DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME ComedySLAM DUNK
MOVIE SportsTHE FIRST SLAM DUNK
ONE SHOT SportsSlam Dunk, Are kara 10-ka Go
ONE SHOT ComedyKaede Purple
ONE SHOT Slice of LifePiercing

REVIEWS

• 

  Pucci

  99/100
  Takehiko Inoue's buzzer beater ; a classic with a lot of heart

  Slam Dunk arrived at a time where basketball wasn't really a popular sport amongst the Japanese so the fact that it went on to become one of the most popular manga ever is really an astounding achievement. For it to have resonated with a crowd who, before this manga's release, where apathetic towards basketball highlights Takehiko Inoue's brilliance as a mangaka and is evidence which reinforces his title as one of the art's geniuses. The Japan Basketball Association even went on to congratulate Inoue for helping to popularise the sport in Japan. It's safe to say that the existence of this manga is one of the main factors which helped spark an interest for the sport and inspire the youth of Japan to engage in it. Slam Dunk really is Inoue's buzzer beater, a series which helped revive basketball in a climate where it seemed like the sport's time was running out. Now, moving onto the manga itself, Slam Dunk follows red-haired delinquent Sakuragi Hanamichi and his journey with basketball. At first, his sole purpose in playing the sport was to impress his crush 'Haruko' and potentially win her over from the popular 'Rukawa' but as the series progresses we see Sakuragi develop a real appreciation for the sport. He develops as not only an athlete but as a person and the bonds he creates with his fellow teammates help to shape this development. Inoue's genuine love for the sport shines through in the series' volumes as matches are depicted with a lot of emotion and passion. Moreover, some matches take multiple volumes to finish and this helps readers to really engage with the sport and the frustration which the characters may experience during these matches. Inoue's art gets progressively better throughout the series and it successfully manages to depict the intensity of the sport, not only the slam dunks and 3 pointers but the crushing defeats and the uplifting victories are masterfully represented in this manga. Even during the moments where the cast are not playing basketball, the comedic scenes and love-triangles are just as enjoyable and are crucial in understanding the characters and who they are. If you're not already a fan of basketball then it's almost guaranteed that you'll be a fan after experiencing this series, it really is the pinnacle of sports manga and deserves all the praise it receives. The main drawback is how abrupt the ending is but that surely isn't enough to overshadow all the positives this manga possesses.
  Continue on AniList
• 

  leetheheathen

  79/100
  Through blood, sweat, and tears, Hanamichi Sakuragi flies, fails, and charms his way through basketball and your read.

  

  Introduction

  Growth is a slow, staggering process filled with confusion, humiliation, regression, determination, and acceptance unless you're a tensai. Takehiko Inoue wrote a story about a boy learning a sport from scratch in hopes to impress a girl. Through blood, sweat, and tears, Hanamichi Sakuragi and the boys grind their way through high school basketball and charm their way through your read.

  Story: 86

  The first thing I recognized about Slam Dunk's story was its ambition. Just by seeing Sakuragi be in his first year of high school and know nothing about basketball tells me all I need to know about what Japanese society thinks about a mainly American sport. It's niche and when you task yourself with explaining the basics/fundamentals of the sport to your audience, you ought to make it easier on yourself by having your main character know just as much as them about it. And throughout the story, Inoue does a nice job breaking down some of the more subtle details, rules, and calls of the game or beginners, but this isn't Basketball 101.

  The story won't pause to tell you what each position does, and you are expected to have even the slightest knowledge of how the sport works, but even if you don't, Inoue does make it easy to follow along with. A newcomer may not understand why Sakuragi does is wrong, and neither does he. This leads to some of his more humble moments, much to my dismay, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Sakuragi's constant fuck-ups as a newbie give the audience a chance to get things broken down, repeated, and demonstrated. So all-in-all, if you're new to basketball, but a fan of manga, this is a great starting point for you to understand a bit about the game so you can follow along with any family members who aren't gracious or patient enough to explain things to you.

  

  That being said, I will admit that even though I know how basketball works, I got a bit swept up in the pace of the story in anticipation of Inoue explaining things to the Jump Readers of 1990. The pacing of the games themselves is ok enough to give each of the core cast and even some antagonist some shine. Early on in the story, chapters in between games speed through opportunities for more development, leaving most of any flashbacks or sub-plots to be discovered by the audience during the games. This can break up the pace of the game sometimes, but it's not glaring.

