The First Slam Dunk (2022)

Japan, United States of America

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Toei Animation, Toei Company, DandeLion Animation Studio

Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Kenta Miyake, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura, Katsuhisa Hôki

Takehiko Inoue

Takehiko Inoue

Taglines: 17 years and... 40 minutes.

competition, basketball, high school sports, romance, tournament, based on manga, shounen, anime, dunk

Shohoku's “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

Reviews:

Author: Geronimo1967
Though the animation and pace of this film are really good, it's essentially a rather disappointing melodrama that wallows just a little too much in family angst! "Miyagi" is a young basketball player who lives very much in the shadow of his now deceased elder brother. His school team are always the underdogs but can they galvanise each other in order to raise their game and buck the trend, finally, of their fairly regular defeats. The characterisations themselves are quite well developed here, and the interaction between the players in their team presents us with quite a plausible dynamic of teenage stresses and strains - but unfortunately, for me at any rate, I found the underlying storyline just a little disappointing. Way too much sibling longing; the cave with their things in - all resonated for a while then started me wanting to shout "get over it"! If there is to be a "Second Slam Dunk", then I hope Miyagi doesn't get all loved up! It's scored to within an inch of it's life, which is also a bit irritating, but it does feature great action animation, though, from producers who clearly understand this fast-moving and dynamic sport.