With an abundance of original content and classics,Netflixreally has become home to some of the bestanimeavailable on streaming; whether it be aStudio Ghibli classicor the latest heart-pounding action series like the recentTerminator Zero. There is one anime feature film, scored high by critics and beloved by fans, that many anime fans have been hoping to land on the streaming giant.
The First Slam Dunkhas landed on Netflix. For those unfamiliar with the series on which it is based,Slam Dunk, we will give you the details of what to expect and why you can jump into this phenomenal sports anime feature film as a stand-alone. This perfectly rated anime is indeed a slam dunk that sports and anime fans won’t want to miss out on.
What Is The First Slam Dunk?
The First Slam Dunk
The Shohoku High School basketball club faces a match against Sannoh High School at the inter-High. The achievements that each member has earned, the past that they carry and various thoughts collide violently on the court.
Taken from the popular manga series and subsequent anime adaptation,The First Slam Dunkweaves a drama around a single game of the Shohoku High School basketball team. While focusing primarily on point guard Ryota Miyagi and his dealing with his past struggles as a player after losing his brother, each player gets moments of insight as to why theyfell in love with the sport. The back-and-forth flow of the game becomes tied to each player overcoming certain elements of their past or personality in order to push forward to glory.
Slam Dunkwas created by Takehiko Inoue, running from 1990 to 1996, spanning a total of 31 volumes. The series would prove to bethe greatest-selling sports manga of all time. This led to a successful anime adaptation, running from 1993 to 1996, that broke similar records and isconsidered a landmark series for the sports genre. The anime feature was made by Toei Animation, home of stand-out anime titles likeDragon Ball,One Peace,andEvangelion, with relative newcomer DandeLion Animation Studio. The work was directed and written by the series' original creator, Takehiko Inoue.
The movie features the voice talents of Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura, and Kenta Miyake.The First Slam Dunkis available in Japanese with subtitles or in English dub on Netflix.
Praise for The First Slam Dunk
The First Slam Dunksits at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 44 reviews. With fans, it sits at a 98% on the popcorn meter. At the primary site for anime fans to rank and log their favorites, My Anime List, the movie sits at an impressive 8.75 with over 20k ratings. Theatrically,the movie managed an impressive $1 million with a limited theatrical run in North America. However, it exceeded expectationsin Japan, landing at the number one spot and taking in over $100 million at the box office.
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In hisreview for The Guardian, Phil Hoad discusses howthe 3D animation impresses, stating; “The CGI-led courtside portions (as opposed to traditional 2D for the real-life stuff) are miraculously kinetic, with beautifully shaded character models.” Regarding the narrative use of flashbacks during a single game to tell its story,David Ehrlich of Indiewirepraised the approach, stating; “it gradually creates an exhilarating sense of collective stakes as the man-on-man coverage of the ensemble’s dreams and demons collects into a full-court press.”
Why You Should Watch The First Slam Dunk
Whether you are a fan of anime or not,The First Slam Dunkhas a lot of potential to appeal to a broader audience.The classic underdog sports story is well executed, with Ryota Miyagi challenging upbringing, troubled youth, and meteoric rise to becoming one of Shohoku High School’s star players, offering a deeply engaging and highly emotional journey. The series also touches on thecamaraderie and the challenges of team sports; egos clash and tempers flair, butthe bonds on the court remain unbreakable.
For sports fans,the action on the court is wonderfully explosive; it’s realistic but with moments of visual flair that capture the excitement of the game. While animation can exaggerate,The First Slam Dunktakes a purist approach to celebrating basketball. Moreover, the anime feature film doesa phenomenal job of using exposition during a single game to tell its story, ensuring that the action stays consistent.
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The Fist Slam Dunkisexemplary of Japanese anime dominance in the sports genre, building around an already popular franchise to tell a stand-alone story that will appeal to a broad audience; you don’t need to be familiar with the manga or long-running series to appreciate the masterful approach. If you have any inkling of whetherThe First Slam Dunkis for you, you should not hesitate to check it out.StreamThe First Slam Dunkon Netflix Here.