  One of the things that I do like about what Inoue does with this story centered around this sport is that there are no characters that are obsessed with winning. Does losing hurt? Yes, but it never breaks anyone. Many of the characters are more focused on getting passed the challenges that lie ahead or within themselves. They actually have fun playing basketball and proving to themselves that they can beat the obstacles in front of them. That's a wholesome aspect of stories concentrating on adolescent school activities that's always refreshing to see.

  The way the story ends...
  is disappointing. If they're going to lose at the championships, then that comes with a lot of character moments that I wanted to see, but that didn't do me, so it leaves their characters in sort of limbo.
  Real, another story by Takehiko Inoue about wheelchaired basketball players, came to mind when Sakuragi makes a very dramatic save in the last half of the last game of the story. I thought that this would be the moment where Shohoku loses the game and Sakuragi begins his journey to play basketball at all costs, even he can't walk again. In retrospect, it might have been too much of a visceral reality of high school sports and too hard of an ending or regular Japanese kids reading this manga.

  Characters: 75

  _[Ryota](https://anilist.co/character/312/Ryota-Miyagi) is best boy. Don't @ me._

  The characters of Slam Dunk had to grow on me for the most part. Although everyone is mostly distinct personality-wise, even among the opposing teams, there are only a handful of characters who have enough raw charisma to make them stand out among the rest of the cast. Everyone seems to have their own quirks and imperfections. Even the characters that you'd perceive to take more seriously, given their status in the story, fuck up and joke around.

  Actually out of everyone, the one that is the hardest to like is our main character, Sakuragi Hanamichi. I'm extremely aware that he's still just a 14-15 year-old-kid that almost exclusively responds to praise, can't own up to his own mistakes, and only ever wants to be around his crush. Nevertheless, most panels featuring him are eye-rolling at their best because there is a fine line between needing validation as a reward and thriving off of having your ego stroked. Moments that make me SMH and shrug as I flip the page are where other characters have to stoop down by exalting Hanamichi just so he'll shut up. He reconsiders whether he's a genius or not twice after he fucks up and I was waiting for the moment he'd stop calling himself that, but it only slightly comes when instead refers to himself as "just a rookie". His best (and kind of charming) moments come when he's being humbled by his failures and showing any kind of vulnerability.

  

  The rest of the cast is treated pretty well, all except for Haruko and one other character that I'll get into around my Enjoyment Section. She, like Sakuragi, are the only characters who don't seem to complete any kind of character arc from the main cast. Where she starts and where she ends in the story are connected in a way that sort of makes sense, but there are things done with her that don't come up again. My favorite character is Ryota, simply because I like his fade. He's an underdog because of his size (kind of like Nishinoya), and he finds a solid connection with Sakuragi (because of their luck with girls) which was able to rein him in some (since he was almost borderline unbearable).

  Characters that I did enjoy include Sendoh, Fukuda, Maki, and my man with the cleanest jumper in the land of the rising sun,Yoshinori Miyamasu. Characters that I don't like are mainly the rivals, Sakuragi and Rukawa. These two remind me so much of Asta and Yuno, it's impossible for me to like them. Rukawa being such a great player, it's really hype to watch him work, but he's got such a wet napkin of a personality; I can't find anything else interesting about him.

  Visuals: 95

  

  I'm not used to speaking about my admiration or criticism of artwork, so please bear with me if I don't sound very articulate about it. Takehiko Inoue, for lack of better words, outdoes himself. Look at the fucking shading on this page. I've previously read Vagabond, and I knew to expect astonishing artwork from him, but what I didn't expect was to be pulled into the excitement of the game thanks to his art a lot of the time. The way many of the characters are drawn in this story is with long limbs and wide torsos, which of course lends itself to the sport they play, but Inoue's understanding of adolescent masculinity. It keeps the characters feeling human and it conveys that the physical burden of basketball is something to be overcome, so you're always rooting for them. SO MUCH SWEAT AND BLOOD.

  The first gripe I have with this manga is that a lot of characters (more so on opposing teams) suffer from same-face syndrome. Either their haircut or their faces are so similar to each other that I can't remember who it is or where they're supposed to be. Fortunately, their jersey number is usually visible so I can use it and their dialogue to follow along easier, but it's still a small nitpick. The second grip will be discussed in the Enjoyment Section.

  The World: 80

  

  When I was thinking about the world of Slam Dunk, a part of me thought that since we don't know all of the teams in the story, that it may have gone under-explored, but instead I think I'd rather base my feelings on what the world gives us and how different is it to what we've come to know beforehand. Each and every team that we meet in the story is a different team with different strategies. Inoue has built a world where teams have to do much more than play harder. Each team has different ways of solving a problem and there aren't always mirror matches on teams of characters who just "play hard" of course each team has their Ace, but the strengths and weaknesses of those players vary, so the games aren't always a strategy of the body.

