Slam Dunk (1993–1996) User Reviews

Best Japanese Animated Series

[etchepare · 10/10 · 9 July 2007]

I love basketball, and the fact that everyone is so passionate about this game in the series is just great. The character background and how they all come from different places and situations to finally play on the same team and beat everyone on the court with incredible plays and moves and UNDERSTANDING each other (except for hanamichi and rukawa) is, in one word (or two?), heart-lifting, and their personality and skill development throughout the entire series kept me watching every chapter solemnly.

You want to go out and play basketball after every chapter of this amazing series. 10/10

cheer for imperfect dream of youth time

[user-124-961692 · 10/10 · 16 October 2014]

Many years after this anime finished,when asked why it was over at a imperfect end ,the author answered that the dream in youth are usually unideal.I can't stop worshiping him due to this poetic answer. Inoue has been one of the best cartoonist in Japan.As one of his master works,Slamdunk records his progress in drawing.At the beginning ,the picture is aesthetic ,looking like many anime now days such as 《Tennis no Ohjisama》,contrary to its realist style later.Being different from drawing style ,the story is interesting and melting from beginning to end.It's undoubtable that Slamdunk stands on the top of sports cartoon ,touching countless teenagers all over the word.When mentioning basketball player,we might think of Sakuragi instead of NBA players. Slamdunk tells a simple story.Basketball changes Sakuragi as he became a respectable basketball player from a dark guy along with his teammates.Most characters are individualistic in this anime and they also have many touched or interesting stories.Above all,slam dunk tells a story about a group of students's growing up in youth time.They are successful though they didn't become champion in that year because they beated themselves in the last game.Their teenage hood get a better view thanking to basketball club. It was ten years since I met this anime.Sakuragi's youth ended in a picture where he said that because I am a genius while my growing up never stop.I am still moved by this story and can get more and more from it.Slamdunk bring me into a world of basketball so I will never forget this anime.

One of the best sports anime ever.

[alvira10101 · 10/10 · 17 April 2015]

Slam Dunk is a great anime, from passion for basketball, to comedy, to plot, to execution this series has it all. The series centers around a 1st year High school kid Hanamichi Sakuragi who hated basketball in the beginning but joined the team to impress Haruko(A girl he has a crust on) but later develops a burning passion for the sports himself & he soon becomes one of the main players of his High School team. I hated the fact that they did not finish the comic book, i.e the original story line, but still. This series is a must watch for all the sports lovers. Even if u ever hated Basketball this series will make u love it. It's just THAT good. The main character is an amateur in Basketball. While he learns how to play it. So will you all. There are some great high school rivalries. There are some heart breaks too. In other words this is an absorbing anime. A complete 10/10 from me. Enjoy!

2 words....SLAM DUNK!

[sun-goku · 10/10 · 6 January 2011]

I am really bad at basketball and because of that, i dislike it, however, watching this show changed my opinion about basket ball completely. Shows like Hajime No Ippo and Eye Shield 21 were DECENT compared to this one. Looking at Sakuragi Hanamichi, a big time delinquent, start out as the foul out king...and later the rebound king shows that how dedicated a person becomes a pro. Another thing i though great about this show was rivalry...if you Love Naruto ( Sasuke vs Naruto) than you will love this one because the rival is a true genius that even Sakuragi was not as good as him(even in the end). One of the biggest things i liked about the show was Team work. It shows that even with Rukawa Kaede's overall talent, Mitsui Hisashi's 3 pointer, Miyagi Riyota's speed, Sakuragi Hanamichi's Rebounds and Akagi's gorilla dunk...they all need each other to gain victory. The other amazing thing is that the competition is competitive. Schools like Shoyo( captain and coach Fujima) and Keinan (captain Maki)have a rivalry building up and another school rivalry would be Ryonan (point guard Sendo) and Shohoku (Cunning and talented Rukawa).

Slam Dunk is the number 0ne sports anime in my opinion because of the story line, rivalry, comedy,romance ( sort of), animation and my all time favorite...RUKAWA ( Note* i am not a girl...i just think he is cool. I recommend this to any basketball or animefan.

The best sport/basketball anime ever made.The funniest of all time too.

[sendoh15 · 10/10 · 22 December 2007]

To anyone who followed the whole series you will never forget Sakuragi, Sendoh and of course rukawa.Saw this series back in 2001 and got hooked right away. The clever mix of basketball, character personalities and comedy is so effective. This is one of the rare anime's i'll always remember. If not the funniest ever then its definitely up there.

