Disney+ doesn’t generally promote itself as the home of anime. Almost every other streaming service has a better claim to that throne. Set Crunchyroll and the other anime-centric streamers aside. Netflix has a mountain of original anime, Hulu packs away plenty of shows, and even HBO has a few things. Hulu is the explanation, since Disney recently brought most of their library under their umbrella. This leads to weird coincidences, like The First Slam Dunk dominating the streaming service best known for Mickey Mouse.
The First Slam Dunk Breaks Records on Disney+
Slam Dunk is a classic sports manga series about a high school basketball team. Writer/illustrator Takehiko Inoue started the manga’s original run in 1990. Inoue was very fond of basketball, but the sport had very little cultural importance in Japan at the time. The first basketball manga was probably Noboru Rokuda’s Dash Kappei from 1979. That series starred a very short boy and focused primarily on comedy, but Slam Dunk is a far more genuine take on the sport. It fits flawlessly into the tradition of sports manga, many of which served to popularize their subjects in the nation. Slam Dunk receives a lot of credit for its role in making basketball blow up in Japan. For his part, Inoue received commendations from the Japanese Basketball Association for his efforts. The First Slam Dunk is the first full-length feature adaptation of the story.
Disney is a unique streaming service, and its relationship with anime is questionable. The service primarily thrives on a few core brands, but outside voices occasionally break through. Unfortunately, The First Slam Dunk isn’t available in every country. Its dominating success, which has lasted for several weeks, comes almost entirely from Asia. American users will find that the film isn’t available without careful use of a VPN. It is well worth the effort you’d put in to see it. The First Slam Dunk is, low-key, one of the best sports dramas of the past decade. Its unique hybrid animation style turns every turnaround into a work of art. You will feel the pulse-pounding excitement of a good Shonen fight scene, but in a game of high school basketball. Beyond the fast pace, it’s also a moving, coming-of-age story that endears you to its characters immediately. It deserves the attention.
The First Slam Dunk doesn’t have any tricks up its sleeves. It’s not the kind of film that hides anything, but it’s still immensely clever. It’s just an honest, straightforward sports drama of the sort that used to unite nations. You will struggle to find this film, but it’s worth the effort. Disney’s anime selection isn’t the most robust, but it does include a few hidden bangers like this one. Find The First Slam Dunk however you can. The most obvious joke about the title is accurate, because this film is a slam dunk.
