The Boys of Shohoku High are back after a lengthy absence with a brand-new movie, The First Slam Dunk! Before we begin this review, if you want to read my other reviews, click here to head over to my Review Category.
I may be committing a great sin by reviewing the new film before the manga it’s based on and the television anime, but I assure you that we’ll get to those two adaptations! It is hard to believe it has been 27 years since anime fans got a chance to see our favorite Shohoku High boys tear up the court, but a lot has changed since that fateful time. The First Slam Dunk is set up to be a prequel story focusing on the team’s point guard, Ryota Miyagi. We are guided through the eyes of Ryota Miyagi as we learn more about his family and personal life, and his eventual rise to fame as he and Shohoku High take on the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School!
Slam Dunk Creator Takehiko Inoue wrote and directed this film and it was the perfect jump on point for new fans and a treat for longtime fans of the series. For those who don’t know, this adapted the final arc of the manga, while the film shifts through glimpses of the show’s leading characters like Hanamichi Sakuragi, it splits the attention between how Miyagi became so interested in Basketball, the loss of his Basketball mentor, who was also his Older Brother, and how deep this backstory providing more not only what motivates Ryota, but how well the team’s dynamic is. Speaking of the team dynamic, for those who worry that this recap would take away from the thrills of the sport and game, you can rest easy, thanks to Inoue, who provided an easy quick recap for new fans to help them understand the major character relationships to make the dynamics on the court more meaningful.
Speaking of the thrills of the sport, The First Slam Dunk captures the era of 90s basketball perfectly, paying homage to the men who tore up the court such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and even Dennis Rodman, who Sakuragi channeled that same maverick style of skills and in certain shenanigans when he is on the screen. Honestly, from a new viewer’s standpoint, they’d get the feeling that Shohoku’s team is full of stereotypes due to the era of that time. For example, the pretty guy with an arrogant attitude, a tough giant, a short smart aleck, and the prankster. Aside from all of that, it was a solid directorial debut for Inoue. As mentioned previously, he made the film not only a great jump on point for new viewers but a great way to end the anime series as well, delivering a well-balanced script that had action, thrills, and drama.
One other thing that worked so well for the film was how well-animated the film was. Toei Animation teamed up with Dandelion Animation Studios for a mind-boggling experience, I am not saying that out of disrespect but the way both studios combined 2D and 3D Animation felt like we were watching the game between these two teams in real-time. The players move around so fluidly, the fabrics in their uniform shifting and folding in the wind, not to mention the Animation is accompanied by an electrifying sound design, which isolates individual sounds to highlight their importance.
The First Slam Dunk is a great sports film to not only check out but to add to your collection. It is available now on Blu-ray, digital, and you can also watch it on Netflix. Be sure to also check out the Slam Dunk TV Anime on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and YouTube.
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