There is a reason why Slam Dunk is so beloved to many younger generations in the Philippines: Sakuragi Hanamichi is a relatable, imperfect protagonist with big dreams for an underdog. I will try my best to be as objective as I can in this review, as I am forever a fan of Slam Dunk and its imperfections in all its entirety—within the anime and the manga.
The main characters develop emotionally, mentally, and physically, while their individual backgrounds have been fleshed out and incorporated into their hunger for victory. Their emotions are very well portrayed through the sense that I felt their willpower and their effort that endured through numerous trainings and setbacks. I must commend the author for being able to craft such abstract emotions and allowing the readers to feel the growth of the Shohoku team. The interactions within the Shohoku team is reminiscent of real interactions between close friends. Teasing, jokes, and light-hearted insults are frequently exchanged between teammates and enforce the feeling of close friendships and brotherhood. Comical scenes are usually perpetrated through Sakuragi, whose foolishness and straightforward mindset are often the brunt of jokes.
The art is, of course, fairly dated and does take time getting used to in the beginning. I will admit it took me awhile when confronted with Sakuragi's own preposterous hairstyle. The same is said when introduced to Sakuragi for the first time; he acts mindless and I was a bit frustrated with his personality, but after pulling through the road bumps his personality becomes more tolerable, I promise.
I also admit at times, this manga can become bland in terms of plot. There is not much to say about basketball except training, competing, eating, and sleeping. But I was swept up in the emotions of the characters that everything was exciting, particularly fights and basketball matches.
Sakuragi Hanamichi is undoubtedly the underdog and it was entertaining to watch his growth as a character and a basketball player. Shohoku's journey as a team also brought aspirations and changes in myself: never give up and always try your best. Readers also have the opportunity to learn more about basketball as Sakuragi learns the basics, and it was extremely helpful in the sense that I could watch an NBA match on TV and understand what is happening. The ending, however, is not as neatly wrapped up as I would have liked it to be, but I suppose I can live with it. I regard this as a classic for the very reason that it portrays emotions and characters so vividly that it transcends the two-dimensional world. This manga may not be perfect, but it was certainly worth reading and watching.
art | ★★★☆☆ (3.75, to be exact)
characters | ★★★★★
plot | ★★★★☆
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