The Power of Compassion! Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels (Analysis)

Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels (2011) is one of the most popular Doraemon movies and for good reasons. In actuality, it is a remake of 1986's 'Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops' but with a more focused plot, a well-executed thematic message, and amazing character writing. Combine that with its beautiful animation and heart-touching music, and you have one of the best Doraemon movies ever made.

I won't go too deep into the plot of the film, this is just an analysis of the theme of the film. On a thematic level, the movie is about two non-human characters learning and embracing human compassion.

Establishing the theme

 

 

The movie starts by showing three stars representing Love, Hope and Empathy.

The next scene shows the polar opposite imagery setting up the conflict.

The movie opens with the creation of the Mechatopian Robots as the song 'Amu to Imu no Uta' plays in the background, introducing the audience to the three stars of Mechatopia, each representing different things. The red star represents love, blue represents hope and most importantly green represents compassion. However, later on in the film, it was also explained that the green star was eventually replaced by a yellow, which represented competitive spirit. Then we cut to a scene where the Chief of Mechatopia declares this plan to enslave people, which goes against the first scene, successfully creating a contrast between the two, which sets up the entire theme of the film in just around 2 minutes.

• Red Star - represents "Love".
• Blue Star - represents "Hope".
• Yellow Star - represents "Competitive Instinct".
• Green Star - represents "Compassion and Kindness".

Mechatopians way of life

 

 

Class difference in Mechatopia

The film makes it clear that, in Mechatopia, everyone doesn't get to enjoy the same privileges. Some aren't even allowed to sing at their desire, which again is represented by the yellow star. 

The Mechatopians are also shown to lack compassion and empathy.  The only act of kindness from a Mechatopian came from Riruru, which helped push Pippo to slowly change his views and turn against the Mechatopians. From Riruru's perspective, her selfless help towards Pippo, helps her connect with humans later on in the film.

 

The Mechatopian's lack empathy

The difference between the Mechatopians and the humans is made clear as Doraemon assures Pippo that he is free to sing here. Then comes a set of very significant dialogue as Pippo asks why Doraemon is with the humans.

 

  

 

 

Doraemon is what the Mechatopians could become if they didn't lack compassion

Despite being a victim himself, just like other Mechatopians, Pippo shared the same viewpoint on class supremacy and thought that it was 'ok' to enslave others to ensure peace. This leads him to ask why Doraemon was living with them together instead of ruling over them and through Nobita and Gian, the difference between the humans and Mechatopians are made clear and in spite of not being a human, Doraemon has compassion, which drastically sets him apart from the Mechatopians.

The realization

 

 

  

Pippo starts questioning himself after witnessing Nobita's strong desire to save his friends

After entering the mirror world, Pippo's attempt to betray the humans backfires as the Mechatopian robots refuse to recognize him and tries to attack him. Pippo then witnesses another act of selflessness as Nobita risks his life to save Pippo. Meanwhile, Doraemon, Suneo, and Gian get captured. As Nobita plans to save them, Pippo starts wondering why Nobita was willing to get into such big trouble again, only to save people who he considers his 'friends.' 

Another moment of self reflection for Pippo comes when Shizuka and the others decide to save Riruru, the person Pippo cared about the most because of Riruru's past act of kindness. This is the time when Pippo starts to completely spend time with the humans, realize them and slowly change his perspective on them.

 

 

 

Pippo starts realizing that everyone can live a harmonious without enslaving anyone

Like the other Mechatopians Pippo, believed that the best way to ensure a peaceful world was by enslaving people for their service. After sending time with the humans, Pippo realized that their view of their ideal world is wrong. This leads Pippo to reflect on the time when Riruru helped save his life. Upon much self-reflection Pippo starts to connect more with the humans and understand their sufferings.

 

Riruru doesn't understand why Shizuka was helping her

 

 

 

 

Riruru starts to realize Shizuka's selflessness as Pippo points out her own act of selflessness

Shikuza's act of kindness towards Riruru parallels Riruru's act of kindness towards Pippo. Initially, she was unable to understand why Shizuka was saving Riruru in spite of being 'enemies.' But after Pippo points it out, Riruru starts to understand it. This plays a big role when she gets asked about the whereabouts of the humans.

 

 

After a bit of self reflection, Riruru grabs the green star(which represents empathy) and decides to go against her own people 

Later on, after unwillingly hurting Pippo, the only person she cared about, the person who selflessly laid himself to save one of their enemies, Riruru finally refuses to tell the truth to the Chief in spite of taking a lot of damage because of that. The green star of empathy, that she got from Shizuka is used nicely here as Riruru reflects on her time with the humans.

All three stars(Red, Blue and Green) are combined to put an end to all these

Fast forward to the end, Riruru and Shizuka travel back in time to change history and the three stars, Red, Blue, and Green stars; love, hope, and compassion are combined to put an end to all the chaos and bring back peace. It's Pippo's and Riruru's ultimate act of selflessness as they willingly sacrifice themselves just because they can feel and sense the sufferings that could have been brought by the Mechatopians.

 

 

Before disintegrating, Riruru offers Shizuka to be her friend, which Riruru herself previously declined

In Riruru's final moment, she declares that now with love, hope, and compassion, both the world and Mechatopia can be a peaceful happy place. Throughout the entire film, she was kinda reluctant and hesitant to call herself a friend, but in her last scene, she offers Shikuza to be her friend, ultimately concluding her character arc.

 

 

Before disintegrating, Pippo accepts the name his friends had given, which he had rejected initially

Pippo's disintegration scene largely parallels Riruru's one. Pippo wasn't too fond of the name given to him by Nobita. Just like Riruru, Pippo finally admits that he does care about Nobita, Doraemon, and the rest and in his final moments, accepts the name given to him, giving a satisfying conclusion to his story. The film ends with a hopeful note as Nobita seemingly sees Riruru flying in the sky as an angel.

Ultimately, underneath the dire-world ending story; The New Steel Troops Winged Angels is a film about compassion and empathy. The film enriches the story presented in 1986 and hones on its themes, animation, and music, to produce an excellent and heart-touching film about two non-human characters achieving human qualities.