1991-1995 Anime Primer Golden Boy (1995)
“Knowledge is a journey, not a destination.” This saying sums up the outlook of 25-year-old freeter Kintaro Oe, who took off on his mountain bike the day he was due to receive a degree from the prestigious University of Tokyo. His goal? To learn more about the greatest subject of all: Life! In pursuit of his studies, Kintaro wanders the country, working an array of odd jobs and interacting with people… including, invariably, drop-dead gorgeous women. Kintaro strives to be of extra special service to these bodacious babes, though his cartoonish buffoonery and weakness for recently-used toilet bowls often gives them the wrong impression. But true to his name, Kintaro is a golden boy, always sure to save the day and impress the girl.
Golden Boy is a six-episode OVA that boasts an impressive pedigree, being directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (Roujin Z), produced by Studio A.P.P.P. (Project A-ko) and featuring characters designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto (Cowboy Bebop). Based on the manga by Tatsuya Egawa, one gets the distinct impression that Kintaro’s exploits are inspired by the author’s own daring career change from mathematics professor to racy manga-ka (and, later on, adult video director). Golden Boy is a gut-busting sex comedy that serves up its raunchy fan service with a heaping side of hilarity and deliberately hammy voice-acting, both in the original Japanese and the memorable English dub by ADV Films.
Golden Boy is available on DVD from Discotek.