Hopefully the movie thats being made is up to the part and loyal to the theme of the anime. If you haven't seen it try to get hold of it, you wont regret following the series even if it is 14 years ago now. I guarantee you'll have the biggest laughs in an anime series. The only downside is they never made the part after episode 101. I hoped for a longest time they would produce the national championship season. Anyway Im still thankfull there is the 101 eps to be passed on.

10/10 no doubt SLAM DUNK ALWAYS".

One Of the Best Anime Ever Made

[sharafina_teh92 · 10/10 · 5 March 2008]

I love this anime! It's one of the best I've ever seen! Most of the characters are likable, the story is great and it has depth, and the animation gotten better as it progressed! The humour is just right and the main protagonist, Sakuragi Hanamichi is the best main character ever!!! I watched this when i was a kid and now I'm re-watching it again! First off, it's really amazing to see Sakuragi's progress from a slacker guy to an awesome basketball player. Of course, mix the hard trainings and tough matches with his stubborn and fiery personality, and you get humour! The animation was good overall but it was better later in the series. When I saw Sakuragi getting a rebound or making a dunk, I get chills down my spine. So props to the guys who animated the story.

There was also that Dr. T guy. He provided some useful informations on basketball. Though I find him annoying sometimes for stopping a game, he did give info on basketball plays and rules.

About Haruko and Rukawa, I don't think there's much between them because Rukawa is too occupied with basketball to notice her. But he did eventually took notice of her later in the end. In episode 99, he made a shot in the practice match with Shoyo-Ryonan and Haruko said, "Nice shot!" and Rukawa replied, "Yeah." Even the fangirls were jealous of her. So, I guessed he must've acknowledged her at that point. I do think they would be adorable together if Rukawa wasn't so cold and emotionless.

But I think Haruko and Sakuragi is much better and cuter because Haruko always treats Sakuragi as her best friend but Sakuragi on the other hand, has a crush on her. So it's interesting to see them interact. And besides, Sakuragi has a good heart deep inside. He doesn't deserve to be heartbroken.

All other four Shohoku starting members, Akagi, Rukawa, Mitsui and Miyagi are likable, no, Lovable. And each of them has their own personalities. Akagi with his bossy attitude and his passion for basketball (not to mention he acts like a big bro to Sakuragi), Rukawa who seemed cold but actually is a stubborn person achieving for the best, Mitsui who was a bad guy in the beginning but became a mentor to the younger members in the end and Miyagi with his cuteness and his crush for Ayako-san. So, yeah, this is definitely one of the things that makes an anime great.

Even though I really hoped that this anime had continued, I also feel that it ended at the right time, which is the moment they were going to ride the train to the Inter-Highs tournament. If you dragged the series too much, it will eventually become boring and get less ratings.

Overall, I am really thankful to the creators of this anime for this series because it had provided a great entertainment, story and inspiration to everyone.

A must watch

[rishabh-72001 · 10/10 · 17 November 2019]

Inoe's art comes to life with this amazing adaptation of Hanamichi's struggle to become the best basketball player. The character development, the plurality of emotions and the smooth, flowing storytelling will keep you at the edge of your seat. Watch this team climb from zero to zenith in the world of Japanese high school basketball.

The best anime about sports

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 9 January 2013]

Of all the Sports anime and manga that I've seen in my life, "Slam Dunk" remains as my favorite.

What made this series so good were the characters: All of them (including the occasional antagonists) were very likable and interesting. And most of them were very, very funny. (Particularly the main character, Hanamichi Sakuragi) While this anime had some of the common flaws that other anime shows about sports usually have (like for example, the extremely long matches that could go on for many episodes) the effective gags and the sympathetic cast made even the most tedious story arcs to be worth-watching.

And even without a incredibly level of animation (Though I liked the character designs) this series managed to be something amazingly entertaining. I think that this is probably the only Sports anime that I followed from beginning to end.

Next part

[moustafaabbady1 · 10/10 · 2 August 2019]

I am searching for the rest of the story for years

Hope, Inspiration and Purpose - Marvelous Concept

[sahins · 10/10 · 10 December 2019]

It has been 21 years the first time I watched this amazing story and I still watch it (I am 35 at the moment).

To be honest, if you compare to modern equivalents for this sort of story, you may think flashback concept is not enough to constitute the story. Yet, the concept it self works really well and comedy factor is ridiculously fantastic. There is only one sour thing makes me sad which is not to see Sannoh match as in Manga.

I am extremely grateful for mangaka Takehiko Inoue for this story as well as the animation team and voice actors.

