Slam Dunk Japanese anime/manga

Series Starts 10.16.1993

Series Ends 03.23.1996

Number of Episodes 101

Author/Artist Takhikou Inoue

Slam Dunk includes four OVAs

The Series revolves around Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school freshman who is prone to fisticuffs and street fights. He falls head over heels in love with A girl named Haruko. Unfortunately, Haruko has an uncurable crush on the basketball club's popular small forward Kaede Rukawa. So what does our tall redhead do? He joins the basketball team of course -- even though he doesn't know a thing about the sport. And so the fun begins...

People watch Slam Dunk for the excitement of sports television with the added dimension of soap operatic drama. In watching an NBA game, you’re going to know who scored how many points and who got fouled out how many times... in watching Shohoku take on another high school team, you get that plus the chance to delve into the players’ lives and see what inspires them to dazzle us on the court. Definitely a spell-binding and heart-stopping viewing experience.

Slam Dunk has excellent characterization that makes it likeable by all. We find ourselves drawn into the workings of each character’s mind during the game.

We're sure to have our own favorates, whether it’s the brash and cheeky Sakuragi, the silently lethal Rukawa, the extremely driven Akagi, the small and swift Miyagi, the ace sharp-shooter Mitsui or even the quiet, unassuming Kogure. (If not, there are dozens of guys from the other teams who are equally skilled and just as interesting.) Even the supporting characters are loveable—watch out for spunky manager Ayako (whose mere acknowledgement of Ryota turns the poor guy into jelly) and Sakuragi’s Guntai who are always good for a funny courtside comment or two.