Doraemon: Kaette Kita Doraemon (Movie)

This is the saddest Doraemon movie ever created. If you want a tear-jerker, bittersweet, dramatic Ooyama-era Doraemon movie, then this short movie is the perfect selection. But this is also 1998, at a time when the Doraemon series was really starting to ramp up their comical expressions in their animation, so there is also a significant amount of comic relief too amid the drama. It's a perfect balance - you'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll cry again, you'll feel real good at the end.

While it follows the main storyline very closely, the movie adds many elements and characters that enhances the emotional takeaways ... of the movie. Additionally, there are moments that retain even the exact framing (i.e., "camera angles") of the original manga during one of the earlier climaxes, paying tribute to one of the best-written chapters of the Doraemon manga. The scenery is beautifully drawn too, clearly illustrating the seasons and the ambient environment of Tokyo. The soundtrack adds another layer of emotion to the entire movie, even quoting some of the Doraemon main themes of that time.

This short movie is one of a series of what's popularly known as "Doraemon Emotional Series", but it definitely takes the cake for being the most emotional.