One of the best sports anime of all time

[JWick23 · 18 December 2020]

"Light Hearted, Hilarious, and Enjoyable

This anime and Hajime No Ippo I think laid the groundwork for most future sports anime similar in vibes, themes, and music. The sounds and the music was well done it was upbeat and had this happy sort of vibe coming out of it which really matched with the anime. The visuals were nice and not that bad considering that Slam Dunk first came out in 1993 and it got better as the series went on. The story was good it had it's hiccups and bumps here and there but they had pretty good consistency for most of the 101 episodes. It started off slow in the beginning but picked it's pace up later on. I just hated how some matches would be short and span maybe 1 or 2 episodes and then others would be crazy long 6 to 7 episodes. They did a good representation of how basketball is played in real life but had some missing pieces of what makes basketball, basketball but it was still nicely shown. It had some annoying some typical school clichés but most of it was easy to ignore. Most of the characters were alright I think Akagi, Mitsui , Anzai were the most flushed out and well written out of all them. The ending was kind of a cliff hanger and left some unanswered questions. Also it felt a bit too comical at times especially during the matches. And even at times I preferred what happened outside the basketball court such as their everyday life.

Overall I think it was a respectable anime, even though It was alright in terms of story I enjoyed it very much. The best thing about it was the comedy and the progress you make with with Sakuragi in the basics of basketball and you learn more as the story advances. I felt like it had much more untapped potential such as adding family into the mix which would have made character dynamics more interesting and realistic, their backstories or how they grew up, and their daily life other than school and basketball. All this would have made the anime more realistic and more believable and we could have been even more connected with the characters.

Memorable: No Rewatchable: Quiet unlikely..

It's good but not complete

[shashwatchoudhary · 8/10 · 23 May 2021]

The anime is good but a bit extra childish(immature) that's why I didn't like it much in the first few episodes but when Sakuragi Hanimichi(protagonist) was getting into basketball more and more, I started to like the show. At that time I thought it was best suited for teenagers and I still think that I was correct but in the later parts of the show it reaches its peak and I think everyone would love the latter parts of the show especially the matches they play against the top teams. Those matches are so detailed, they lasts for many episodes that's why I'm not fully satisfied with the show because they ended it in between(what i mean by that is the show is not complete) as the manga has much more to offer. I've heard that they aired this uncomplete version just to promote the manga and/or there was a problem that someone wanted to change the story but in the end the show is not complete and we never get to see Sakuragi Hanimichi at the peak of his abilities as at the end of the show he was still an amateur, more or less.

nostalgic, tedious

[snowly-38154 · 6/10 · 3 May 2023]

It is such pure 2D anime. The character's personality remains the same as 20 years ago, and the music gives me the feeling of retro rock. Japanese dubbing and sound effects are also good.

But the plot was rather tedious. I haven't seen many sports anime, including 'Baseball Heroes' and this one. But these two episodes have similarities. The leading actor of 'Baseball Heroes' is twin brothers, and in "Slam Dunk" is the Miyagi brothers born on the same day of the same month. One of the brothers always carry premature fates and the whole family hopes. It is important to fulfill their dead brothers' dream rather than their own. It seems to be the biggest motivation to persevere.

In this anime, get discouragement, get more and more discouragement, and then recall the past, and get power at once until the final victory. It's difficult to touch me.

A nostalgic film didn't make me cry, so at most it passed the line.

A good funny basketball type of anime!

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 8 June 2019]

I'm scanning through a lot of good sports anime that are worth watching and this classic is one of them. Omg guys this anime is so friggin hilarious! You wouldn't imagine how I felt with my cheeks being stiff af from laughing...seriously...

If you liked Michael Jordon back in the day with Space Jam or follow up on basketball, you definitely should give this 1990s anime a chance y'all. It's so good to watch if you need a laugh or excitement in your life. You even don't have to like basketball either to not like this classic!!!

Easily the best Sport Animanga out there

[medinmuja-90500 · 10/10 · 12 December 2022]

This anime has been and will always be my favorite one out there...Growing up Hanamichi was my idol it was always my dream to become the crazy crackheaded talent of a basketball club but I gotta say basket wasn't a thing for me... The way Takehiko prescribes and gives life to these characters is just out of this world I've never seen any author do that.

Every character is amazingly written and is special unlike in other mangas/animes which is mostly the protagonists antagonists and deuteragonists...No takehiko is just that way he makes every character special and makes something great out of it... I gotta say the animation is that good(obv it was made back in 1993) and so is the pacing but I truly love it even tho it's this way... The story is good,characters are good and so is the plot and everything else in this anime.

I've seen alot of sport anime or even read manga about spor t and there are so many god damn things the other mangas/animes lack that slam dunk has.

As Takehiko once said : My work is based on real stories not Fictional ones.

