A hugely influential ’90s sports anime has been added to Netflix, though the service has done little to inform subscribers.
Netflix has become a platform for the best anime over the years, gradually building a range of licensed releases in addition to bespoke investments. Many of the most popular anime series and films are broadcast there, including now a classic that is enjoying a resurgence.
Slam Dunk, the 1993 sports anime that helped popularize the subgenre, is now available to stream on Netflix, following the hit film, which was released last month.
The series focuses on Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school student for whom basketball is a way to escape petty crime. He gradually helps build the Shohoku High School team into one of the best in the region, and possibly the country, by gradually defeating his rivals as the members grapple with the woes of adolescence.
All 101 episodes, which originally aired between 1993 and 1996, are now available to stream on Netflix, joining The First Slam Dunk in bringing the entire franchise to the screen. Despite the film’s title, it’s actually a sequel, centering around a huge match with Shohoku’s rivals, Sannoh Kogyo High School.
It all comes from Takehiko Inoue’s popular manga, which began in 1990 and ended in 1996. Alongside Captain Tsubasa and a handful of other properties, Slam Dunk propelled sports storytelling into the mainstream of anime and manga, leading to global popularity today.
In recent times, we have Blue Lock, about football, and Haikyuu!!, about volleyball, both of which have proven themselves on the small screen before making the jump to the big screen, with massive global responses. Cycling, golf and more have also received the same treatment.
You can now watch a franchise that helped create this niche, all on Netflix if you’re a US subscriber. Unfortunately, UK subscribers can’t watch Slam Dunk there just yet, but check out our guides to Dandadan and The One Piece for upcoming releases to look forward to.
