Following the release of The First Slam Dunk in India on July 7, 2023, mangaka Takehiko Inoue took to Twitter to share a heartfelt message to all the Indian fans.

Inoue expressed his gratitude for the continuous support and conveyed his excitement regarding the release of the film in the country.

As an acclaimed creator, Inoue emphasized the joy and challenge of venturing into new creative endeavours. With the release of “The First Slam Dunk,” he hopes to present fans with a fresh and thrilling experience that exceeds their expectations.

“Dear all fans in India, how are you? Thank you for your always support. We are happy that ‘#THEFIRSTSLAMDUNK’ is released in India today! It’s a challenge and pleasure for a creator to make something new. We hope you enjoy “SLAM DUNK” that you have never seen before.“

Dear all fans in India, how are you? Thank you for your always support. We are happy that " #THEFIRSTSLAMDUNK " is released in India today! It's a challenge and pleasure for a creator to make something new. We hope you enjoy "SLAM DUNK" that you have never seen before. pic.twitter.com/0jdhzKr0rE

— 井上雄彦 Inoue Takehiko (@inouetake) July 7, 2023

PVR describes the movie as:

Will the amateurs of Shohoku High beat the goliaths of the Sannoh School? An exhilarating and inspirational sports anime drama. The FIRST SLAM DUNK, tells the thrilling journey of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a troubled young boy devastated after the death of his elder sibling, who gets a second shot at life when his love for basketball is reignited. Will Hanamichi embrace this second chance? Will he get over the death of his elder brother? Will the underdogs of Shohoku High defeat the champion giants of Sannoh School? ‘The First Slam Dunk’ is a classic David versus Goliath fable that keeps audiences on the edge right till the end.

With stunning visuals, heartfelt emotions and inspiring themes, it is tailor-made to be enjoyed by audiences on a big screen. Whether you’re an anime enthusiast or basketball enthusiast or simply a lover of world cinema; ‘The First Slam Dunk’ assures to be an enthralling cinematic experience that appeals to a wide range of viewers.“

The First Slam Dunk movie released in Japan on Dec 3, 2022.

Cast members announced include:

• Shugo Nakamura as Ryota Miyagi (point guard)
• Jun Kasama as Hisashi Mitsui (shooting guard)
• Shinichiro Kamio as Kaede Rukawa (small forward)
• Subaru Kimura as Hanamichi Sakuragi (power forward)
• Kenta Miyake as Takenori Akagi (team captain and Center)

The opening theme song was performed by The Birthday, while 10-FEET performed the ending theme song “Zero Sensation”.

The First Slam Dunk movie was directed and scripted by Mangaka Takahiko Inoue himself at Toei Animation.

Among the listed staff members are character designer/animation director Yasuyuki Ebara (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) and technical directors Katsuhiko Kitada (Attack on Titan episodes, Major: Yujo no Winning Shot), Naoki Miyahara (Digimon Adventure, Popin Q), Toshio Ohashi (LayereD Stories 0), and Yu Kamatani (Looking for Magical DoReMi, Precure Super Stars!).

Daiki Nakazawa directed the CG, and Yuta Ogura produced the CG. Kazuo Ogura directed the art. Yota Tsuruoka was in charge of directing the sound with Koji Kasamatsu.

The First Slam Dunk debuted at number one at the Japanese box office and grossed ¥1.296 billion ($9.5 million) during its first two days. As of Feb 7, 2023, the film grossed ¥10 billion ($76.2 million) in Japan.

It had become the highest-grossing anime film of all time in Korea for a brief period of time. It was then surpassed by Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume No Tojimari.

The film also won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2023.

Inoue published his iconic sports manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1990 to 1996 for a total of 31 volumes. The manga inspired a television anime in 1993, and it received four anime film sequels.

Source: Twitter