Parents' Guide to

The First Slam Dunk

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Basketball anime about personal loss is a winner; language.

Movie PG-13 2023 124 minutes
The First Slam Dunk Movie Poster: Five animated teenage Japanese basketball players look ready to compete

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • The First Slam Dunk Movie: An animated Japanese teen basketball player with red hair is hunched over, looking determined
  • The First Slam Dunk Movie: The animated Japanese high school basketball team has a look of agitation
  • The First Slam Dunk Movie: Animated Japanese high school basketball player with a high-top fade haircut

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

wanthonygerard
wanthonygerard Parent of 18+-year-old
August 7, 2023
age 14+

Basketball Anime? Title doesn't do it justice

This great anime movie about basketball was recently released in the US. It is one of the best movies of the year, if you are interested in either of these subjects. It is an amazing anime work of art, and a great sports movie ( one of the best basketball movies ever made, which is pretty startling for a country where basketball is far from being a popular sport. If you love this sport, you will love this movie). And even if you aren’t a fan of the game, you will love this artful story. The film won the Japanese Academy Prize for Animation of the Year and grossed $259 million worldwide. The art of basketball is beautifully portrayed but this doesn’t feel like animation, it feels like watching an incredible Olympic Mens’s basketball final game- close up and slow motion -with a skillful narrative about the main players lives. The beauty and energy of Japanese anime, done by the famous Takeihiko Inoue, combines hand animation and CGI into an artistic film that all movie goers will enjoy. The film is adopted from Inoue’s 1990’s manga comic, which makes the genre especially interesting. The movie takes during the course of one championship game, but shows flashbacks into the lives of the players. Voiceovers by the characters, and the flexibility of animation allows the film to show intimate details of the character’s psyche. The tone and theme of this movie reminds me of the original Karate Kid. But instead of an underdog Karate student and his coach, this is about a whole team and similar wisdom. But basketball is the vehicle for character development in this film. There is a blend of pathos and passion in the lives of these characters, and a there is a beautiful rhythm to this film. The films emotional quality, and technical mastery of anime are likely to make it a classic.
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

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"?

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