  Enjoyment: 60

  

  Although it is understood that all of the characters in the story are Japanese, I cannot sit here and act as though there isn't one specific character in the story that is not portrayed as a Black kid, Takenori Akagi. He's drawn with bigger lips, a flat top, and he has the darkest skin tone in the anime and much of the colored art. And if he's not drawn as a Black kid, he's drawn as a kid who is the most obsessed with a Black-dominated sport and culture. Throughout the story, Sakuragi and many of the other characters call him and other similarly drawn players Gorilla. Now, outside of the obvious racist context, I understand why they do this. He is bigger and stronger than the majority of the characters (in which I don't understand why they don't call him a bull since the school uniforms and Sakuragi's hair are literal references to the Chicago Bulls). Sakuragi and the others, most likely, don't mean anything racist by it, don't know better, and are obviously just dumb Japanese kids who are trying to be insulting and funny. Chances are that Inoue also doesn't think less of Black people by doing this, and doesn't understand the historical context of the comparison during the time of him drawing the story. I also understand that this observation is purely me projecting my understanding and personal feelings about racism.

  However, it is extremely hard for me, a Black Man, to read this story where a portrayed Black character is being called a gorilla, ape king, and bald gorilla. Yes, I'm aware that other non-Black portrayed characters are called monkeys, including Sakuragi, but it hardly matters. Either way, it keeps me from focusing on the story when this very unnecessary and unfunny joke is distracting me. I thought that eventually, Sakuragi would come to respect Akagi who is the one who taught him basketball, his team captain, and the older brother of his crush, Haruko, but this does not ever happen. I can only assume that Akagi just stops being upset at being called Gorilla or Gori since he never expects it to change. I really wanted to address that and how much I can go reading this story without it. It seriously shat on my experience with the story and I would have definitely dropped this manga if it was not revered as the greatest sports manga of all time and I really wanted to get through it.

  

  Other than that, I really enjoyed the games. There was a moment when Yoshinori shot a three-pointer and I couldn't turn the page because he just looked so damn clean. There was a moment where someone gets hit in the face with the ball, and their reaction made me actually laugh out loud. If you're planning on reading it, you'll see why. The moment of the last point of the series was hype as shit. I appreciate the respect that Jordans get in the story, and it was funny to watch people step on a certain someone's shoes.

  Conclusion

  Slam Dunk is an entertaining, charming, and many times frustrating story that gives you a solid shonen-style focus on the value of determination. I wish the story was a bit more fulfilled, but not bad for what we got. Personally, I think when it comes to sports manga, it has been surpassed by Haikyuu, but it definitely is better than the superpower-ridden Kuroko no Basket. It has set the standard among sports manga, so honestly hard comparing anything to it, but you and I both know, that these comparisons don't mean jack shit. Here's the score:

  Continue on AniList
• 

  Jaw

  100/100
  The Tensai of sports manga.

  

  Slam dunk is kind of forgotten nowadays and i dont see many people talking about it,my love still goes on for this series so im here writing a review about it at 1 am.

  ---

  Small resume:

  We start with our protagonist Sakuragi Hanamichi getting rejected by 1 of the many girls hes asked out. Later on he meets the love of his life, Haruko Akagi. She asks him to play basketball and thats when the story starts of Sakuragi Hanamichi trying to steal Haruko's heart and potentially building up a love for basketball.

  ---

  Story: 9.1/10

  The story is still great but its not that great compared to the other scores im giving out.The story is mainly the team working hard and thriving to win every game. This isnt that greatly expressed in the anime but in the manga you can see way more of the hard work they put it and its layed out better in my opinion.
  A big part of the story is Sakuragi of course trying to make Haruko fall for him. but through out the series this is kind of forgotten due to
  Sakuragi building up a love for the sport and keeps on wanting to play.
  The other characters dont really get alot of story behind them except a few which i will talk about later on. (they have incredible backstories)

  What Inoue Takehiko has done incredibly well for this manga is the way he explains every move and all the rules in basketball. before i started reading this manga i didnt know anything about basketball let alone how much points a layup was. after reading this manga ive learned so much about basketball and built a really big love for the series.

