Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Castle Under the Sea (New Version) officially opened in Vietnamese cinemas on May 22 and immediately climbed to the top of the box office, grossing more than VND60 billion ($2.3 million).

The film earned over VND20 billion ($770,000) on its opening day alone. According to Box Office Vietnam, by the end of May 22, the 45th Doraemon feature had already surpassed the VND60 billion mark and is forecast to hit VND100 billion ($3.85 million) early next week.

Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Castle Under the Sea (New Version) is a remake of the film first released in 1983. While preserving the original storyline and familiar sense of adventure, the new version has been upgraded with modern storytelling, visually striking animation and newly added details that make the story more relatable for today’s audiences while also carrying contemporary themes.

The familiar plot remains intact as Nobita and his friends’ summer vacation unexpectedly turns into a mission to save Earth, set against the backdrop of a mysterious underwater civilization. However, the remake introduces several revised and expanded details that make the narrative tighter and easier to follow, while also addressing some of the inconsistencies found in the original film.

Beyond the refreshed storyline, the film’s visuals are among its biggest improvements. The underwater world is brought to life more vividly through upgraded animation technology, replacing the darker tone of the previous version with a brighter and more magical aesthetic. From glowing domes and enormous palaces to colorful marine creatures, the Mu Federation appears more dazzling and fantastical than ever before.

To celebrate the film’s Vietnamese release from May 22, CJ CGV Vietnam is offering VietNamNet readers a selection of gifts inspired by the movie, including tote bags, document folders and books with stickers. Readers can register by emailing congdong@vietnamnet.vn with the subject line “Doraemon”, along with their name, address, phone number and preferred gift item. The deadline for submissions is May 30. Winners will receive confirmation via email from the editorial team.

My Anh