Nobuyo Ōyama, the voice behind the popular children’s character Doraemon, has died at the age of 90.
Doraemon is globally popular as one of the most beloved children’s anime, and Ōyama has been the voice behind this iconic character for more than a quarter century, from 1979 to 2005.
The story is about a blue and white robot cat that arrives from the 22nd century to help Nobita in difficult situations using his futuristic gadgets.
The voice star died of natural causes on September 29, 2024. However, her death was made public only on October 11, 2024.
Before Doraemon, she also voiced one of three piglets in a popular children’s puppet program in the early 1960s, as well as adolescent lad Katsuo in the family anime series Sazaesan.
While she has also displayed her talents in Hustle Punch and Andersen Monogatari, Ōyama is best known for her role in Doraemon.
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Doraemon voice actress Nobuyo Ōyama has died at the age of 90. pic.twitter.com/SelMAGIcwd
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 11, 2024
Fans are sending their love and respect to the renowned voice actress, with one writing, “Her iconic voice and portrayal of the lovable blue robot will be remembered fondly by generations to come. She will be greatly missed.”
“Nobuyo Ōyama brought so much joy to fans around the world with her iconic voice work as Doraemon. Her legacy will always be cherished, and she will be deeply missed,” shared another.
A third added, “It’s sad to hear about Nobuyo Ōyama’s passing. She brought Doraemon to life for so many fans and left a lasting legacy in the world of animation.”
For more of the finest anime on offer, don’t forget to check out our lists of the best short anime, anime with the best story, and a complete schedule of all the upcoming anime in Fall 2024. You can also have a look at our guides on Sakamoto Days, Dragon Ball Daima, and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3.