Golden Boy (manga)

Last updated

4-08-858721-9
Golden Boy
Golden Boy volume 1 cover jap.png
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Madame President and Kintaro Oe
Genre Erotic comedy [1]
Written byTatsuya Egawa
Music byJōyō Katayanagi
Studio A.P.P.P.
Licensed by
Released October 27, 1995 June 28, 1996
Runtime183 minutes (total)
Episodes6
2 December 2, 1993 [12] 4-08-858722-7
3 May 10, 1994 [13] 4-08-858723-5
4 December 2, 1994 [14] 4-08-858724-3
5 June 2, 1995 [15] 4-08-858725-1
6 December 1, 1995 [16] 4-08-858726-X
7 June 4, 1996 [17] 4-08-858727-8
8 December 2, 1996 [18] 4-08-858728-6
9 July 4, 1997 [19] 4-08-858729-4
10 January 9, 1998 [6] 4-08-859001-5

Original video animation

Adapted by Shueisha and KSS into an original video animation (OVA) series, Golden Boy was first released in Japan on VHS and later on laserdisc. The closing theme is "Study A Go! Go!" by Golden Girls. The series was licensed in North America by ADV Films, and was released on VHS, in both subtitled and dubbed editions, later releasing two DVD volumes on April 23 and June 18, 2002, [20] [21] and a complete series release on May 25, 2004. [22] The license was later transferred to Media Blasters for a DVD release on November 6, 2007, [23] and then Discotek Media for a DVD release on November 6, 2012. [24] [25] In August 2025, Discotek Media announced that it will release the series on Blu-ray. [26]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Computer Studies"
Transliteration: "Konpyūtā de obenkyō" (Japanese: コンピューターでお勉強)
Hiroyuki KitakuboOctober 27, 1995 (1995-10-27)
25-year-old Kintarō Ōe obtains a janitorial job at an all-woman software firm led by the Ferrari-driving, skimpily clad Madame President. An electrical accident jeopardizes the firm's future, allowing Kintaro to put his newly acquired programming skills to the test.
2"Temptation of the Maiden"
Transliteration: "Otome no yūwaku" (Japanese: 乙女の誘惑)
Yasuhito KikuchiNovember 22, 1995 (1995-11-22)
Working as a campaign staffer for a mayoral candidate, Kintarō is asked to tutor his boss' attractive teenage daughter, Naoko Katsuda, who wants more from him than help with her math homework.
3"Danger! The Virgin's First Love"
Transliteration: "Kiki! Otome no hatsukoi" (Japanese: 危機!乙女の初恋)
Hiroyuki Morita December 22, 1995 (1995-12-22)
A car accident has left the owner of an udon restaurant temporarily handicapped, and Kintarō is helping out and learning the trade. The owner's daughter, Noriko has a well-heeled suitor, but a series of events leads Kintarō to doubt his sincerity.
4"Swimming in the Sea of Love"
Transliteration: "Yasei no umi o oyogu" (Japanese: 野性の海を泳ぐ)
Akihiko NishiyamaApril 26, 1996 (1996-04-26)
Kintarō has challenged the local swimming coach (and former Olympic athlete) to a race, but he first needs to learn how to swim. While training, however, his situation with the coach, Ayuko Hayami is compromised.
5"Balls to the Wall"
Transliteration: "Nōburēki no seishun" (Japanese: ノーブレーキの青春)
Kenji TakemuraMay 24, 1996 (1996-05-24)
Kintarō becomes a servant in a traditional-style mansion of a wealthy family, but is quickly dismissed. He then challenges the daughter Reiko Terayama, who abhors men and has a fetish for her motorcycle, to a race.
6"Animation is Fun!"
Transliteration: "Animēshon wa omoshiroi!" (Japanese: アニメーションは面白い!)
Hiroyuki KitakuboJune 28, 1996 (1996-06-28)
Chie is a cel-painter at the animation studio where Kintaro works as an errand-boy. Production difficulties ensue, and Kintarō must rely on old friends to pull things through. An animated rendition of Tatsuya Egawa, voiced by the author himself, makes a cameo appearance in this episode.

