“Hot-headed Sakuragi joins basketball to impress Haruko, overcoming 50 rejections and hatred for the sport.”
Slam Dunk
スラムダンク
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Hot-headed Sakuragi joins basketball to impress Haruko, overcoming 50 rejections and hatred for the sport.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, infamous for his temper, massive height, and fire-red hair, enrolls in Shohoku High, hoping to finally get a girlfriend and break his record of being rejected 50 consecutive times in middle school. His notoriety precedes him, however, leading to him being avoided by most students. Soon, after certain events, Hanamichi is left with two unwavering thoughts: "I hate basketball," and "I desperately need a girlfriend." One day, a girl named Haruko Akagi approaches him without any knowledge of his troublemaking ways and asks him if he likes basketball. Hanamichi immediately falls head over heels in love with her, blurting out a fervent affirmative. She then leads him to the gymnasium, where she asks him if he can do a slam dunk. In an attempt to impress Haruko, he makes the leap, but overshoots, instead slamming his head straight into the blackboard. When Haruko informs the basketball team's captain of Hanamichi's near-inhuman physical capabilities, he slowly finds himself drawn into the camaraderie and competition of the sport he had previously held resentment for.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 63 sampled reviews
What 63 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.11 · split reception
5.7 pts
Recommenders 8.8 · others 3.2
↓ 0.19
Running avg · Dec 2007 → Mar 2026
- 7 “I love basketball, and the fact that everyone is so passionate about this game in the series is just great. The character background and how they all come from different places and situations to...”
- 10 “This series is an unforgettable masterpiece that transcends the sports genre, offering a profound emotional journey that has inspired a positive mindset and a newfound love for basketball and...”
- 10 “Slam Dunk is a pretty good basketball anime it holds up pretty well that I even watched it for a third time that's how good it is, and I still love some of those rememberable scenes, it reminds me...”
Watch Order & Related
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See all credits →Production slate
- Format 101 × 23′ eps × min
- Total runtime 38h 43m all episodes
- Aired Oct 1993 – Mar 1996 Fall 1993
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-0149 catalog
Produced by
- TV Asahi Producer
Licensed by
- Geneon Entertainment USA Licensor