Is the Doraemon we knew real? The chilling truth behind the urban legend

When I was a child, sitting in the living room on a cloudy, rainy afternoon and turning on the TV, I would suddenly think, "What if Doraemon actually showed up and showed me his pocket too?" But at some point, that excitement would transform into a strange sense of dread.

There were stories whispered secretly among friends, like "Nobita is actually in a vegetative state" or "Doraemon is actually a robot created by Nobita." Even now, in 2026, these bizarre stories continue to surface on internet communities.

Today, we are going to dig into the reality behind the numerous urban legends surrounding the blue robotic cat we all loved, Doraemon. Shall we discover what is truth and what is cruel fiction created by pure imagination?

1. The Saddest Fan Comic, the Story Called the 'True Ending'

The story that most people are curious about and is perhaps the most widely known is the theory that "Doraemon's inventor is the future Nobita." This story is so sad and beautiful that it has moved many hearts as if it were the official ending.

The plot goes like this: Doraemon's battery is running out, and the earless Doraemon is at risk of losing his memory. To prevent this, Nobita throws himself into his studies through tears. Eventually, he becomes a world-renowned roboticist, marries Shizuka, and personally creates a new Doraemon equipped with a special device so that he won't lose his memory.

However, surprisingly, this story is not the original work. It began from a post by an engineering student in 1998 and was produced as a secondary creation (doujinshi) by the author Yasue Tajima in 2005. This fan comic gained immense popularity, selling over 13,000 copies, but it ultimately suffered the heartbreak of being entirely destroyed due to copyright infringement of the original creator.

From a technical perspective, there is a flaw in this setting. According to the original setting, Doraemon derives power through plants rather than a battery. However, the reason this story has remained so powerful is likely because Nobita's growth and his desperate love for Doraemon touched our hearts.

2. Non-existent Horrors: 'Phantom Episodes' and 'Late-night Broadcasts'

Sometimes, ghost stories that trigger the illusion of "Wait, haven't I seen this before?" make us feel even more terrified. A representative example is the phantom episode called 'Talent.'

This episode supposedly starts in a rainy schoolyard, shows a miniature Earth underground, and meets a desperate conclusion where black blood flows. Many people claim to have seen this video on YouTube or in online communities, but in reality, this episode does not exist. It is a result of memories of fan-made edited videos or screen distortions being amplified through community discussions.

There is also a myth that a bizarre broadcast aired without an opening at midnight on the day the author, Fujiko F. Fujio, passed away. This story, where Nobita says, "I have to go now," and disappears into a white light, is merely a sad fantasy created by the grief of fans; there is no record of such a broadcast actually being aired.

We sometimes believe things to be true because they are what we want to see or what we want to believe. This is a very typical example of how fake news spreads in the digital age.

3. The Real Reason Doraemon is Blue

While not an urban legend, one of the things many people misunderstand is Doraemon's color. The story that "Doraemon was originally yellow" is not a ghost story, but the actual original setting.

Originally, Doraemon was a cute yellow robot with ears. However, while he was sleeping, a robotic mouse appeared and bit off his ears. Having lost his ears entirely due to this accident, Doraemon cried so hard that his tears caused the yellow paint to peel off, resulting in his current blue color.

While this setting sounds a bit cruel, almost like a ghost story, it is a very important background that forms the identity of the character Doraemon. Thanks to this, we can naturally understand why he has no ears and why he is blue.

4. The 'Dystopian' Side of the Gadgets We Never Knew

Finally, we look at the tools inside Doraemon's treasure trove, the '4D Pocket.' There are analyses suggesting that the gadgets we thought of as toys to stimulate children's imaginations actually possess very dangerous characteristics.

For example, the Shadow-Cutting Scissors can separate a shadow to send it on errands, but it is a dangerous tool that can cause the shadow to steal its owner's ego over time. Additionally, the Dictator Switch erases a specific being from the world the moment it is pressed, showing the catastrophe that uncontrollable power can bring.

The Doubler, which increases the amount of matter by two, also becomes a seed of disaster that could exponentially multiply and cover the universe if not handled in time. From this perspective, Doraemon's episodes are sometimes evaluated as containing dystopian messages that warn about endless human desire and the resulting responsibility, going beyond simple comedy.

Closing the Story: Imagination is More Beautiful Than Reality

So far, we have looked at the many urban legends surrounding Doraemon and the truths hidden behind them.

In the end, the scary stories we encountered were either products of the imagination of fans who loved the character Doraemon too much, or results of projecting the dark nature of humanity. Regardless of what the true ending may be, the dreams and hope that Doraemon gave us remain an unchanging truth.

What was the Doraemon story that kept you awake during your childhood? Or is there another mystery you know about?

What is the most chilling Doraemon story remaining in your memory? Please tell us in the comments!