  The ending:
  The ending was kind of anticlimatic and dumb but after thinking about it, it was the perfect ending in my opinion. it showed us all that hard work doesnt always pay off and that theres always other people better than you at something. i was mainly sad about this ending cause the series ended not because it was a bad ending.
  Overall a great story though, you will get hooked to it.

  ---

  Art: 10/10

  Takehiko Inoue isnt known for his art for nothing, his art is hands down the best art ive ever seen in any manga. if you dont count his other series (Vagabond) then this is my favourite art. i mean the pictures below just explain it themselves, the sweat, the movement, and the skill moves all look so realistic and just incredible to my eye. (pictures have a tiny bit of spoilers but not really tbh)
  
  

  ---

  Characters: 8.6/10

  Im gonna give every character a rating in my own opinion on why i like them etc and ill just do the average from that and thats my character rating.

  Sakuragi Hanamichi : 9.5/10
  
  At the start of the story everyone just thinks hes a typical protagonist, loud, stands out and will become the best player bla bla bla.
  No. thats not what this guy is. this guy is the synonym of hard work. through out the manga he completely despises basketball. but he still puts a crap ton of effort into the sport, hes a really funny character and also has a bit of a backstory unlike alot of the other characters thats why i like him alot. (hes known as a delinquent that gets shot down by every girl in school and a bit more is told about him later on in the story)

  

  Kaede Rukawa: 7.9/10
  
  Not as likeable as Sakuragi, alot because he basically reminds me of sasuke. real cool looking guy, every girl likes him etc. he doesnt really have a backstory either. but i didnt give him a very low rating mainly because his attitude and growth as a character is great. at the start of the manga hes got a really big ego and thinks of himself as the best basketball player. through out the series the works way harder and tries to become the best player in japan cause he knows hes not good enough yet. he had great character development overall. but what mainly made me like him this much is him and Sakuragi in the end after a big rivalry becoming friends. it was a sight to behold.

  

  Ryota Miyagi : 8.6/10
  
  He comes pretty late in the story, but hes still a incredible character in my opinion. he has a small backstory but hes alot like sakuragi and they become a great duo later on in the series.

  

  I also really love his playstyle and ideology. hes one of the smallest players in the series but also one of the best ones. really love this man overall.

  

  Takenori Akagi: 6.8/10
  
  Pretty boring character in my opinion. he doesnt really change through out the series. hes mainly known as the captain of the team and being a real tank in defence... oh yea hes also known as Goril

  

  Hisashi Mitsui 9.8/10
  
  Mitsui's back story and story through out the series is hands down the best and most well written. as a character hes not my favourite i like sakuragi more but hes incredibly written. spoilers ahead:
  Hisashi mitsui was an MVP for Takeishi junior high. He had the chances of joining other incredible schools like ryonan etc, he decided to join anzai because anzai inspired him to play and never give up even in the dying seconds of the game. but due to a injury on his left knee he couldnt play basketball for a while, after his injury he became the leader of a gang cause he wasnt in the main team of shohoku anymore. his gang got in a fight with miyagi and in that fight miyagi whooped mitsui. then after a while we see mitsui come to the basketball team and try to ruin stuff for them. in other words he tried to punch them and make them punch back so he can get them disqualified from the tournament. of course he got whooped by the basketball team. after getting whooped anzai comes and mitsui starts crying. ''I want to play basketball...'' and thats when mitsui comes back to the basketball team. altough his stamina is pretty bad through out the series hes still got his sharp shooting skill and can hit 3 pointers with ease.

  

  ---

  Enjoyment: 10/10

  Overall, the series has been incredibly drawn, written , and the matches are all very entertaining and intense. The comedy on the part of this manga is also really funny and ive bursted out laughing multiple times. definently one of the key factors of this being one of my favourite manga. i would of loved to seen more matches but unfortunately everything has to come to an end. the characters were funny etc etc i just cant stop talking about this incredible series.
  This manga has really made me into a big basketball fan and completely changed the way i look at the sport.

  
  Continue on AniList

SIMILAR MANGAS YOU MAY LIKE

• MANGA

  ComedyHaikyuu!!
• MANGA

  DramaAhiru no Sora
• MANGA

  ActionVagabond
• MANGA

  ComedyKuroko no Basket
• MANGA

  DramaReal
• MANGA

  ComedyRookies
• MANGA

  ComedyEyeshield 21
• MANGA

  ComedyFull Drum
• MANGA

  DramaHarlem Beat
• MANGA

  Sci-FiBUZZER BEATER
• MANGA

  DramaAshita no Joe
• ONE SHOT

  DramaBABY FACE