanji used for the 'i' part it could be something like a "tall well", contradicting each other in a funny way.

It seems like it's also a reference/parody to  "Mt. Takao" (高尾山), which is a mountain located in Hachijōji, which is a city in the Tokyo area. Note that Doraemon takes place in Tokyo. 

Mt. Takai on the 1983 Long Story "Doraemon: Nobita no Makai Daibōken"

As a curious detail, official media mentions "Mt. Takai" to be well know in the series for it's atumn colors landscapes.

That's everything for today, see you next time.

Summer Time~ Doraemon (1979) - Episode 1601

 It's been a while, right? 

Well, I have been busy with some things lately, so are things gone and done for now...?

Well, actually in some of my free time I have been working in something which requires more work than the Gema-Gema, so for now we have...

Today, to continue with the releases, episode 1601 of the Doraemon 1979 series with Nobuyo Ōyama, "Bird Caps" (バードキャップ)..

As Nobita scares out the birds Shizuka was gathering in her garden, Nobita will ask out Doraemon for some help, but what Doraemon has this time is... a hat?

Originally aired on October 10 of 2000, with a reairing of episode 1231 from 1993 "The Plan to Redo your Life" as the Segment B. 

The Original titles being: バードキャップ/人生やりなおし計画.

Note that this release only has the Segment A. Also it seems that the transfer of this episode just isn't perfect sadly.

I want to give out some big thanks to Zeke Green for helping getting out this release on torrents, thanks a lot.

This is a simple episode and story, but I think it's calm and relaxing to go with the start of the summer. Enjoy and as always feel free to note any problems or errors.

Download Doraemon (1979) - Episode 1601: DDL / Torrent

Then, there's some extra notes about this episode in the folllowing entry for anyone curious: Episode 1601 Notes

Hope you enjoy it.

Work in the Gema-Gema will continue soon, see you again soon.