Even tho the manga has ended back in 1950 Slam Dunk is a monthly top 10 highest selling mangas that just proves how much of a peak it is.

It absolutely deserves a 10/10.

Thank you Inoue.

We still hoping the continuation of slam dunk

[imryanfranco · 9/10 · 26 December 2021]

We are still expecting the another season of slamdunk to be aired soon. Its been a long time since we watched this i hope they will continue slam dunk. So many fans are waiting for this.

THE BEST

[jayneilson · 10/10 · 18 October 2020]

I don't watch sports yet this show is my new fave. I am Canadian and watch it on Prime. 10/10 this is an amazing show. SO FUNNYYY

good

[csx-10534 · 10/10 · 13 March 2024]

Pretty good.it's might be the most motivated story I ve ever seen. In this one, I like Mitsui most. Although he was a bad boy at the beginning, he stood up with his love for basketball. His brotherhood of the bad army also impressed me deeply. Although the final outcome may not be good, Shonoki did not win the championship in the end but maybe the youth is full of regrets and hope that they can work harder in this virtual world Mitsui stay one year Akagi graduation Sakuragi Rukawa Kaofeng and Miyagi Ryoda will become stronger.there is lots of funny stories in it. I recommend you all to see the Slam Dunk Master and his big movie in which the characters are more profound.

I wish we had the continuation of this amazing anime

[chera_khalid · 8/10 · 23 September 2023]

"Slam Dunk: Suramu Danku" is a slam-dunk of an anime that brilliantly captures the heart and soul of basketball. The voice acting immerses you in the intense world of high school sports, with characters who feel like old friends. The film editing keeps the games exhilarating and the story engaging, though it's worth noting the series' age. The music amps up the excitement, making each dunk and dribble feel like a thrilling spectacle. The show's strength lies in its powerful message of perseverance, teamwork, and the pursuit of one's dreams. While the cinematography may not be groundbreaking, it effectively conveys the adrenaline of the court. With an 8/10 rating, "Slam Dunk: Suramu Danku" is an anime slam dunk that combines sportsmanship, humor, and passion in a way that leaves fans cheering for more.

Slam dunk one of my favorite sport anime at all times.

[elalfym-37818 · 9/10 · 22 May 2022]

Slam Dunk is one of the best sports anime that I have watched so far. Although the old style of its drawing and animation is considered very modest, but the amazing content made me skip all that completely.

The comedic side of Slam Dunk is second to none. A pure and beautiful classic comedy. Also, the dramatic aspect of the anime has a wonderful presence. Once you are affected by watching the players achieve part of their ambition, and once again you see them fail and regress. Anime has a realistic side to life that may not be characteristic of most anime as nature. I highly recommend the anime to basketball fans, sports anime lovers in particular, and Japanese anime fans in general. You will not regret watching it unless it is not a sports anime that you love anyway.

Masterpiece!

[aaravjain-30223 · 10/10 · 1 April 2022]

It's sad that the anime never finished , but the manga is very good u should try reading the manga after anime.

In my opinion this anime is as good a KNB ( just little more realistic) unlike knb we can see the improvement of MC from zero.

Perfect for "Jump" Anime

[JayWolfgramm · 8/10 · 16 April 2024]

This series could just as easily be titled: "Sports and Practice" because that sums up the focus of the show. As I write that, it may sound negative, but I genuinely don't mean it that way. This series celebrates all the sports movie cliches. But as someone who loves the theme of "in order to accomplish your goal it will take a lot of hard work and determination."

It is a message that I feel is surprisingly under shown in animated shows. Usually, the super special main character is incredibly gifted in their field and everyone else has to get out of their way. Hanamachi is naturally athletic, but he has to work so hard in order to become a competent basketball player. And the more time he spends working on his goals, the more the audience learns to root for this guy.

The series also balances humor and action very well. It doesn't feel like they are trying to force humor, it is just the way the characters work off each other that leads naturally to humor.

The obvious problem the series has is pacing. There is one basketball game that lasts 16 episodes. That is as long as Goku and Freiza's fight on Namek. Let me repeat, not just the 5 minutes before the explosion, the ENTIRE fight is as long as this basketball game. And sadly, similar to DBZ, the series pitters out without a satisfactory conclusion. And no, the 4 TV movies do not resolve things any better. Hopefully after 30 years, the new movie will bring honor to it.

After watching this show, I feel like a Basketball Genius.

Best everrr

[omersb · 10/10 · 5 January 2022]

Best ever funny and motivational.

Cant tell how much i like this anime. Hope they can make a remake whould be nice.

Mmmmm.

I saw the arabic version its so funny.