The First Slam Dunk

The First Slam Dunk

Shohoku's “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

  • Released: 2022-12-03
  • Runtime: 124 minutes
  • Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama
  • Stars: Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shinichirou Kamio, Subaru Kimura, Kenta Miyake, Shinichiro Kamio, Chikahiro Kobayashi, Ryota Iwasaki, Katsuhisa Houki, Maaya Sakamoto, Kenichirou Matsuda, Masafumi Kobatake, Asami Seto
  • Director: Takehiko Inoue
 Comments
  • Chewbaccaccino - 27 June 2024
    From the Point of View of a Manga Fan
    I'm a big fan of the Slam Dunk Manga. I've waited for this movie since I finished the books some months ago, and even then I don't feel disappointed at all. 3D anime gets a lot of hate but there are genuinely good looking ones out there, and this is one of them. I'm hoping there could be more 3D stuff, but I really don't want anime to be like western animation: there can be too much of a good thing. That being said the 3D helped make it clear who was where, which is important for understanding the game more. The pacing was good and the movie never made me lose interest. Ryota being the main character seems to have disappointed a lot of fans but I think this is for the better - why adapt the manga 1:1 for a film? Sannoh vs Shohoku simply cannot be portrayed in the same way the manga was unless there were a TV series. That being said Hanamichi still could've been the main character, but I think it's better not to repeat the same story unless it's a full adaptation. I'd really like to see a remake of Slam Dunk since I don't quite like the portrayal of the manga in the 1990s anime and the fact that it's animation is weak for today's standards. Honestly I don't expect this though because Inoue is rather reserved with his work. Back to the movie - the crowd was a little quiet at times, and this is really the only complaint I have about sound design. The movie wasn't very colorful or vibrant but I get the impression it was a creative decision. The 2nd half really blew me away though. I can't say a lot without spoilers so I recommend checking the movie out for sure. It's interesting in the beginning but the final moments are so exciting you'll be on the edge of your seat. And this is from someone who already knew what was going to happen.

    All that being said I think it's possible for the movie to have been better by telling a little more story during the drama parts. It was fine as is but it felt like it was all about a single subject. So because of that minor issue and the movie not being able to capture the full manga experience, I've given it a high 8-9/10.
  • KelzActually - 7 March 2024
    TOP 10 FILM OF 2023
    There isn't much more that needs to be said other than you should watch this movie ASAP. The film presents itself in fluid cgi blended with 2D animation that reminds you of a comic book and sound design that puts you into the seat of a real basketball game. Never has there been a more exciting way to watch a basketball game than the stylistic visuals of this movie. The most surprising element was the biography-like storytelling of the main character and an emotional core that is sure to pull at your heart strings! Being not just an amazing basketball movie, but one of the best films of 2023, The First Slam Dunk promises to be true to its name and a must see movie.