Shohoku’s “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball.

In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

For in-depth thoughts on The First Slam Dunk, please see my colleague Andre Couture’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The First Slam Dunk comes to Blu-Ray from GKIDS and Shout! Studios with a terrific 1080p transfer in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The blending of the different animation styles reminds you of the wonders of the art form. Through careful composition, we get an an abundance of detail and character in every frame which makes it feel like a more tactile experience. The animators add numerous subtle touches to each scene that provide a distinct identity. The detail put into each location is awe-inspiring, especially as you explore some of the background environments in greater depth. The transfer handles every dramatic movement and environmental change with unparalleled stability including no jagged lines or color bleeding.

The character designs blend seamlessly with the larger world for a lived-in perspective. The textures in the character designs and the environments provide the film with a more impressive amount of depth. This animation studio chooses to give this world a more visceral execution rather than anything overly glossy. The colors present in this transfer are lush with stunning hues from the backgrounds and uniforms making a big impression alongside other deeper colors throughout the narrative. Black levels are incredibly strong with no signs of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. You could not ask for much better from this experience outside of a 4K UHD release, which is rumored for later this year.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless track presented here in its original Japanese with optional English, English SDH, and French subtitles. There is also an English dub provided. While we would have loved to have gotten a proper Dolby Atmos track, this one provides a dynamic listening experience that brings these intense moments to life with great immediacy and nuance. There may not be any overhead action in this mix, but it still manages to bring the house down.

The sonic detail in the surround channels impresses as the sound of various game sounds such as bouncing balls and squeaking shoes creates a fully fleshed-out world. There are some truly creative panning effects in the rear channels that add a nice layer to the action. The track consistently engages the low end in an unforgettable way as it adds some wonderful texture to the world. A standout aspect you will notice is the vital place of music in this narrative which is deftly implemented in its placement throughout the room as it immerses the audience. Dialogue comes through perfectly at all times without being overshadowed by any of the competing elements. GKIDS made sure to get the most out of this track.

Special Features

Color Commentary: Various members of the English voiceover cast provide a commentary track that takes a little bit to get interesting (or for them to even introduce themselves), but there is some fun banter and decent insights if you stick with it.

Interview with the Director: A 24-minute interview with director Takehiko Inoue in which he discusses the facets of the different characters, the roles they play in the film, the challenges of being a director, working with his staff, his personal connection to basketball, trying to create realism in the animation, the sound design, and more.

Behind the Starting Line-Up – English Dub Featurette: A 12-minute piece that looks at the recording process for the English dub including the adaption of the script for English, casting the roles, playing with proximity, the physicality of the recording process, and more.

Trailers and Teasers: This disc includes two-and-a-half minutes of trailers and teasers.

Final Thoughts

The First Slam Dunk is a great film that expertly expands on what came before while standing on its own for newcomers to the franchise. The insight we get into Ryota is invaluable as it strengthens the emotional investment we have in the outcome of the game. The film wisely makes sure everyone else has a chance to shine and grow, as well, leaving every moment on the court to mean something beyond simply winning and losing. The animation is a wondrous journey of inventive style and creativity that never fails to yield impressive results. This movie is thriving on all cylinders. GKIDS and Shout! Studios have released a Blu-Ray with a great A/V presentation and a good amount of special features. If you are up for a more grounded anime film, do not pass this one up. Recommended

The First Slam Dunk will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack on June 25, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: GKIDS and Shout! Factory have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.