Doraemon 2026: Airi Taira Joins the Cast in Her Voice Acting Debut

The next adventure of Doraemon and his friends will dive into the depths of the sea, but this time with new company. Actress Airi Taira, known for her live-action work, will take a significant step in her career by joining the cast of Eiga Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjō. She will not only be the promotional ambassador for the film but will also lend her voice to a soldier, marking her first foray into the world of anime voice acting.

A Journey to the Depths with New Voices

The film, set to premiere in Japan on February 27, 2026, promises a renewed experience. It is the 45th 2D animated film in the franchise, a figure that excludes 3D CG productions like Stand By Me Doraemon. Its purpose is to reinterpret the 1983 classic, Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil, offering an updated vision of that underwater adventure.

The voice cast is complemented by other talents. Shōya Chiba will bring to life El, a soldier of the Mu Federation whose mission is to monitor Doraemon and his group during their exploration of the seabed. On the other hand, Ryō Hirohashi will be the voice of the Mizunaka Buggy, that amphibious vehicle which is one of the cosmic cat's many secret gadgets.

The Experience Behind the Production

To direct this new immersion, the production relies on a familiar name. Tetsuo Yajima, whose previous work includes Pokémon films like Secrets of the Jungle and The Power of Us, returns to the Doraemon universe. His experience is not new; he has directed episodes of the TV series and has contributed in other capacities to previous franchise films, such as Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld and Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age.

The screenplay is handled by Isao Murayama, another veteran who has worked on the TV series and productions like Witchy Precure! and Bakugan. His task will be to weave the new narrative that will take the characters to this mysterious underwater castle.

This new production arrives after the release of Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Esekai Monogatari in March, the 44th installment of the saga. The cycle of adventures continues, proving that Doraemon's stories keep finding new ways to connect with audiences, whether through revisited classics or new voices joining its universe.