Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Basketball anime about personal loss is a winner; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The First Slam Dunk
What's the Story?
THE FIRST SLAM DUNK follows the intense final game of the Inter-High School National Basketball Championships, with underdog Shohoku High School triying to wrest the title away from legacy champions Sannoh Kogyo. Point guard Ryota Miyagi (voiced by Shugo Nakamura in the Japanese original and Paul Castro Jr. in the English dub) isn't just playing for himself: He's playing to represent his older brother Shoto, a talented athlete who was being scouted before his mysterious disappearance years before. Ryota feels the weight of living in the shadow of Shoto, whose skill and charm made him the golden child in the eyes of both their mother and their Okinawa neighborhood -- and whose loss has left their family barely hanging together.
Is It Any Good?
Heart-pounding and heartrending, first-time director Takehiko Inoue's adaptation of his own manga proves that he has the skills of a pro. A renowned animator, Inoue particularly demonstrates a profound understanding of audio's ability to create emotional intensity. You'll already be on the edge of your seat during key moments in the game, but then Inoue drops the sound entirely, and you may find yourself literally holding your breath. And when the audio returns gradually, throbbing, your heart syncs up, making you feel the tension as if you were on the court yourself, ball in hand.
Inoue's animation also has a naturalness to it, with a couple of creative breaks in which he incorporates a different drawing style to depict a character's internal struggle. While The First Slam Dunk is excellent overall, showing the power of perseverance and teamwork (even when you don't particularly like your teammates), certain moments in Ryota's story may be confusing for some viewers. These "huh?" moments aren't a deterrence to overall enjoyment of the film, but they do pull you out of the story a bit -- but to give up during these sluggish story parts would be your loss. Plus, young basketball fans are likely to take note of some super-cool moves -- immediately after the film is a great time to suggest shooting some hoops.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the meaning and importance of perseverance. How does Ryota Miyagi specifically demonstrate this quality in The First Slam Dunk?
Ryota is considered too short for basketball. How does he overcome this perception? What are real-life examples of people facing obstacles to successfully pursue their passion?
How does the Shohoku team overcome their personal feelings toward each other to work toward a goal? Why is teamwork an important skill?
What does the coach mean when he says "losing will be an asset"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 28, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : June 25, 2024
- Cast : Shugo Nakamura , Paul Castro Jr. , Subaru Kimura
- Director : Takehiko Inoue
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : GKIDS
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, violence and thematic elements
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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