The First Slam Dunk Shoots and Scores

Takehiko Inoue helms The First Slam Dunk, the latest anime movie adaptation of his manga series. Here's CBR's review of the intense sports anime.


One of the most enduring sports manga series of all time is Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk, which received an anime adaptation in the '90s. Over 25 years after the anime and manga series' conclusion, Inoue adapts his own story as the writer and director of the new anime feature film The First Slam Dunk, set to continue the story that was not incorporated into the ‘90s anime series. Distributed for its North American release by GKIDS, The First Slam Dunk features a dazzling animation style and engaging action while being perfectly accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the original Slam Dunk as a relatively standalone story.


The First Slam Dunk sets Slam Dunk supporting character Ryota Miyagi as the protagonist for the film, with Ryota recalling the origins of his love of basketball as well as his troubled upbringing in Japan. Ryota leads the Shohoku high school basketball team in a game against the reigning champions from Sannoh high school, with Sannoh building an early commanding lead. As Ryota and his teammates defy the odds to close the points gap and make a shot for the championship title, they each recall what led their lives to this pivotal moment in between daring three-pointers and deft handling of the ball in the high-stakes game.


The most striking thing about The First Slam Dunk is its unique animation style, which boasts a combination of traditional 2D, 3D, and performance capture to bring its characters to life. Even something as low-key as Ryota practicing his dribbling in his childhood neighborhood has a verisimilitude in its presentation that draws the viewer in, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's 2016 film The Red Turtle. The First Slam Dunk feels like a technical marvel, with its animation style perfectly suited for the intense basketball sequences and bursts of violence throughout its runtime.


With the bulk of the movie unfolding over the course of this high school championship basketball game, Inoue expertly crafts the choreography and cinematography for these sequences. Every move, feint, dribble, free throw, and dunk feels like a major blow in a tightly staged fight sequence as the two teams endure a grueling gauntlet on the court. For as much basketball that's in the film, these scenes never overstay their welcome and will leave the audience craving more whenever the proceedings stray too far away in the narrative from the game.


For such a thrilling sports story, with several comedic flourishes from its less intense characters, it's surprising how raw The First Slam Dunk gets as it reveals more about Ryota's backstory. This distinction is clear right from the movie's opening scenes, with Ryota losing his older brother, the basketball prodigy Sato Miyagi, which caused Ryota's family to implode in the messy aftermath. The emotions ran high and unapologetically uncomfortable here, but it is a jarring contrast from the energetic basketball sequences that make up the majority of the film.


The First Slam Dunk is a great sports drama that distills much of what made the original Slam Dunk such a bonafide success 30 years ago. Audiences will be on the edge of their seats as much as the spectators of the game in the film, fixated on every shot and foul as the two teams meet on the court, with absolutely nothing held back. Accessible to those who are not huge anime fans or familiar with Slam Dunk, The First Slam Dunk is a showcase for what the medium is capable of.


Written and directed by Takehiko Inoue, The First Slam Dunk is in theaters now.

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