Parents' Guide to Slam Dunk

TV Netflix Anime 1993
Slam Dunk TV show poster: Hanamichi dribbles a basketball down a court. In the background is a distant audience filling the seats of the stadium.

Common Sense Media Review

By Danae Stahlnecker , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Tenacious teens fight, swear in sports anime about teamwork.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Slam Dunk TV show screenshot 1: Hanamichi jumps up, ball in hand, to attempt to make a slam dunk.
  • Slam Dunk TV show screenshot 2: Hanamichi smiles cheerfully. Behind him is a large pink heart against a yellow background.
  • Slam Dunk TV show screenshot 3: Hanamichi compares his height to Rukawa's. They're on the school rooftop, two teens on the ground behind them.
  • Slam Dunk TV show screenshot 4: Akagi raises a basketball over his head to shoot. Hanamichi jumps to block, making a blur of many Hanamichi's.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

SLAM DUNK is about Hanamichi Sakuragi (voiced by Takeshi Kusao), a delinquent-turned-basketball player who learns to turn raw athleticism into polished skill. On his first day of high school, Hanamichi meets Haruko Akagi (voiced by Akiko Hiramatsu) and instantly falls in love. To impress her, he joins the basketball team and discovers there's more to the sport than high jumps and flashy dunks.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This classic sports anime that helped define the genre stands the test of time with good messages and a fun story. Slam Dunk is pretty straightforward: A teen with natural talent but no experience uses basketball to make friends and improve himself. The show makes the sport exciting and inspiring. There are a few things that feel stuck in the 1990s, ­like the types of insults characters swap and the way aggression is connected to masculinity. But those things aren't the main focus, and there are plenty of ways the characters' lives are still relatable for modern teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the importance of good teamwork and sporting conduct. Which characters are role models of this? What qualities do they have that make them role models?

  • Families can also talk about how to successfully grow from failures. How can you learn to embrace it and use it as an experience for growth?

  • What role does friendship play in characters' lives? What does it mean to be a good friend?

  • How does basketball help Hanamichi move on from his past? How do your hobbies or special interests help you?

TV Details

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Slam Dunk TV show poster: Hanamichi dribbles a basketball down a court. In the background is a distant audience filling the seats of the stadium.

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