Golden Boy (manga) explained

Golden Boy
Genre:Erotic comedy
Type:manga
Author:Tatsuya Egawa
Publisher:Shueisha
Magazine:Super Jump
First:1992
Last:1997
Volumes:10
Type:ova
Director:Hiroyuki Kitakubo
Music:Jōyō Katayanagi
Studio:A.P.P.P.
First:October 27, 1995
Last:June 28, 1996
Runtime:183 minutes (total)
Episodes:6
Type:manga
Golden Boy II
Author:Tatsuya Egawa
Publisher:Shueisha
Magazine:Business Jump
First:September 15, 2010
Last:May 18, 2011
Volumes:2

Golden Boy (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese sex comedy manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Egawa. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine Super Jump from 1992 to 1997, with its chapters collected in ten volumes. It tells the story of Kintaro Oe, a 25-year-old freeter "travelling student", who despite having met the requirements for a law degree, left Tokyo University without graduating. Kintaro is living freely, roaming Japan from town to town, job to job. During his travels, Kintaro meets several women whose lives he dramatically changes, despite poor first impressions. He constantly observes and studies the people and events around him, recording his findings in a notebook he carries on his belt.

Parts of the manga were adapted into a six-episode original video animation (OVA) series produced by Shueisha and KSS in 1995. In North America, it was first licensed by ADV Films in 1996. ADV's license to the series expired in 2007 and was later acquired by Media Blasters. Media Blasters lost the license in 2012 and it was later acquired by Discotek Media. A sequel to the manga, Golden Boy II, was serialized in Business Jump from September 2010 to May 2011.

Plot

Kintaro is a freeter, and has done various jobs as he quests around Japan in pursuit of knowledge. His ventures include computer programming, housekeeping, teaching, the culinary arts, and most of all, studying. Kintaro is also often seen demonstrating the skills he has learned in previous chapters to overcome challenges faced in the current one. He is also adept in martial arts, but does not fight unless he is angered, and ordinarily just takes a beating. Much of the humor derives from situational elements, such as encounters between Kintaro and the women gone awry, and interactions between Kintaro's libido and imagination. Recurring gags include Kintaro's fetish for toilets (especially those recently used by beautiful women), his exaggerated facial expressions, and comical entries in his notebook. The notebook entries include explicit drawings of the women he encounters and bits of wisdom such as "'C' base is not sex", and "The human head cannot turn 360 degrees." Regarding the series, Tatsuya Egawa writes: "Before leaving kindergarten, I wrote these words in my notebook: 'I really like to study.' Often I wonder when it was that our schools forgot the true meaning of 'study', something which is now so often misunderstood by teachers and parents. Learning ought to be both stimulating and entertaining".

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Tatsuya Egawa, Golden Boy was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine Super Jump from 1992 to 1997.[1] Shueisha collected its chapters in ten volumes, released from June 4, 1993, to January 9, 1998.

A sequel to the manga,, was serialized in Business Jump from September 15, 2010,[2] [3] to May 18, 2011.[4] Shueisha collected its chapters in two tankōbon volumes, released on February 18 and July 19, 2011.[5] [6]

Volumes

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,[7] [8] and a complete series release on May 25, 2004.[9] The license was later transferred to Media Blasters for a DVD release on November 6, 2007,[10] and then Discotek Media for a DVD release on November 6, 2012.[11] [12]