Reception

The Golden Boy OVA was generally well received by English-language reviewers. It is widely known for its mature content: while the OVA is not strictly a hentai animation, it does feature instances of partial female nudity, orgasms, and female masturbation. In contrast, the manga becomes almost pornographic starting in the second volume. [27] Jeff Ulmer of DigitallyObsessed calls it "hilarious", [28] and Luis Cruz of AnimeOnDVD says it is "surprisingly well-written for an erotic comedy," [1] and that it "easily deserves the 'Essential' moniker bestowed upon it" by ADV. Cruz goes on to say that the series' jokes "feel like a natural extension of both the characters and the plot...". [1] Mike Toole of AnimeJump says "the mixture of realistic storytelling with Kintaro's deranged personality is always a hoot to watch." [29] Of Kintaro himself, Toole says he "has a simple everyman appeal", [29] and Cruz contends that Kintaro's "charming character" [1] is what makes the anime coherent. Toole says that Golden Boy "is worthwhile for the final episode alone", [29] and Ulmer feels that it "took the cake". [30] Golden Boy popularized anime in Russia after being a huge success on its MTV Russia. [31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cruz, Luis (June 27, 2004). "Golden Boy (Essential Anime Collection)". AnimeOnDVD. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2004.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Golden Boy (1996) – Japanese Cast". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Golden Boy (1996) – English Dub Cast". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  4. お勉強野郎復活!江川達也「GOLDEN BOY」ビージャンで. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Golden Boy 1". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on March 23, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Golden Boy 10". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. Loo, Egan (August 31, 2010). "Golden Boy Manga Returns In New Series In September". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  8. ビージャンでお勉強!江川達也「GOLDEN BOY II」スタート. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  9. "Fin de Golden Boy II". manga-news.com (in French). May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  10. GOLDEN BOY2 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  11. GOLDEN BOY2 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  12. "Golden Boy 2". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  13. "Golden Boy 3". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 9, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  14. "Golden Boy 4". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 9, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  15. "Golden Boy 5". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  16. "Golden Boy 6". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on September 5, 2002. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  17. "Golden Boy 7". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  18. "Golden Boy 8". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  19. "Golden Boy 9". s-book.com (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 31, 2003. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  20. Beveridge, Chris (March 24, 2002). "Golden Boy Vol. #1". Mania.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  21. Beveridge, Chris (May 21, 2002). "Golden Boy Vol. #2". Mania.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  22. Cruz, Luis (June 27, 2004). "Golden Boy (Essential Anime Collection)". Mania.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  23. "Golden Boy". Mania.com. August 18, 2007. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  24. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 17, 2012). "Discotek Media Adds Golden Boy Video Anime". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  25. "Golden Boy: The Complete Series on 2 DVDs". Discotek Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  26. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 9, 2025). "Discotek Reveals Monster, Shin Aim for the Ace, Zegapain, 6 More Licenses". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  27. Macdonald, Christopher (July 23, 2003). "Golden Boy Manga-ka does live porn". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on March 27, 2005. Retrieved July 23, 2003.
  28. Ulmer, Jeff (April 18, 2006). "Golden Boy #1: Treasure Hunt (1995)". Digitally Obsessed. Archived from the original on October 26, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2006.
  29. 1 2 3 Toole, Mike (October 12, 2003). "Goldenboy vols. 1–2". Anime Jump. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2006.
  30. Ulmer, Jeff (September 26, 2002). "Golden Boy #2: Bound for Glory (1995)". Digitally Obsessed. Archived from the original on October 26, 2003. Retrieved September 22, 2006.
  31. От редакции[Editor's column]. anime*magazine (in Russian) (3): 3. 2004. ISSN   1810-8644.