Written by Elisabeth Fong
I have a habit of joining hype trains late – I watched How to Train Your Dragon 10 years after it graced cinemas and raved about it long after people had stopped talking about it. 27 years after ‘Slam Dunk’ finished its manga and anime, I am now a slam dunk fan because of The First Slam Dunk. Believe the hype that this movie is everything – electric, exciting, jaw-droppingly beautiful, and packed full of emotions. For a new fan like me, Takehiko Inoue’s directorial debut The First Slam Dunk was a delicious treat. For long term fans, this will be a whole feast.
Sports anime has a distinct charm of training arcs, underdog narratives and last-minute thrills. We are with the characters when they struggle, get beaten down, and grow into their full potential. Along the way, our characters also build camaraderie with their team, mentor, and we learn to treasure the bonds they forge. Inoue doesn’t just rely on nostalgia to deliver a stirring experience, but imbues the story with a fresh perspective while bringing out all the best elements of a sports anime.
The film follows the ragtag basketball team of Shohoku High School in the high school national championships, a game that many long-term fans know as the epic last game in the manga. Still, Inoue manages to tell the ‘Slam Dunk’ story in a fresh way, delving deeper into a ‘neglected’ character’s story in the manga, point guard Ryoto Miyagi. Labelled as a ‘problem child’, the film spends quite a lot of screen time exploring Ryoto’s relationship with his family and basketball as a looming figure in his life.
On the surface, the Shohoku basketball team is a team that should not win the nationals because of their rookie status and seemingly uncoordinated tactics, even down to their supporters who can’t coordinate a cheer. You can’t help but root for them though, both on and off the court as Inoue seamlessly blends edge-of-your-seat court action and moving backstories. It helped the narrative to have space to breathe and grow, and gave emotional weight behind the court. I wish Inoue could’ve given more screen time to other members’ backstories as well, but I guess it gives me a reason to catch up on the manga and anime.
The First Slam Dunk blends a mix of CGI and hand-drawn animation to create a dynamic and fresh look for the film. While there’s a certain awkwardness in movement that is visible in the trailers, this awkwardness disappears once seen on the big screen. In fact, it actually enhances the gameplay, making the court and all its intensities feel very real.
Inoue also uses the medium to showcase expressive features, represent internal battles in new ways and capture impossible camera angles. Even so, my favourite part was the introduction of the Shohoku High School basketball team. Rough pencil sketches transform into 3D models as the team walks onto the court to catchy, foot-tapping music.
Takehiko Inoue, known as one of the best manga artists for his attention to detail, visual storytelling and expressions, brings all the best parts of his art style and narrative prowess to his directorial debut. The result is one of the most intense sequences during the climax, a culmination of 2 hours of build-up and expectations. The pay-off is worth it. Now excuse me while I go and watch all 101 episodes of the anime.
As of this review being published, The First Slam Dunk is now playing in cinemas.
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This review is published as an extension of *SCAPE’s Film Critics Lab: A Writing Mentorship Programme organised by The Filmic Eye with support from the Singapore Film Society.
About the Author: When not reading letterboxd’ reviews or watching fan-made videos, Elisabeth talks about movies and tv shows on her podcast Critical Cliches.
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About the Movie:
Directed by: Takehiko Inoue
Cast: Kenta Miyake, Jun Kasama, Shinichiro Kamio, Shugo Nakamura, Subaru Kimura
Year: 2023
Duration: 2h 5min
Language: Japanese (with English subtitles)
Advisory: PG13
Synopsis: Shohoku’s “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, follows in the footsteps of his older brother, as he plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui. The team challenge the reigning champions at the Inter-High School National Championship.
As of this review being published, The First Slam Dunk is now playing in cinemas.
