THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
Oshimeter
Synopsis
As Shohoku's point guard, Ryota Miyagi is fast, sharp, and carrying more weight than anyone on the court realizes. Growing up in Okinawa, he idolized his older brother, a local basketball legend who died before Ryota could catch up to him. That loss shaped everything about how he plays: quiet intensity, relentless speed, and something to prove that goes beyond wins and losses. This movie covers Shohoku High School's championship game against Sannoh Kogyo, the unbeatable national champions, while weaving in Ryota's backstory between the action. You've got the full crew: Sakuragi's raw energy, Rukawa's cold precision, Akagi's stubborn leadership, Mitsui's redemption arc, but the film anchors everything through Ryota's perspective, which gives the whole thing an emotional core that hits different from typical sports anime. The animation is where this really stands apart. Takehiko Inoue, the original manga creator, directed it himself, and the blend of 3D CGI with 2D art makes the basketball feel physical and grounded in a way most sports anime doesn't attempt. Players move like actual athletes: no glowing power-ups, no slow-motion monologues mid-dribble. If you liked the intensity of Kuroko's Basketball or the team dynamics of Haikyuu, this is in that lane but with a more grounded, cinematic feel. Ahiru no Sora fans will appreciate the emotional depth too. It won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2023, and honestly, it earned that.
Episode Guide
Characters
Hanamichi Sakuragi
Red-haired Shohoku power forward; initially a basketball novice, his tenacity and athleticism lead him to become a key player.
Balmaceda Ben
Hisashi Mitsui
Shohoku's sharpshooting three-point specialist, Mitsui's fiery spirit and comeback story inspire his teammates.
Scott Jonah
Ryouta Miyagi
Shohoku's speedy point guard, Miyagi is a skilled strategist with amazing court vision and a fiery temper.
Castro Jr. Paul
Kaede Rukawa
Shohoku's ace, Rukawa is a supremely talented, yet aloof, basketball player aiming to be Japan's best.
Le Aleks
Takenori Akagi
Shohoku's captain and skilled center, Akagi is driven, disciplined, and academically gifted, striving for the national championship.
Miyake Kenta
MANGA BRIDGE
This season covers Chapters 218-276 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 1.
Community Feed
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I really like how this movie is presented. This movie doesn't adopt the story and point of view of the main character from the manga. Instead, it's a good idea to make Ryota Miyagi the main character in the movie, but still keep some important events depicted in the manga.
Aku sudah rewatch film ini dan pengalaman menontonnya tetap memuaskan. Aku tetap mengatakan bahwa keputusan untuk mengubah sudut pandang penceritaan karakter utama dari Hanamichi Sakuragi menjadi Ryota Miyagi adalah langkah yang sangat tepat. Komedinya pun tidak ditampilkan secara berlebihan, tetap mengutamakan keseriusan bertanding.
Few things are this exciting! Watching the movie is a full experience: top-tier animation, a soundtrack hitting at just the right moments, and the tragedy and redemption in Miyagi’s story. A balanced masterpiece, enjoyable for fans and newcomers alike.
A breathtaking masterpiece, Focusing on Ryota's past gave the game so much emotional weight. The 3D animation felt more real than any traditional sports anime I've seen—every breath and sweat drop felt intense. That final silent sequence had the whole theater holding its breath.
The life story of Underdog Basketball Star in a full cinematic way, was the best part. story kept me engaged all time. Nice BMG and Different scenes had emotional story plots, from past to present life of 'Ryota' which was shown very smoothly. Basketball lover will be motivated.
Watching Ryota Miyagi work to become a basketball star to honor his late brother's dream was a high-stakes emotional ride for me. It’s a perfect mix of sports action and drama, definitely watch it if you love underdog stories.
the animation in this film is gorgeous. the way they blended 3D with traditional 2D during the game sequences? smooth. the flashbacks hit hard without dragging the pace. the final moments on the court had me holding my breath. 🔥
While this movie requires experience with the story before it, Ryota Miyagi's arc here, especially with his family, carries this movie well enough for me to watch it all the way. The animation and the music also help, especially during the central match.
The First Slam Dunk shifts to deeper drama, focusing on Ryota’s past and his brother Sota’s impact on his journey. Shohoku faces Sannoh’s dominance but prevails through grit and teamwork. Sakuragi and Rukawa’s final play seals it. Emotional, intense, and beautifully told.
absolute cinema. I'd love to watch the rescreening one day, got me emotionally constipated I CRIED for whatever reasons, top 1 anime movie of all time periodt
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
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