Tonbo! episode 1 review
Available on Amazon Prime, Tonbo! is my latest sports anime choice. Why? Well, I love golf. And Birdie Wing was amazing. So, might as well try out a new golf anime.
This one, though, is one of those “not much happens” anime. A golfer named Igaiga (or Igurashi) comes to an island, where he meets a girl named Tonbo. Tonbo introduces him to a golf course on the island, and then the two of them play a little golf. Tonbo plays every shot with a 3-iron, which if you know golf, is useful for shooting out of the fairway and rough, but not so good for drives or putts. All along the way, Igaiga tells her to stop calling him by the name “Igaiga.” Eventually, he relents and just accepts his name. All that is to say, well, not much happened.
This show definitely has promise and potential. The question really is, is this going to be a slice-of-life golfing anime, or is there going to be something more to it? Because that’s the difference between this being a mediocre show and a good one, unless you’re a big slice-of-life fan. For me, I need a hook. This first episode failed to give me a hook. Maybe that 3-iron has some magic, though.
Best Girl of the episode: Tonbo (almost by default)
Episode rating: 5/10
Tommy A. Phillips 