Fans and admirers of Shohei Ohtani, the once-in-ten-generations baseball phenomenon, will soon get an unprecedentedly intimate look at this life and career in Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream, the first official documentary about the ace pitcher and home run slugger of the Los Angeles Angels. The film will be released on Disney+ on November 17.
Directed and edited by Toru Tokikawa, the documentary is said to feature Ohtani’s first in-depth interviews about his background and how he nurtured and encouraged his unique talent to become, perhaps, the most impressive two-way baseball player since Babe Ruth. The documentary also features interviews and appearances from the coaches, players, managers, mentors and baseball heroes who influenced him.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey in this documentary,” Ohtani said in a statement shared by Disney. “It was really inspiring to hear the stories of my childhood heroes. I hope this documentary is a testament to the importance of resilience, passion and self-confidence in the pursuit of excellence.”
Beyond dreams takes an introspective look at Ohtani’s career, from his humble beginnings in rural Japan, through his journey to becoming a two-way player, the start of his professional career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and his long-awaited transition to the MLB with the Los Angeles Angels. After an injury-hampered 2019 and 2020 that left some analysts skeptical of his potential, Ohtani silenced the doubters for good with a historic 2021 season, becoming the first player in MLB history with 10+ home runs and counting than 20 stolen bases as a hitter, and more than 100 strikeouts and more than 10 pitching appearances, winning the American League’s Most Valuable Player Trophy. His 2022 and 2023 seasons were just as stunning and statistically historic.
Describing the documentary, Disney says: “Ohtani reflects on his career to date and shares how he decided to play for the Angels; how he came up with his now famous dream board; what it was like to win the 2023 WBC with Japan; how he overcame past injuries, and much more.
Ohtani is currently recovering from a torn UCL in his throwing arm and will not be able to pitch in the 2024 season. But thanks to his dual-hitting skills, he is nevertheless expected to be one of the most coveted players in baseball when he hits the free-agent market this offseason.
