If you are a fan of basketball, manga, or anime, you have probably heard of Slam Dunk, the legendary series by Takehiko Inoue that has captivated millions of readers and viewers around the world. But did you know that there is a new anime film based on the manga that has been breaking box office records in Japan and abroad?
The First Slam Dunk, which opened in Japan in December 2022, is a new anime film that adapts the final arc of the manga, where the Shohoku High School basketball team faces off against the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School, in the national tournament. The film is directed and written by Inoue himself, who also supervised the animation production by Toei Animation. The film features stunning visuals, thrilling action, and emotional drama that faithfully recreate the manga’s iconic scenes and characters.
The film has been a huge success, earning over 15.8 billion yen (about US$107.14 million) in Japan as of January 2024, making it the 13th highest-earning film of all-time in Japan, and the seventh highest-earning anime film in Japan. The film has also been well-received by critics and fans alike, winning several awards and nominations, such as the Animation of the Year at the Japan Academy Film Prizes, the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation at the Fantasia International Film Festival, and a nomination for Best Animated Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The film has also been released in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, China, and South Korea, where it has also performed well at the box office and garnered positive reviews.
If you are curious about this film, you can watch it on GKIDS, which released the film in the United States and Canada with both an English dub and with Japanese audio and English subtitles. You can also check out the original manga by Inoue, which is available in English from VIZ Media, or the previous anime adaptation, which aired from 1993 to 1996 and is streaming on Crunchyroll. Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer, The First Slam Dunk is a film that will make you fall in love with basketball and anime all over again. Don’t miss this slam
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