Nobita's panic before his own wedding, running to the future to ask his grandmother for permission to grow up, hits because it's about being terrified of becoming the person you promised you'd be. The film knows that growing up isn't about winning, it's about showing up for someone else despite your own fear. By the time adult Nobita realizes what he's actually lost, the 3D animation of his grandmother's hands has already destroyed you, and the movie doesn't apologize for it.

Nobita misses his late grandmother, so he asks Doraemon to take him back in time to see her again. During their reunion she tells him she hopes to meet his future bride, and Nobita agrees to make that happen. He and Doraemon ride the time machine forward to his wedding day with Shizuka, only to find that adult Nobita has run away from the ceremony. The pair set out to track down his older self and push him toward the happiness he deserves. This second Stand By Me Doraemon film mixes comedy with time-travel adventure.