CREATOR
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Inoue Takehiko
PlOTLINE
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Ok, this anime deserves special mention from me - and for all sentimental reasons too. Once upon a time, I thought anime was just stupid. THIS anime was the one that changed it all. I have a real soft spot for it. ^___^ And I'm not even much of a basketball fan!
Kanagawa District - Shohoku High School. Two newly joined freshmen in the basketball team quickly stirs up a storm, where their rivalry and indomitable spirit quickly establishes Shohoku as a major championship contender. Follow Shohoku's journey as they battle their way up the basketball ranks and clash with other teams.
COMMENTS
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This series has one of the best plotlines amongst all the manga I've ever come across. I'm serious. The plot is tight, the action well panned out, and the characters well-developed. It's not just about basketball, high school and puppy love. What it really emphasise is the human will and spirit. In struggling with school, basketball, rivalry, and clashes with other youths (whether on the streets or on the basketball court), you get characters that will eventually, win you over with their very unique personalities. And if anything, there're liberal dosages of crazy humour throughout the story that'd reduce you to stitches. I think I died laughing every chapter and episode!
MAIN CHARACTERS
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The thing about SD is that there're so many important characters! But, sigh, I'd just have to include those that I think are most important. So, what I did is to introduce in teams. ^^;; I LOVE all of the teams!
[top-down, left-right]
SHOHOKU TEAM is of course, our central team. Has always been a mediocre team at best, but recently stirred up quite a storm in the high school basketball world with the addition of two incredible rookies, and the return of a former ace.
AKAGI TAKENORI (No.4/Centre/3rd yr). Ace student, Captain and rock-solid Centre of the Shohoku team, he is mostly stern, losing much of his cool only when he has to deal with his errant team members. They give him a lot of headaches, and he doesn't hesitate to use violence when necessary. ^^;;
MITSUI HISASHI (No.14/Shooting Guard/3rd yr). 3-point specialist. An ace player as a kid, a bad accident resulting from his arrogance leaves his knee damaged and his spirit broken. After two years of languishing as a gangster, he rediscovers his love for basketball and makes a comeback.
RUKAWA KAEDE (No.11/Small Forward/1st yr). Cool, unaffacted, and one of the finest basketball rookies for the year. His life evolves around basketball, sleeping, calling Sakuragi an idiot, and more basketball. Has a fanclub of die-hard supporters, although he doesn't a damn about girls - or people in general.
SAKURAGI HANAMICHI (No.10/Power Forward/1st yr). Central character. A brash, arrogant, thick-headed basketball-idiot who starts off being the most annoying (and funny) character alive, and then becomes the inspiration of the team with his never-say-die attitude. Has the world's hugest crush on Haruko - who's none other than the younger sister of Akagi. ^^;;
MIYAGI RYOTA (No.7/Point Guard/2nd yr). One of the smallest players around, but as fast as lightning on the court. Is responsible for linking up attacks and defense. Also has the world's hugest crush on Ayako, the team manager, and never fails to go into lala-land every time she's around.
KOGURE KIMINOBU (No.5/Small Forward/3rd yr). The gentle, affable Vice-Captain of the team. Not a particularly outstanding player, but is consistent and reliable. But mostly, he acts as team mediator and is a pillar of support to everyone else.
HARUKO (straight-haired/1st yr). The quintessential doe-eyed, sweet-faced anime girl. She is extraordinarily supportive of Sakuragi, although she treats him as a FRIEND only. The one she's crazy about is none other than Rukawa. ^^;; Being the sister of Akagi has its perks - she plays reasonably good basketball.
AYAKO (team manager/curly-haired/2nd yr). The ever supportive team manager, Ayako is a very plucky girl who does not hesitate to stand up to anyone. Very likeable, almost like one of the guys, she's in charge in basic training, and has a secret weapon - a huge paper fan she uses on anyone who's being an ass (Sanzo, anyone? ^^).
ANZAI SENSEI. The enigmatic, white-haired and jolly-figured coach of the Shohoku basketball team. Does not speak much, or even display emotions other than that sagely, benign look. BUT, when he DOES say or do something, it always works. ^^
RYONAN TEAM is Shohoku's most familiar opponent, for they cross paths most often. Strength-wise, Ryonan is unbalanced, with most of the responsibility and skill belonging to only 2 or 3 players.
SENDOH AKIRA (No.7/spikey-haired/Point Guard/2nd yr). The team ace and star rookie back in his freshman year. An unselfish player who often has to double up in attack as well as defense because of his less-than-adequate teammates. He is also the target of Rukawa who lives just to beat him one day.
UOZUMI JUN (No.4/extreme back/Centre/3rd yr). He looks uncannily like Akagi (LOL). But unlike Akagi, Uozumi is not a naturally talented player. He used to only have the size and height, and had to train damn hard to get to where he is now. Shares a fierce rivalry and respect with Akagi.
KAINAN TEAM is the powerhouse of Kanagawa. Has not lost a match in years! Team strength is equally distributed with various members excelling in different areas.
MAKI SHINICHI (No.4/Point Guard/3rd yr). Excellent all-round player with amazing vision and reading of the game. He's practically perfect, and those who can truly challenge him - in terms of the Point Guard position - are only Fujima Kenji of Shoyo and Sendoh of Ryonan.
KIYOTA NOBUNAGA (No.10/Bandana/Small Forward/1st yr). Also a star rookie, but not quite at Rukawa's standard, something which bothers him 24/7! Is an excellent player nonetheless and provides LOADS of comic relief because he behaves like Sakuragi sometimes. ^^
SHOYO TEAM is a team of four huge, towering players and their amazing Captain/Coach. This team is Kainan's strongest opponent and also a known powerhouse of the region.
FUJIMA KENJI (No.4/Extreme left/Point Guard/3rd yr). He is the coach, Captain and team ace all in one brilliant package. With a firm hand, quiet demeanour and a sharp sense of the game, he has been the star of Shoyo for all his years there. Shares a long-running rivalry with Maki.
HANAGATA TORU (No.5/Centre/3rd yr). The Vice Captain and a close friend of Fujima's (in fact, they're one of the main couples in SD yaoi! ^^;;). Specialises in physical presence, rebounds, and the fadeaway shot (where you do a jump-shot while falling away from the basket).
MANGA DETAILS
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Number of volumes : 31
Status : Complete
Style of the artwork changes dramatically towards the end, characters start to look more realistic (and as a result, less manga-cute, sigh). Scenes of action are very well-depicted, incredibly detailed. Very, very hilarious too, some of the scenes, especially when characters go into that deformed mode!
SAMPLE 1 (Shohoku Vs Ryonan)
SAMPLE 2 (Shohoku Vs Kainan)
SAMPLE 3 (Shohku Vs Shoyo)
ANIME DETAILS
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Director : Nobutaka Nishizawa
Character Design : Masaki Sato
Music : Takanori Masuda
Episodes : 101
Status : Complete
Akagi | - | Yanada Kiyoyuki |
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Mitsui | - | Okiayu Ryoutarou |
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Rukawa | - | Midorikawa Hikaru |
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Sakuragi | - | Kusao Takeshi |
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Miyagi | - | Shioya Yoku |
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Kogure | - | Tanaka Hideyuki |
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Haruko | - | Hiramatsu Akiko |
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Ayako | - | Hara Eriko |
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Anzai-sensei | - | Nishimura Tomomichi |
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Sendoh | - | Ohtsuka Houchu |
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Uozumi | - | Kishino Yukimasa |
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Maki | - | Egawa Hisao |
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Fujima | - | Tsujitani Kouji |