NEWS: The movie “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” which premiered on December 3, 2022, will be exclusively available on Netflix starting June 10, 2024. To celebrate the release, a watch party will be hosted on Netflix’s official X (formerly Twitter) account at 8 PM on the same day! Additionally, the movie will make a comeback in over 300 theaters nationwide starting August 13, 2024.
Since its release on December 3, 2022, the incredibly popular film “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” has surpassed 10 billion yen in domestic box office revenue in just 67 days. One editor, who had vowed not to watch the movie due to the sudden news of a voice actor change before its release, was finally convinced by a friend who had seen the movie 11 times. What is it about this film that makes you want to watch it over and over again?
In anime and manga, the popularity and buzz often center around the protagonists and heroes. But just as the “light” shines brightly thanks to the presence of “shadow,” this article’s 30th edition of “Enemy Character Chronicles: Where Does Their Aesthetic Lie?” delves into the charm of the Sanno Industry team from “SLAM DUNK.”
What is “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK”?
Based on Takehiko Inoue’s legendary manga, the film “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” has garnered rave reviews. This anime movie is adapted from Inoue’s basketball manga “SLAM DUNK,” serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump” from 1990 to 1996. Here, we’ll introduce the synopsis, cast, and characters of “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.”
“THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” Synopsis:
Ryota Miyagi, Shohoku’s point guard, always stays cool while outsmarting his opponents with his lightning-fast speed and cerebral play. Why had I only read Inoue’s “Vagabond” until now?
An app survey by Baidu Inc. targeting Gen Z (those aged 10-24) revealed the “Top 10 Favorite Sports Anime.” Out of 482 valid responses, “SLAM DUNK” ranked 5th, thanks to the release of the highly anticipated movie “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” in December 2022. Loved by adults and Gen Z alike, it’s no exaggeration to call it a basketball masterpiece.
Fans praised it for having “engaging characters and exciting matches from start to finish,” “amazing voice actors and humor that keeps it entertaining,” and “cool characters with great personalities,” among other comments. Many Gen Z viewers are drawn to the scenes showcasing the characters’ growth through basketball.
The theme songs also add to the anime’s appeal. Interestingly, if you listen closely to the lyrics, you might notice changes between verses. For instance, the line “Even I started to love soccer” in the second verse is changed to “I’m trying hard at cooking.” Likely because “SLAM DUNK” is a basketball anime.
The May 2023 issue of the monthly magazine “CGWORLD +digitalvideo” featured “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.” The movie, based on Inoue’s manga, hit theaters on December 3, 2022, and has been a long-running hit, even reaching 15 billion yen in box office revenue by July 31, 2023.
“THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” will conclude its extended screening on August 31, with a special “Last Game” week from August 25 to August 31. This film, based on Inoue’s manga serialized from 1990 to 1996, depicts the human growth of high school basketball players and boasts over 120 million copies sold in Japan.
A special screening event with voice actors, including Shugo Nakamura (Ryota Miyagi), Jun Kasama (Hisashi Mitsui), Shinichiro Kamio (Kaede Rukawa), Subaru Kimura (Hanamichi Sakuragi), and Kenta Miyake (Takenori Akagi), was held on May 7, 2023, to celebrate the film’s long run. The event featured behind-the-scenes footage and fan reactions from around the world, exciting the audience.
Takehiko Inoue’s directorial and screenplay debut, “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” opened nationwide on December 3, 2022. On the same day, Inoue shared his thoughts on Twitter, and a special site for viewer comments was launched. The original manga, serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump,” is a high school basketball story that has sold over 120 million copies in Japan alone.
In addition to its success in Japan, “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” has also been a massive hit overseas, breaking records in Korea and China. As a huge fan, I plan to dedicate this year’s Golden Week to “SLAM DUNK.”
Yahoo! JAPAN’s “Search Trending Quiz 2023 First Half Ranking” highlighted the most popular search terms in categories like “Movie,” “Anime,” “Voice Actor,” “Character,” and “Theme Song.” In the “Character” category, Hantengu from “Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc” ranked first, followed by Muichiro Tokito in second place, and Ryota Miyagi from “SLAM DUNK” in third, thanks to the release of “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.”
In the “Theme Song” category, “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” ranked second, with “Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc” in third. The opening theme of “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” is “LOVE ROCKETS” by The Birthday, and the ending theme is “Zero Feeling” by 10-FEET.
The film’s extended run will end on August 31, with special screenings during its final week. “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” based on Inoue’s manga, will wrap up its remarkable journey, leaving a lasting impact on fans old and new.
