GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights for The First Slam Dunk from Toei Animation. The film has been a box office success, breaking records in various countries, including becoming the most-watched Japanese movie ever in South Korea. The movie, based on the beloved manga Slam Dunk, has become the 24th highest-grossing film of all time in Japan and has a global box office of over $212 million.
It is the first new feature-length film in the Slam Dunk franchise in over 28 years and the original manga creator Takehiko Inoue’s directorial debut. The First Slam Dunk will be released theatrically in the United States and Canada with both its original Japanese language and an all-new English dubbed version later this summer.
The original manga of Slam Dunk is one of the best-selling manga series of all time, with over 170 million copies sold globally. The film adaptation won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animation of the Year, marking the first nomination and win for Inoue. The distribution deal for theatrical and physical home video rights for the film was negotiated between GKIDS and Toei Animation.
The First Slam Dunk Official Trailer
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“I am very thankful to our partners at Toei Animation for working together with us on what I consider one of the best sports films ever made. THE FIRST SLAM DUNK is thrilling but also deeply emotional, and it has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. We can’t wait to share the film with SLAM DUNK fans, as well as those who are discovering this work for the first time.”
David Jesteadt, president of GKIDS
”We’re thrilled to work with GKIDS to bring Toei Animation’s blockbuster film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK to North America. THE FIRST SLAM DUNK has been a smash hit in Asia since premiering in Japan last December and we’re excited to see the response from U.S. and Canadian audiences when it premieres this summer.”
Masayuki Endo, president of Toei Animation Inc.
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“I want to welcome North American fans – both new and old – to the world of SLAM DUNK. THE FIRST SLAM DUNK offers the unique excitement and thrills of SLAM DUNK that can only be experienced in a movie theatre.”
Toshiyuki Matsui, producer of THE FIRST SLAM DUNK
The First Slam Dunk will release in theaters in North America in the summer of 2023.
About The First Slam Dunk
Release Date: Summer 2023 (North America)
Based on: Original Manga “SLAM DUNK” Written and Directed by Takehiko Inoue
Sequence Director: Naoki Miyahara, Katsuhiko Kitada, Toshio Ohashi, Yasuhiro Motoda, Humihiko Suganuma, Haruka Kamatani
Animation Character Designer: Takehiko Inoue, Yasuyuki Ebara
CG Director: Daiki Nakazawa
Animation Director: Yasuyuki Ebara
Art Director: Kazuo Ogura
Color Designer: Shiori Furusyo
Compositing Director: Shunsuke Nakamura
Editor: Ryuichi Takita
Sound Director: Koji Kasamatsu
Animation Producer: Kazuhiro Nishikawa
Producer: Toshiyuki Matsui
Production Company: Toei Animation, Dandelion Animation Studio
Japanese Voice Cast: Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura, Kenta Miyake
Country: Japan
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 124 min
Official English Synopsis
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.
Are you hyped for The First Slam Dunk coming to North America? Have you watched all of the episodes or read all of the chapters? What other sports animes are you into? Let us know on social media
Source: GKIDS
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