๐ฌ The First Slam Dunk – A Story That Shoots Straight to the Heart ๐
I’ve finally watched The First Slam Dunk, and wow — it was everything I hoped for and more. As someone who grew up with the manga, this film hit differently. It wasn’t just nostalgic — it was deeply emotional, beautifully animated, and full of soul. ๐ฅ
- ๐ Basic Info
- Director: Takehiko Inoue
- Runtime: 124 minutes
- Genre: Animation, Sports, Drama
- Rating: 12+
Trailer
๐ Plot: Not Just a Match – A Personal Journey
Yes, it’s the famous Shohoku vs. Sannoh match — arguably the peak of the Slam Dunk manga. But what makes this movie special is how it shifts the focus to Ryota Miyagi (์กํ์ญ in Korean), the team's quick-footed point guard.
This time, we get a look at his personal story:
He grew up in Okinawa, looked up to his older brother Jun (์ก์ค์ญ), and after losing both his father and brother, Ryota became the man of the house far too early. Trying to follow in Jun’s footsteps, he battles grief, pressure, and expectations. ๐ข
There’s a powerful moment where Ryota visits his old hideout by the beach and finds his brother’s old basketball magazine — featuring none other than Sannoh. His brother once said:
“Beating Sannoh is way cooler than joining them.”
And that memory fuels Ryota’s drive on the court. ๐ฅ
๐ Animation Like You’ve Never Seen Before
This isn't your typical anime. The film uses motion capture, bringing hyper-realistic movement to every pass, jump, and drive. Watching it on the big screen, it really felt like a live-action game — but in manga style. ๐โ๏ธ๐จ
The tension. The speed. The footwork. Everything feels authentic and alive. I couldn’t take my eyes off the court.
๐ A Family’s Silent Strength
Beyond the basketball court, what moved me most was Ryota’s relationship with his mother.
Ryota believes she only cared more about his late brother — that she still grieves for him and doesn’t see Ryota as enough. But he’s wrong.
She was always watching, always supporting. Quietly. Gently. Even traveling secretly to Hiroshima to watch his game from afar. ๐ฉ๐ฆ
She wasn't grieving Jun more. She was remembering both her sons — the one she lost and the one she still has. And that's what gave her strength.
๐ A True Slam Dunk – My Verdict
This movie isn’t just for fans of the original manga. It’s for anyone who’s ever chased a dream, lost someone they love, or struggled to find their place.
Yes, the basketball scenes are thrilling. But it’s the emotional core, the family dynamics, and the personal growth that make this film unforgettable.
And that final moment — “I’m sorry I was the one who survived” — I teared up. ๐ฅฒ
But Ryota proved himself. To his team, to his brother’s memory, and to himself.
โ
Watch it? 100% YES.
Whether you're a die-hard Slam Dunk fan or just looking for a powerful animated film — you’ll love this. Go to the theater if you still can. This is one you feel.
Aside from the basketball action, I found Ryota Miyagi’s (Song Tae-seop’s) family story incredibly moving. Honestly, I never felt a special attachment to Ryota while reading the manga — he was just “the point guard” to me. But after watching The First Slam Dunk, I came away with a deep affection for his character. (It’s true — we connect with characters through their stories. ๐)
As much as Ryota stood out, what really touched me was his mother’s story.
Ryota lives under the weight of losing both his father and his older brother. He even says at one point, “I’m sorry I was the one who survived.” It’s heartbreaking. I assumed his mother carried the same sorrow — maybe even more so. But it turns out, she was far stronger than I expected. ๐ช
Ryota always believed his mother missed his brother more, that she still loved him more. But that wasn’t the case. Her love for Ryota was just as deep — just quieter. When people in the basketball world dismissed him, saying he’d never be as good as his brother, she made a bold choice: moving the family to Tokyo to protect Ryota’s future.
There’s a moment when she watches old home videos late at night. At first glance, it seems like she’s mourning her eldest son. But really, she’s drawing strength from the memories of young Ryota — remembering the boy she still has, and why she keeps going. ๐ฅฒ
She watches him quietly, never interfering. During the nationals in Hiroshima, she travels all that way without telling him, just to sit in the stands and cheer him on from afar. And when he finally returns home after defeating Sannoh, she simply asks, “Did you do well?” — as if nothing happened, but with love overflowing between the lines. ๐ฌโค๏ธ
I feel that director Takehiko Inoue didn’t just bring the Sannoh game to life — he also chose to weave in Ryota Miyagi’s personal and emotional family story. Through this, the film highlights not only the unity of the team, but also the deeper strength that comes from family. ๐ For fans who have now grown into adulthood, this emotional layer resonates deeply — it reflects the warmth and struggle of family that many of us can relate to.
Of course, in Japan, many viewers interpret the film with more emphasis on the cultural and historical significance of Okinawa. Since I’m not too familiar with that background, I focused on what I felt personally, and shared those reflections here.
For all of these reasons, The First Slam Dunk delivers on multiple levels — the thrill of basketball and the heartfelt power of family. ๐๐ If you haven’t seen it yet, I truly recommend watching it on the big screen. It’s an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss. ๐ฌโจ
"์ด ํฌ์คํ ์ ์ฟ ํก ํํธ๋์ค ํ๋์ ์ผํ์ผ๋ก, ์ด์ ๋ฐ๋ฅธ ์ผ์ ์ก์ ์์๋ฃ๋ฅผ ์ ๊ณต๋ฐ์ต๋๋ค."
