Miles Bennett
Golf anime is a thing, and there are quite a few of them. Some popular golf anime include Birdie Wing, Rising Impact, Dan Doh!!, Pro Golfer Saru, and Tonbo. Birdie Wing, which premiered in 2022, is an original anime project produced by TV Tokyo and Bandai Namco Studios. It follows a girl named Eve who participates in underground golf gambling circuits and her journey to becoming a top golfer. Rising Impact is another golf anime that has been described as corny but strangely sucking in. Dan Doh!!, which aired in 2004, is based on the manga by Nobuhiro Sakata and follows a young baseball player who discovers golf. Pro Golfer Saru is an older golf anime that serialized in the late 1980s and follows the story of a golfer who navigates the world of ninjas. Tonbo is another recent golf anime that has been well-received by viewers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf anime | At least 7 |
| Examples | Birdie Wing, Rising Impact, Dan Doh!!, Pro Golfer Saru, Sorairo Utility, Tondo, Tonbo |
| Common themes | Golf as an extreme sport, gambling, yuri/sapphic themes, golf as a way of life |
| Reception | Generally positive, with some criticism for "questionable tropes" and "eschewing the laws of golf and physics" |
| Streaming platforms | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
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Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story
The story is set in the fictional European state of Nafrece and centres around a girl named Eve, who uses her unique and effective golfing style to earn money from unsanctioned golf games. She hopes to secure a better future for her adopted family and their bar. However, one day, Eve is defeated by Aoi Amawashi, a Japanese golfing prodigy. After this loss, Eve becomes obsessed with challenging Aoi to a full 18-hole match and emerging victorious. Meanwhile, Aoi finds herself drawn to Eve's attitude and their relationship evolves throughout the series.
The anime has received generally positive reviews, with critics describing it as a "golf (love) story" and praising its "wacky, sapphic vibe". It has been nominated for several awards, including Sports Anime of the Year and Best in Original Screenplay at the Anime Trending Awards. Some reviewers have contrasted it with more traditional sports anime, noting its extreme sports angle and the inclusion of high-stakes mob gambling.
In addition to the anime series, a Birdie Wing video game was released in June 2023, and the characters have also appeared in a crossover mini-anime with the anime Sorairo Utility.
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Dan Doh!
The story of Dan Doh!! centres on a fifth grader named Tadamichi Aoba, nicknamed Dandoh, who is one of the best players on his baseball team. After an incident with their school principal, Dandoh and his two friends are introduced to the world of golf and begin to be taught by a former professional golfer named Shinjō Mikiyasu. As Dandoh starts to play in tournaments, his friendly spirit, determination, and hardworking and competitive attitude bring out the best in him and his fellow players.
The anime adaptation of Dan Doh!! was licensed for North American distribution by Bandai Entertainment, with an English dub produced by Odex Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based anime licensor company. The anime was part of Bandai Entertainment's strategy to establish a strong presence in the sports genre.
The original manga series, Dan Doh!!, was collected in 29 tankōbon volumes, published from September 1995 to November 2000. The sequels, Dan Doh! Xi and Dan Doh! Next Generation, were also collected in tankōbon volumes, with 15 and 4 volumes published, respectively.
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Pro Golfer Saru
Saru's mentor, Hanzō Hattori, guides him as he strives to become the best golfer in the world. He also encounters a shadow golf organization led by the enigmatic Mr. X, providing an element of intrigue to the story. Saru's adventures in golf are not limited to the course, as he also finds himself embroiled in ninja battles, showcasing his dual talents.
The anime explores Saru's growth as a golfer and an individual, emphasizing the importance of comfort levels, respect, and self-discovery. It delves into the challenges and rivalries Saru faces, pushing him to improve his skills and strengthen his resolve. With the support of his friends and mentor, Saru remains dedicated to his dream of golfing mastery.
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Rising Impact
Golf anime is experiencing a renaissance, with several new shows released or soon to be released. Rising Impact is one such anime, streaming on Netflix in summer 2024. It is based on a 90s anime and has two seasons planned.
Reviews of Rising Impact are mixed. Some viewers describe it as corny but strangely sucked in. Others are simply happy to see a golf anime, with one Reddit user exclaiming, "Who knew that golf anime was a thing. I want a golf anime!"
The rise in golf anime has been attributed to the cult critical success of Birdie Wing, a golf anime that premiered in 2022. Birdie Wing has been described as a golf (love) story with sapphic-charged themes and yuri themes. It has been praised for its character development and interesting characters, bringing together golf, femininity, privilege, and money.
Other golf anime include Sorairo Utility, Tonbo, and Tondo, the latter of which is available on Amazon Prime.
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Sorairo Utility
Anime fans and golf enthusiasts alike have been treated to several golf-themed anime series in recent years, including "Sorairo Utility". This anime short film, also known as "Sora Iro Utility" and "Sky Blue Utility", premiered on Tokyo MX in December 2021 and is centred on three schoolgirls: Haruka, Ayaka, and Minami.
Minami is a beginner at golf, whereas Haruka and Ayaka are skilled amateur golfers. The fifteen-minute episode follows the three friends as they play a round of golf, with Minami determined to get one par hole by the end of the game. The anime does a great job of introducing the three girls and showcasing their game of golf, with viewers finding the characters likeable and rooting for Minami to achieve her goal.
"Sorairo Utility" has received positive reviews, with critics describing it as "pretty darned charming" and a "straightforward anime about girls playing golf". It has been compared to other golf anime such as "Birdie Wing", which has been described as a sapphic-charged golf anime that turns golf into an "extreme sport with high-stakes mob gambling". In contrast, "Sorairo Utility" is said to be based more in "the real world", with a more relaxed pace and a focus on the relationships between the characters and their love of the game.
The success of "Sorairo Utility" and other golf anime has sparked discussions about a potential golf anime renaissance, with reviewers speculating that these anime could inspire a new generation of golfers and increase the popularity of the sport, particularly among young women. In February 2025, the characters from "Birdie Wing" had a crossover mini-anime with those from "Sorairo Utility", further blurring the lines between the two worlds of golf and anime.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several golf anime series.
Some golf anime series include Birdie Wing, Rising Impact, Dan Doh!!, Pro Golfer Saru, and Tonbo.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story is an anime series about a girl named Eve who participates in underground golf gambling in the European country of Nafrece. After being beaten by Japanese golfing prodigy Aoi Amawashi, Eve becomes obsessed with challenging Aoi to a full 18-hole match and defeating her.
Other golf anime similar to Birdie Wing include Sorairo Utility, Haikyu!!, Robot x LaserBeam, and Chihayafuru.
