Golgo 13: The Professional
Encyclopedia
Golgo 13: The Professional (ゴルゴ13) is a Japanese animated
film adaptation of the Golgo 13
manga
series released May 28, 1983 by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
. It is the first animated film to be based on the manga and the third film overall.
After accomplishing a hit on a powerful crime boss in Sicily
, Golgo is suddenly attacked by the U.S. military and discovers his informant has been killed by Snake, a genetically altered assassin. Aided by the U.S. Army, the FBI
, and the CIA
, Dawson has become determined to kill Golgo and avenge his son's death.
A military force led by Lieutenant Bob Bragan attempts to ambush Golgo in the middle of an assignment in San Francisco, California
. The plan fails and the entire force is wiped out. However, a dying Bragan manages to wound Golgo while Rita, the mechanic who supplied him with his getaway car, is murdered by Snake.
Having been consumed by revenge, Dawson has begun to allow the rest of his family to be harmed. He lets Snake rape Laura, Robert's widow, and sends his granddaughter and butler to an airport to murder Golgo with a gun concealed in a doll. The shot misses and Golgo kills the butler before leaving. Dawson has also forced the FBI to release Gold and Silver, two notorious murderers who were part of a covert government operation to test the survival rate of mercenaries in the jungles of Africa. When Laura demands to know why Dawson has refused to seek vengeance on whoever ordered the hit on Robert, he refuses to answer.
Golgo arrives at Dawson Tower in New York City
, where he is attacked by Snake. A brutal, yet skillful fight occurs between the two in an elevator, but instead of being killed by Golgo, Snake is inadvertently gunned down by a military helicopter. Gold and Silver arrive to finish Golgo off, but are dispatched as well.
Golgo finally encounters Dawson at the top of his building. Following a brief monologue, Dawson attempts suicide by leaping out of the window. It is then revealed that Robert had ordered the hit on himself, believing to be unable to live up to his father's expectations and not having the courage to take his own life. Before Dawson hits the ground, Golgo shoots him in the head. His death is ruled as accidental.
Back on the streets, Golgo encounters Laura, who has since become a prostitute. Upon recognizing him, she attempts to shoot him. As Golgo begins to leave, she fires her gun, but an unaffected Golgo continues walking.
, most notably in the scene where army helicopters circle around Dawson Tower and attack Golgo as he climbs toward Dawson's office on the top floor.
Leonard Dawson, the film's antagonist, is named after actor/game show host Richard Dawson. Much like the actor, Leonard Dawson was an Englishman who migrated to the U.S. at a young age, as explained in the middle of the film. Golgo also bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Richard Dawson.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film adaptation of the Golgo 13
Golgo 13
is a manga series written and illustrated by Takao Saito, published in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since January 1969. In 1976, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series released May 28, 1983 by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Tokyo Movie Shinsha
, formerly known as , is a Japanese animation studio, founded on October 1946. One of the oldest and most prominent anime studios in Japan, it has also produced numerous animated series airing in other countries such as France, the United States, and Italy. The company currently uses "TMS...
. It is the first animated film to be based on the manga and the third film overall.
Plot
Infamous hitman Duke Togo - also known as Golgo 13 - is hired to assassinate Robert Dawson, the son of wealthy oil baron Leonard Dawson and the intended heir of Dawson Enterprises. Though successful in his task, he soon faces the wrath of a vengeful Dawson.After accomplishing a hit on a powerful crime boss in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Golgo is suddenly attacked by the U.S. military and discovers his informant has been killed by Snake, a genetically altered assassin. Aided by the U.S. Army, the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, and the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, Dawson has become determined to kill Golgo and avenge his son's death.
A military force led by Lieutenant Bob Bragan attempts to ambush Golgo in the middle of an assignment in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The plan fails and the entire force is wiped out. However, a dying Bragan manages to wound Golgo while Rita, the mechanic who supplied him with his getaway car, is murdered by Snake.
Having been consumed by revenge, Dawson has begun to allow the rest of his family to be harmed. He lets Snake rape Laura, Robert's widow, and sends his granddaughter and butler to an airport to murder Golgo with a gun concealed in a doll. The shot misses and Golgo kills the butler before leaving. Dawson has also forced the FBI to release Gold and Silver, two notorious murderers who were part of a covert government operation to test the survival rate of mercenaries in the jungles of Africa. When Laura demands to know why Dawson has refused to seek vengeance on whoever ordered the hit on Robert, he refuses to answer.
