Golgo 13: The Professional (1983)
The world's deadliest assassin faces an unstoppable coalition of enemies in this landmark 1983 anime thriller.
Golgo 13: The Professional - Movie Information
- Original Title: ゴルゴ13
- Release Year: 1983
- Directed by: Osamu Dezaki
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Animation, Action
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 28, 1983 (Japan), March 25, 1994 (Australia - R 18+)
- Alternative Titles: Golgo 13: Il professionista (IT), GOLGO 13 GEKIJYOBAN (JP), The Professional - Golgo 13 (DE), Golgo 13 O profissional (BR), Голго 13: профессионал (RU)
- Production Companies: Towa Productions, Saito Entertainment, Filmlink International, Shogakukan, Tokyo Movie Shinsha
- Production Countries: Japan
Golgo 13: The Professional - Plot
Indestructible to his enemies and irresistible to women, the professional assassin codenamed Golgo 13 is shrouded in mystery and anonymity. If you're on his hit list, you're already dead. Always hired on his reputation alone, Golgo never breaks a contract. Can he survive the combined forces of the FBI, CIA, the Pentagon and the U.S. Army? Has the nameless agent finally met his match against the superhuman powers of the Snake and the twin evils of the psychopathic mercenaries, Gold and Silver?
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Golgo 13: The Professional - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Osamu Dezaki
Main Cast
- Tetsurō Sagawa
- Kiyoshi Kobayashi
- Kei Tomiyama
- Kumiko Takizawa
- Reiko Mutoh
- Toshiko Fujita
- Ichirô Murakoshi
- Kazue Komiya
- Kazuo Hayashi
- Koichi Chiba
Writers
- Shūkei Nagasaka
Producers
- Mataichirô Yamamoto
- Nobuo Inada
- Yutaka Fujioka
Golgo 13: The Professional - FAQs
What is Golgo 13: The Professional about?
Golgo 13: The Professional follows the world's most feared assassin as he becomes the target of a powerful billionaire's vendetta. With the FBI, CIA, Pentagon, and a pair of superhuman mercenaries all hunting him, Golgo must survive an unprecedented coalition of enemies while never breaking his professional code.
Is there a villain who can actually stop Golgo 13?
That's the central tension of the film. Golgo faces Snake, a near-superhuman tracker, and the psychopathic twin mercenaries Gold and Silver — opponents unlike anything he's encountered before. Whether any of them can truly stop the world's deadliest professional is the question the film builds toward.
Where can you stream Golgo 13: The Professional?
You can watch Golgo 13: The Professional for free on Pluto TV and Retrocrush, both with ads. It's a great way to catch this classic anime thriller without any subscription cost.
Why is Golgo 13: The Professional considered a landmark anime?
Directed by Osamu Dezaki, the film was a bold step for anime in 1983 — blending gritty adult themes, stylized visuals, and early computer-generated imagery. Its unflinching portrayal of violence, sexuality, and moral ambiguity pushed the boundaries of what animated films could tackle, influencing generations of anime creators.
Who are the main voice cast members in the film?
Tetsurō Sagawa voices the stoic Golgo 13, with Kiyoshi Kobayashi as General Jefferson, Kei Tomiyama as Robert Dawson, and Kumiko Takizawa in the dual role of Rita and Emily Dawson. Toshiko Fujita rounds out the key cast as Cindy and Doctor Zed.
Does Golgo 13: The Professional feature early CGI animation?
Yes — the film is notable for incorporating some of the earliest computer-generated imagery in anime history. A sequence featuring a wireframe 3D model was groundbreaking for 1983, making the film a fascinating technical milestone alongside its narrative achievements.
Is Golgo 13: The Professional based on a manga?
It is. The film adapts Takao Saito's long-running manga series Golgo 13, which began in 1968 and is one of the longest-running manga in history. The series follows the same enigmatic assassin across hundreds of standalone missions, and the film distills that mythology into a single feature-length story.
What are some films similar to Golgo 13: The Professional?
If you enjoy Golgo 13: The Professional, you might also like Le Samouraï (1967) for its cool, methodical hitman atmosphere, Kite (1998) for its adult anime action, or Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins (1997) for classic anime crime thrills. THE FABLE: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill is a strong modern pick.
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