Dive into the Phenomenal World of 'The First Slam Dunk' Film at Anime Expo

Premiering at Anime Expo, this movie had a lot to live up to. The First Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue's film adaptation of his beloved basketball manga and anime, focuses primarily on the highly-anticipated game between Shohoku and Sannoh high schools. The movie effectively captures the essence of a real basketball game through Inoue's direction and the editing by Ryûichi Takita. The sound mixing creates a tangible and organic experience, with significant portions of the game lacking music to allow key moments to be intensified by its inclusion.

While the weight of the story is conveyed through various sequences scattered throughout the two-hour runtime, these interludes mainly revolve around Ryota, the undersized point guard who shares a special bond with his older brother. This connection is established early on and forms the emotional core of the film, adding depth and significance. While the story does provide some insight into Sannoh, the majority of character development is dedicated to the protagonists at Shohoku, ultimately enhancing the game's action. The plot follows a classic underdog narrative, which, although somewhat clichéd, generates numerous moments of high-stakes action, impressive plays, and intriguing team dynamics that captivated the audience at Anime Expo, resulting in thunderous applause.

Since the release of the first trailer in 2022, the use of CGI animation in The First Slam Dunk has been a major talking point among viewers. Toei Animation, with assistance from Studio Colorido, known for their work on theatrical films like Penguin Highway and their creative adaptations of Pokemon and Star Wars: Visions, took on the task of largely animating the film in CGI.

Traditionally, CGI has faced challenges in capturing the visual style of manga and traditional anime. However, in The First Slam Dunk, the use of CGI does not compromise Inoue's distinctive visual style. The inclusion of blur-lines and editorial techniques seamlessly align with the aesthetics of the original anime series. Moreover, the shading on the characters' uniforms effortlessly emulates the inked style found on the manga's tankobon covers.

The manga greatly influences the film in terms of its visuals. In the title sequence, we see the Shohoku team gradually walking together, with visual elements taken directly from the manga. Additionally, moments of high tension are created through the use of close-up manga effect lines and black and white manga-style images. While the CGI in the film adds dynamism to the action, similar to Trigun: Stampede, Inoue skillfully incorporates the stylistic visuals from previous adaptations of his work, resulting in a natural and intentional fusion. Interestingly, the most modern aspect of the movie has nothing to do with its artwork—the inclusion of an after-credits scene, a practice commonly seen in modern films, adds an extra touch worth sticking around for, although it is not the central focus.

The First Slam Dunk is a film that successfully upholds the legacy of its source material and meets the expectations of its audience, without relying solely on nostalgia. Just like a thrilling basketball game, it delivers impactful and fast-paced entertainment.

Starting from July 28, The First Slam Dunk will be shown in US theaters with both subtitled and dubbed screenings. For further details on tickets, please refer to GKIDS.

Film: The First Slam Dunk

Director: Takehiko Inoue

Rating: 4/5