Monkey Turn (Japanese: モンキーターン, Hepburn: Monkī Tān) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Katsutoshi Kawai. It was serialized in Shogakukan magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 1996 to January 2005, with its chapters collected in 30 tankōbon volumes. The manga spawned two anime television series adaptations, Monkey Turn and Monkey Turn V, which were both produced by OLM and aired on TV Tokyo in 2004, totalling 50 episodes.
| Monkey Turn | |
 Manga volume 1 cover | |
| モンキーターン (Monkī Tān) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Katsutoshi Kawai |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Imprint | Shōnen Sunday Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Sunday |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | August 21, 1996 – January 1, 2005 |
| Volumes | 30 |
| Anime television series | |
| Monkey Turn / Monkey Turn V | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Music by | Daisuke Ikeda |
| Studio | OLM |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | January 10, 2004 – December 18, 2004 |
| Episodes | 50 |
Monkey Turn won the 45th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2000.
Plot
editThe series follows Kenji Hatano, a young man who sets out to master the world of kyōtei (hydroplane racing). Over the course of the series he develops a serious rivalry with fellow racer Hiro Doguchi.
Characters
edit- Kenji Hatano (波多野 憲二, Hatano Kenji)
- Initially a high school student who was dreaming of being a professional baseball player, Hatano quits after losing a match against another school. His coach, who sees talent in Hatano, then introduces him to the world of motorboat racing. Hatano promises to become the top racer in Japan within three years. He realizes this feat by mastering the "monkey turn," a high-speed cornering technique used in boat racing.
- Takehiro Doguchi (洞口 雄大, Dōguchi Takehiro)
- Hatano's principal rival. His style of racing is much reviled by other racers on the circuit.
- Sumi Ubukata (生方 澄, Ubukata Sumi)
- Hatano's childhood friend and romantic interest. She is very supportive of Hatano and attends all of his races.
Media
editManga
editMonkey Turn was written and illustrated by Katsutoshi Kawai. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 21, 1996, to January 1, 2005.[2][3] Shogakukan collected its chapters in thirteen tankōbon volumes, published from February 18, 1996, to February 18, 2005.[4][5]
Anime
editMonkey Turn was adapted into a 25-episode anime television series by OLM, Inc., which aired on TV Tokyo from January 10 to June 26, 2004.[1] A second 25-episode season, titled Monkey Turn V, was broadcast from July 3 to December 18, 2004.[6]
Reception
editThe manga series won the 45th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2000.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b モンキーターン. Akiba Souken (in Japanese). Kakaku.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ 週刊少年サンデー 1996年 表示号数36・37. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ 週刊少年サンデー 2005年 表示号数3. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ モンキーターン / 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ モンキーターン / 30 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 20, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ モンキーターンV. Akiba Souken (in Japanese). Kakaku.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ 小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
External links
edit- Monkey Turn at ShoPro Entertainment
- Monkey Turn at VAP (in Japanese)
- Monkey Turn (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia