Danica Davidson
May 1, 2023 
The award-winning and record-breaking Toei Animation movie THE FIRST SLAM DUNK is coming to American theaters later this year! GKIDS acquired North American distribution rights and will offer both a Japanese subbed and an English dubbed version to moviegoers.
While an exact date hasn’t been revealed yet, a press release says we can expect the movie to hit theaters this summer. This webpage was opened for the movie and this trailer was also released:
“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,” president of GKIDS David Jesteadt remarked in a statement. “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.”
President of Toei Animation Inc. Masayuki Endo said, “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.”
Toshiyuki Matsui, who produced THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, also weighed in: “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.”
GKIDS gave this description for the film:
“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.”
Source: Press Release
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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