Episodes

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.[13] Jeff Ulmer of DigitallyObsessed calls it "hilarious",[14] and Luis Cruz of AnimeOnDVD says it is "surprisingly well-written for an erotic comedy,"[15] 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...". Mike Toole of AnimeJump says “the mixture of realistic storytelling with Kintaro's deranged personality is always a hoot to watch.”[16] Of Kintaro himself, Toole says he "has a simple everyman appeal", and Cruz contends that Kintaro's "charming character" is what makes the anime coherent. Toole says that Golden Boy "is worthwhile for the final episode alone...", and Ulmer feels that it "took the cake".[17] Golden Boy popularized anime in Russia after being a huge success on its MTV Russia.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:お勉強野郎復活!江川達也「GOLDEN BOY」ビージャンで. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/37020. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. October 11, 2021. ja. September 1, 2010. June 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220608182608/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/37020. live.
  2. Web site: Loo. Egan. Golden Boy Manga Returns In New Series In September. Anime News Network. August 31, 2010. September 1, 2010. September 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140912222330/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-31/golden-boy-manga-returns-in-new-series-in-september. live.
  3. Web site: ja:ビージャンでお勉強!江川達也「GOLDEN BOY II」スタート. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/37711. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. October 11, 2021. ja. September 15, 2010. June 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220609122829/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/37711. live.
  4. Web site: Fin de Golden Boy II. manga-news.com. October 11, 2021. fr. May 17, 2011. June 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220606220136/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2011/05/17/Fin-de-Golden-Boy-II. live.
  5. Web site: ja:GOLDEN BOY2 1. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-879109-8&mode=1. Shueisha. October 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20110223072104/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-879109-8&mode=1. February 23, 2011. ja.
  6. Web site: ja:GOLDEN BOY2 2. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-879177-7&mode=1. Shueisha. October 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20110825020321/http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-879177-7&mode=1. August 25, 2011. ja.
  7. Web site: Beveridge. Chris. Golden Boy Vol. #1. Mania.com. January 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090417143045/http://www.mania.com/golden-boy-vol-1_article_74149.html. April 17, 2009. March 24, 2002. live.
  8. Web site: Beveridge. Chris. Golden Boy Vol. #2. Mania.com. January 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090419105009/http://www.mania.com/golden-boy-vol-2_article_74594.html. April 19, 2009. May 21, 2002. live.
  9. Web site: Cruz. Luis. Golden Boy (Essential Anime Collection). Mania.com. January 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090208113858/http://mania.com/golden-boy-essential-anime-collection_article_76113.html. February 8, 2009. June 27, 2004. live.
  10. Web site: Golden Boy. Mania.com. January 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090417143101/http://www.mania.com/golden-boy_article_79753.html. April 17, 2009. August 18, 2007. live.
  11. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Discotek Media Adds Golden Boy Video Anime. Anime News Network. January 24, 2024. July 17, 2012. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121153328/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-17/discotek-media-adds-golden-boy-video-anime. live.
  12. Web site: Golden Boy: The Complete Series on 2 DVDs. Discotek Media. October 15, 2018. April 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190419123344/http://www.discotekmedia.com/golden_boy.htm. live.
  13. Web site: Macdonald. Christopher. July 23, 2003. Golden Boy Manga-ka does live porn. July 23, 2003. Anime News Network. March 27, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050327140341/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=3938. live .
  14. Web site: Ulmer. Jeff. April 18, 2006. Golden Boy #1: Treasure Hunt (1995). https://web.archive.org/web/20031026112431/http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/showreview.php3?ID=3327. October 26, 2003. April 18, 2006. Digitally Obsessed.
  15. Web site: Cruz. Luis. June 27, 2004. Golden Boy (Essential Anime Collection). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050922134324/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/2991.php. September 22, 2005. June 27, 2004. AnimeOnDVD.
  16. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20090615135232/http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=104. June 15, 2009. Goldenboy vols. 1-2. September 22, 2006. Toole. Mike. October 12, 2003. Anime Jump.
  17. Web site: Golden Boy #2: Bound for Glory (1995). September 22, 2006. Ulmer. Jeff. September 26, 2002. Digitally Obsessed. https://web.archive.org/web/20031026145602/http://digitallyobsessed.com/showreview.php3?ID=3838. October 26, 2003.
  18. 2004. ru:От редакции. Editor's column. anime*magazine. 3. 3. 1810-8644. ru.