The First Slam Dunk Movie May Feel Like the Last, but the Legacy is There

Shout! Studios
Released Jun 25, 2024

The First Slam Dunk movie is a must for any sports anime fan’s library. Although it’s not an introduction to this series, it’s in fact the last chapter. After a long journey from specialty screenings to festivals, it’s finally available on home video. And I’m happy that it’s “ended” on a positive note.

This IP reached the height of its popularity back in the late 90s, and in China, it remains very popular even to this day! Although the interview with Takehiko Inoue doesn’t explain why, the official reason is that it came out during the height of the basketball craze. I suspect there’s more since it’s about team comaraderie, something Chinese people love to be proud of. But to see why he enjoys this show is important too.

While the television program was about Hanamichi Sakuragi (Shugo Nakamura) getting introduced to the sport and dealing with high school life, the movie shifts focused on Ryota Miyagi (Shugo Nakamura). Unlike American films, where we often observe rivals as the raison d’être to drive the film, this one is much more concerned about the internal conflicts.

And Ryota isn’t alone. Personal issues are also explored, and we get to know more about what Takenori Akagi (Kenta Miyake), Hisashi Mitsui (Kenta Miyake), and Kaede Rukawa (Shinichiro Kamio) must face. Most of the narrative is witnessed through flashbacks, and you have to be a fan of the series to appreciate the finer nuances of this film. Technically, it’s the last manga where this tale takes inspiration from, and before publishing this review, I rewatched other material just to make sure I was up to speed. Although I didn’t get far (that’s a lot of hours involved), I felt back up to speed. I’m pleased to say that instead of going verbatim from the manga, we’re treated to a different conclusion.

The First Slam Dunk movie is decent as an entry point. After viewing this film, you’ll either want to pick up the manga (available at Amazon USA) or start watching the animated series from start to end, and realise what’s first is not last either.

4 Stars out of 5

The First Slam Dunk Movie (GKIDs Dub)

Author: Ed Sum

I'm a freelance videographer and entertainment journalist (Absolute Underground Magazine, Two Hungry Blokes, and Otaku no Culture) with a wide range of interests. From archaeology to popular culture to paranormal studies, there's no stone unturned. Digging for the past and embracing "The Future" is my mantra. View all posts by Ed Sum