Synopsis

Based on Kawai Katsutoshi's manga of the same name, published in Weekly Shounen Sunday, Monkey Turn is a sports anime based around professional speed boat racing. The anime's protagonist, Tadano Kenji, is too short to follow his dream of becoming a professional baseball player, but his baseball coach recommends him to boat racing. One day Tadano-san unexpectedly meets his old girlfriend and they exchange promises: in return for her being faithful to him, he is charged with becoming Japan's best racer within three years. The eponymous "Monkey Turn" is a boat maneuver Kenji-san thought up while visiting his girlfriend. The Monkey Turn gives Kenji quite the advantage over other boaters, but is it enough for him become the best? (Source: AniDB)

Characters & Staff

Hatano, Kenji
Hatano, Kenji
Main
Tokuyoshi Kawashima (Japanese)
Ubukata, Sumi
Ubukata, Sumi
Main
Junko Noda (Japanese)
Aoshima, Yuuko
Aoshima, Yuuko
Supporting
Naoko Takano (Japanese)
Douguchi, Takehiro
Douguchi, Takehiro
Supporting
Junji Majima (Japanese)
Douguchi, Takeo
Douguchi, Takeo
Supporting
Takeshi Aono (Japanese)
Enoki, Yuusuke
Enoki, Yuusuke
Supporting
Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese)
Hagiwara, Makoto
Hagiwara, Makoto
Supporting
Akemi Okamura (Japanese)
Hamaoka, Takeshi
Hamaoka, Takeshi
Supporting
Shigeru Shibuya (Japanese)
Jougasaki, Arisa
Jougasaki, Arisa
Supporting
Michiko Neya (Japanese)
Kishimoto, Hiroshi
Kishimoto, Hiroshi
Supporting
Atsushi Kisaichi (Japanese)
Kobayashi, Mizuki
Kobayashi, Mizuki
Supporting
Machiko Toyoshima (Japanese)
Okaizumi, Seiji
Okaizumi, Seiji
Supporting
Isshin Chiba (Japanese)
Sera, Ryouko
Sera, Ryouko
Supporting
Aya Hisakawa (Japanese)
Shiozaki, Toshiya
Shiozaki, Toshiya
Supporting
Kouichi Toochika (Japanese)
Tao, Tsutomu
Tao, Tsutomu
Supporting
Kenji Hamada (Japanese)
Wakui, Jouji
Wakui, Jouji
Supporting
Takumi Yamazaki (Japanese)

Information

Japanese モンキーターン
Studios OLM
Source Manga
Licensors None found, add some
Rating 6.8
Broadcast Sundays at 00:55 (JST)
Aired 11 Jan 2004 – 27 Jun 2004
Synonyms I'll Be Number 1!

Last updated: 03 Sep 2026