Does everyone remember the heart-pumping action from this beloved basketball series when it aired on TV way back the 90s and early 2000s? We sure do, and fans of the basketball series have flocked to the fan screening to be one of the first to see the series and their favorite characters on the big screen! The nostalgia is real as we give you an overview on what happened on Slam Dunk’s new movie after more than 20 years, THE FIRST SLAM DUNK! Let’s have a little refresher about the beloved basketball series.
History of Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk series is a Japanese sports manga series written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue. It was serialized in Shueisha’s shonen manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump from October 1990 up to June 1996, it has a total 31 tankobon volumes. The story revolves around the basketball team of Sh?hoku High School in the Shonan area of Japan. Later on, the manga series received a TV Anime adaptation which aired from October 1993 to March 1996. Here in the Philippines, it was aired with Tagalog dubbing on ABC 5 in 1995, on RPN 9 in 1998, and GMA 7 in 2002 and was repeatedly being re-aired by the network just until last year.
Movie Overview
The Technicalities
Toei Animation has yet again gave anime fans something to add on their favorite sports-themed anime movie list. The animation was in full 3D CGI which did not disappoint. When we hear that an anime adaptation may it be a movie or a specific scene in a TV Anime series, it is at most times being looked down upon. But Slam Dunk did not give us that impression, the movie gave us a realistic approach on how an intense basketball tournament look like up close. Everything was done in full-detail, from the minute expressions, the sweat, the panting, the cues and signals of players for their next moves in the hard court were beautiful.
Slam Dunk has been notorious for its goofy comedy as we remember from its Anime adaptation, but those were animated realistically and not “anime or manga-like” which made it genuine and true to what is happening in the heat of its moments. The court action was also analyzed and reproduced by professionals for “motion capture” to truly give us an impression as it was a real game.
The Plot
The movie is narrated in the perspective of Shohoku High’s Ryota Miyagi, one of the best point-guards in the Kanagawa prefecture. The story gives us a backstory on how Miyagi started his career in basketball through his brother Sota who is 3 years older than him. The movie also centers on the inter-high match between Sannoh High and Shohoku High. The movie made us experience a mix of emotions from comedy, to drama and action. The pacing was not dragging as the flashbacks in between the court action was not annoying. Slam Dunk is known for its inserts mid-game which became boring to a few fans, but in this movie it was delivered nicely.
Other fan favorite characters from the Shohoku High basketball team were given their highlights. Hanamichi Sakuragi may not be the main character in the narration of the movie but as the genius that he is, he still shined bright as we remember from the anime series. Kaede Rukawa, Takenori Akagi and Hisashi Mitsui also had their own moments in the movie which also made us remember why they were our favorites. Characters like Coach Anzai, Kogure Kiminobu had their share of moments during the intense moments in the court as well.
Overall Verdict
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK movie can be described in a single word, it was “intense”. The movie gave us intense emotions, gameplay, story telling and visuals. The movie is definitely a must see for sports anime fans and for those who grew up reading and watching the series. This beloved basketball series which were a part of those “tito’s and tita’s” childhood to be seen in the big screen is an experience of its own. The hype that the audience gave through the exchange of baskets up to the calls of the referees as if we were in a real tournament was surreal. Everyone was cheering as the movie highlights each characters and their moments as they fulfill their duties in the hard court.
Is the movie a must see in the big-screen? Definitely! Did the movie disappoint because it was animated in full 3D CGI? No it did not as it showed us what actually happens in a basketball tournament and how intense each pass, shots and calls look like and made us grab onto our seats.
Be sure to watch Setsu-Ani and AniradioPlus’ collaboration coverage for the fan screening of THE FIRST SLAM DUNK! Stay tuned on our Facebook pages for our fresh take on the movie before and after its screening!
Watch THE FIRST SLAM DUNK on local Philippine cinemas starting February 1, 2023 in SM Cinemas listed below:
Luzon
- SM Mall of Asia / S’Maison
- SM Manila
- SM North EDSA
- SM Megamall
- SM Olongapo Central
- SM Bacoor
- SM Sangandaan
- SM Batangas
- SM Angono
- SM Dasmarinas
- SM Santa Rosa
- SM Novaliches
- SM Marikina
- SM San Pablo
- SM BF Paranaque
- SM Bicutan
- SM Cauayan
- SM Baguio
- SM Marilao
- SM East Ortigas
- SM Fairview
- SM Cabanatuan
- SM Tanza
- SM Masinag
- SM Southmall
- SM Calamba
- SM Tarlac
- SM Muntinlupa
- SM Baliwag
- SM Taytay
- SM Lipa
- SM Sta. Mesa
- SM Clark
- SM San Lazaro
- SM Cauayan
- SM Sucat
- SM Rosario
- SM Trece Martires
- SM Lucena
- SM San Mateo
- SM City Grand Central
- SM Daet
- SM Molino
- SM Pampanga
- SM Aura Premier
- SM Telabastagan
- SM Rosales
- SM Sorsogon
- SM Urdaneta Central
- SM San Jose Del Monte
- SM Tuguegarao
Visayas
- SM Bacolod
- SM Cebu
- SM Roxas
- SM Naga
- SM Seaside Cebu
- SM Puerto Princesa
- SM Ormoc
- SM Consolacion
- SM Ligazpi
Mindanao
- SM Davao
- SM General Santos
- SM Lanang Premier
- SM CDO Downtown Premier
- SM CDO Uptown
- SM Butuan
SetsuAni would like to thank Pioneer Films and Anime Movies Philippines for the opportunity and invitation to be one of the first to watch THE FIRST SLAM DUNK here in the Philippines, through the fan-screening held in the iMAX Cinema at SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, on the 28th of Januray 2023.
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