Popular Japanese comic/cartoon character Doraemon is celebrating his “early birthday” on September 3, exactly one hundred years before he was born.

The character was created (as manga) in 1969 and has turned into a huge franchise (anime, movies, video games etc.) and culture icon in Japan and East Asia.

The series tell the story of a robotic cat (Doraemon) who was sent back in time by a young kid from the future to aid an incompetent schoolboy named Nobita, his great grandfather, in order to change the family’s continuous misfortune.

What makes Doraemon really popular among readers/viewers is his ability to pull out various futuristic gadgets from his magic pocket. Some of the ideas might seem extraordinary these days, but obviously amusing to people in those ages (yours truly included).

Photo from an exhibition in Hong Kong’s Harbour City shopping mall for the special occasion, via Doraemon’s official Facebook [Jp].