Ask John: Are There Any Anime About Golf?

Question:
Since this is Masters Week, I have to ask is there any anime that predominantly or exclusively focuses on golf?

Answer:
I may not have a complete knowledge of all of the existing golf-themed anime productions, but I do know of four of them, three of which I’ve watched some of. Arguably the most famous of all golf anime is Doraemon co-creator Fujiko Fujio A’s long-running anime series Pro Golfer Saru. Contrary to it’s title, the show is not about a golfing monkey but rather about a rough-around-the-edges country boy who discovers his talent for golf and “battles” a variety of foes in hot-blooded golfing competitions. The TV series aired 147 seventeen-minute-long episodes (including opening & ending credits) from 1985 through 1988 and receiving anime feature films in 1986 & 1987. The end of the first TV series was immediately followed by a sequel ten-episode TV series titled “Shin Pro Golfer Saru.” (Despite being the longest-running golf anime, this is the one that I’ve not watched any of.)

The other golf anime that rivals Pro Golfer Saru is Japanese awareness and affection is the earlier 47-episode Ashita Tenki ni Nare! television series from 1984. This nice, slice-of-life-style drama about a good-natured, slightly portly teen boy who enjoys playing golf was successful enough to occasionally earn homage in other, later anime such as the 1987 Batsu & Terry juvenile delinquent action movie. Although Ashita Tenki ni Nare is fairly well-known and beloved in Japan, like Pro Golfer Saru, the show is entirely unheard of here in America.

In early 2010 I had the opportunity to watch the obscure & forgotten 1989 OVA Beat Shot. The OVA was animated primarily by AIC with supplemental assistance from Gainax. The lighthearted drama revolves around a talented young golfer who has trouble getting his mind off sex long enough to concentrate on playing well. The 30-minute OVA contains numerous scenes of realistic golf along with two softcore sex scenes. The OVA isn’t bad, but it’s been forgotten because it’s just not exceptional in any regard apart from being a historical footnote as one of Gainax’s earliest professional productions.

Few American otaku are aware of 2004’s 26-episode television series Dandoh!! despite the fact that Bandai Entertainment released the complete series on domestic DVD. The shounen sports adventure anime, taking a cue from Pro Golfer Saru, once again revolves around a rough-around-the-edges young boy. In Dandoh!!, junior-high school baseball star Tadamichi “Dandoh” Aoba discovers that he can easily transpose his home-run swing into a golf swing and potentially earn a lot of prize money from participating in golf tournaments.