GKIDS has simply introduced its acquisition of the North American distribution rights for The First Slam Dunk from animation studio Toei Animation. The 2D movie can be launched theatrically in the US and Canada later this summer season in each unique Japanese and English.
Within the movie, Ryota Miyagi, following within the footsteps of his older brother who was a well-known native basketball participant, is hooked on the sport, at all times taking part in with lightning velocity, operating circles round his opponents whereas feigning composure. In his second 12 months of highschool, Ryota performs for the Shohoku Excessive College basketball group together with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui. Now they take the stage on the Inter-Excessive College Nationwide Championship towards reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo Excessive College.
The movie opened domestically in Japan on December 3, 2022, and has gone on to interrupt field workplace data in a number of international locations throughout its worldwide launch. With present international field workplace earnings of over $212 million, the animated characteristic has turn into the twenty fourth highest grossing movie of all time in Japan. Upon its South Korea launch, it climbed to quantity two on the field workplace for its opening weekend – changing into, on the time, the most-watched Japanese film ever in South Korea. Most not too long ago, The First Slam Dunk opened in Mainland China and with $55.2 million reported on the field workplace on opening weekend, turned essentially the most profitable opening for an imported animated movie within the nation.
The idea for the movie, Takehiko Inoue’s “Slam Dunk,” is among the best-selling manga collection of all time, with over 170 million copies bought globally, and has impressed varied media variations, together with a online game and an anime collection that ran from 1993-1996. The First Slam Dunk marks the primary feature-length movie from the franchise, in addition to Inoue’s directorial debut. The movie went on to win this 12 months’s Japan Academy Prize for Greatest Animation of the 12 months.
The Japanese voice forged consists of Shugo Nakamura; Jun Kasama; Shinichiro Kamio; Subaru Kimura; and Kenta Miyake.
Different credit embrace Toshiyuki Matsui as Producer; Inoue and Yasuyuki Ebara as Animation Character Designers; Daiki Nakazawa as CG Director; Yasuyuki Ebara as Animation Director; Kazuo Ogura as Artwork Director; Shunsuke Nakamura as Compositing Director; Ryuichi Takita as Editor; and Kazuhiro Nishikawa as Animation Producer.
Watch the announcement:
“I’m very grateful to our companions at Toei Animation for working along with us on what I contemplate among the finest sports activities movies ever made,” stated GKIDS president David Jesteadt. “The First Slam Dunk is thrilling but in addition deeply emotional, and it has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. We will’t wait to share the movie with ‘Slam Dunk’ followers, in addition to those that are discovering this work for the primary time.”
Toei Animation president Masayuki Endo acknowledged, “We’re thrilled to work with GKIDS to carry Toei Animation’s blockbuster movie The First Slam Dunk to North America. The First Slam Dunk has been a smash hit in Asia since premiering in Japan final December and we’re excited to see the response from U.S. and Canadian audiences when it premieres this summer season.”
“I need to welcome North American followers – each new and outdated – to the world of ‘Slam Dunk,’” stated Matsui. “The First Slam Dunk presents the distinctive pleasure and thrills of ‘Slam Dunk’ that may solely be skilled in a film theatre.”
Supply: GKIDS
Whitney is a contract author specializing in VFX-driven fantasy movie & TV in addition to preschool animation.
