REVIEW: ‘The First Slam Dunk’ is a Love Letter to Basketball

The First Slam Dunk brings Takehiko Inoue’s legendary basketball series to the big screen nearly 30 years after the original sports anime premiered. The film celebrated its North American premiere at the Anime Expo 2023 screening with a roaring crowd that provided the perfect atmosphere the film. 

The First Slam Dunk marks Takehiko Inoue’s directorial debut, serving as both director and screenwriter for the film, Inoue also served as the character designer along with Ysuyuki Ebara as animation director. Toei Animation and Dandelion Animation Studio produced the film with a voice casts that includes Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura, and Kenta Miyake.

In The First Slam Dunk, the Shohoku High School basketball club faces off against the undefeated Sannoh High School at the Inter-High School National Championship. The story centers on Shohoku High’s point guard and “speedster” Ryota Miyagi, known for playing with intelligence and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents.  Following in his big brother’s footsteps,  Ryota becomes loves basketball and is determined to beat Japan’s number one basketball team, Sannoh Kogyo High School. Ryota and his teammates, Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui take to the court to make their dreams come true. Their individual achievements, pasts, and challenges collide violently on the court, woven into the trajectory of one game.

The First Slam Dunk seamlessly adapts 53 original manga chapters into a skillfully paced 124-minute runtime. The film weaves a single basketball game’s intense, fast-paced action with a compelling narrative centered around various members of Shohoku Highm and how they have connected grown over their time together.  Ryota Miyagi, Hanamichi Sakuragi, Takenori Akagi, Hisashi Mitsui, and Kaede Rukawa. Despite this layered storytelling, the pacing of the film is perfection. That is thanks to the fact that it feels like you are at a live basketball game. The dynamic shots of the basketball court from a bird’s eye view and the players’ perspectives truly aid contribute to the engaging storytelling and sheer excitement audiences will feel throughout the film.

Unlike the manga and anime series, Hanamichi Sakuragi is not the main character of this film. However, that does not diminish his contribution or the film. Although his role is smaller in The First Slam Dunk, he still manages to steal parts of the show with memorable lines, shenanigans, and his boundless determination that is infectiously endearing. He is the mood shifter on the court, and his attitude and energy make all the difference for his team in overcoming their obstacles. As a long time fan of Slam Dunk, it was fantastic that the film gave Sakuragi more to do than just comedic relief as well, making him a solid foundation for the player. There are moments throughout the film where he provides ingenious insights even though he is a complete rookie to the game.

The appeal of The First Slam Dunk goes beyond the intense basketball game on the court. The heart of The First Slam Dunk is its characters, their inner battles, and that playing basketball is more than a game to each of them. As the game progresses, the audience gains intimate insights into each player’s life and thought process. From the pressure to succeed to crushing grief, it’s all left on the court.

The emotional core of the film however, is Ryota’s arc. The primary focus of the film’s story centers on Shohoku High’s point guard Ryota and although this championship game means a lot to every team member, the film takes the time to examine each member’s vulnerability. The First Slam Dunk pays special attention to what this game means to Ryota, not just as a player but as a grieving little brother. Who is fighting to get out of his brother Sota’s shadow while carrying on his brother’s dream. For Ryota, his vulnerability is standing where his brother stood and accomplishing a dream they shared.

The animation of The First Slam Dunk is simply stellar and does justice to the franchise’s legacy. Personally, I was initially hesitant about the updated animation style because it seemed dramatically different from the original series. However, the 2D and 3D CGI blend truly enhances the characters and storytelling and captures the realism of playing basketball. Although there were a few parts where the animation felt stiff initially, but it is short-lived as the film progresses.

The animation team captures the smallest details to convey that each character feel as genuine and human as possible. Their movements are very fluid and grounded, showing that the animation team took the time and effort to capture the realism of playing a basketball game. It is through the subtle details like sweat running down a player’s face, the lines drawn on their brows, and even the breathing that helps capture the look and feel of a game.

In addition to the small details, I also enjoyed the homages this film made to 90’s basketball throughout the film. From the shoe designs, ball handling, and even the icon dunks, this film shows how much the creator and creative team love and respect the sport. As a person who played basketball for a large part of my life, I loved these moments in the film. These homages and the grounded animation truly show why Slam Dunk is a beloved basketball anime and manga.

Takehiko Inoue work holds a special place for sports and anime fans alike, myself included. It was a series that inspired a generation of basketball fans and players. Inoue’s work perfectly captured what it means to play basketball, be a team, and love the sport.

The First Slam Dunk continues the legendary legacy of the franchise. The updated animation style and technology work tremendously well for this storytelling and action in the film. Although the high-stakes game is exciting, the film’s heart is its characters and the inner struggles they battle on and off the court. This film is for everyone and can be enjoyed by all. Whether you are an avid basketball or anime fan, there is something for everyone in this film.

The First Slam Dunk premieres in North American theaters July 28th and you can watch SLAM DUNK exclusively on Crunchyroll.