Golgo arrives at Dawson Tower in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he is attacked by Snake. A brutal, yet skillful fight occurs between the two in an elevator, but instead of being killed by Golgo, Snake is inadvertently gunned down by a military helicopter. Gold and Silver arrive to finish Golgo off, but are dispatched as well.
Golgo finally encounters Dawson at the top of his building. Following a brief monologue, Dawson attempts suicide by leaping out of the window. It is then revealed that Robert had ordered the hit on himself, believing to be unable to live up to his father's expectations and not having the courage to take his own life. Before Dawson hits the ground, Golgo shoots him in the head. His death is ruled as accidental.
Back on the streets, Golgo encounters Laura, who has since become a prostitute. Upon recognizing him, she attempts to shoot him. As Golgo begins to leave, she fires her gun, but an unaffected Golgo continues walking.
Production
Golgo 13: The Professional was the first anime film to incorporate CGI animationComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
, most notably in the scene where army helicopters circle around Dawson Tower and attack Golgo as he climbs toward Dawson's office on the top floor.
Leonard Dawson, the film's antagonist, is named after actor/game show host Richard Dawson. Much like the actor, Leonard Dawson was an Englishman who migrated to the U.S. at a young age, as explained in the middle of the film. Golgo also bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Richard Dawson.
Cast
| Character | Original version | English Dub |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Togo/Golgo 13 | Tetsurô Sagawa Tetsurō Sagawa is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tateyama, Chiba. He is a graduate of Waseda University.-Film:*Dai Ninjutsu Eiga: Watari *Fūrinkazan *Onmitsu Dōshin Ōedo Sōsamō -Television drama:... |
Greg Snegoff |
| Leonard Dawson | Gorô Naya Goro Naya is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and theatre director from Hakodate, Hokkaidō. He is a drop-out of the legal education division of Ritsumeikan University. He is connected to Theatre Echo. He is the older brother of actor and seiyū Rokurō Naya. He is the husband of actress and seiyū... |
Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie Michael D. McConnohie is a voice actor and is the President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation. He is known for his recognizable deep booming voice and is generally known for playing more charismatic characters... |
| Robert Dawson | Kei Tomiyama Kei Tomiyama , better known by his stage name , was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from Anshan, Manchukuo. During his life, Tomiyama was affiliated with Aoni Production and Production Baobab.... |
Tony Oliver Tony Oliver Rafael Antonio Olivier , better known as Tony Oliver, is an American voice actor best known for voicing Rick Hunter from Robotech and Arsène Lupin III from Lupin The 3rd... |
| Rita | Kumiko Takizawa Kumiko Takizawa is a Japanese voice actress who works for 81 Produce.-Notable voice roles:*Makiko Shikishima in Tetsujin 28-go *Midori Kurenai in Hell Girl*Hazuki's Grandmother in Ojamajo Doremi*Sawako Sawanoguchi in Magic User's Club... |
Diane Michelle Diane Michelle Diane Michelle is an American voice actress, famous for voicing Daisy Duck in several modern Disney projects . Diane's voice work appears in Happy Feet and she voiced both Depa Billaba, a Republic Medic Droid, and Zam Wessel in Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds... |
| Laura Dawson | Reiko Mutoh | Edie Mirman Edie Mirman Edith S. "Edie" Mirman is an American voice actress best known for the voice of Fujiko Mine from Tales of the Wolf, and also for both Miriya Parina Sterling and Nova Satori from Robotech. She is also the voice of Teryx in Dinosaucers and Gatomon and Angewomon in the Digimon series. She is credited... |
| Cindy/Dr. Zed | Toshiko Fujita Toshiko Fujita is a Japanese seiyū. She currently works at Aoni Production.-Roles:*Bonobono in the first Bonobono film*Cross in Ginga Nagareboshi Gin*Corazón Muto in Allison & Lillia... |
Joyce Kurtz Joyce Kurtz Joyce Hedy Kurtz , better known as Joyce Kurtz or Joyce Kurtz Mahan, is a voice actress.Some of her television credits are as follows:*True Blood*Deadwood*Big Love*Dexter*House M.D.... |
| General T. Jefferson | Kiyoshi Kobayashi Kiyoshi Kobayashi is a Japanese actor, seiyū and narrator from Tokyo. He is currently attached to the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society... |
Edward Mannix |