Slam Dunk: Its true ending and the reason the anime was canceled

Anime and sports: although there are few series that have dealt with the subject, such as super champions, it is a real success. Another one that did it was, in the case of basketball, Slam dunk.

Created by Takehiko Inohue, It was published as a manga for the first time in 1990, for the Shueisha publisher in Shonen Jump. It made the leap to anime in 1993 at the hands of Toei, with a duration of 101 episodes, the last one airing on March 23, 1996.

But the end was abrupt. arc not finished as it did happen in the manga, whose last publication occurred on June 17, 1996.

What was the reason for the cut? slam dunk in anime? And how did it really end in the manga?

Why was the Slam Dunk anime abruptly cut?

ETC’s friends They explain that the end occurred due to economic problems. The last thing that was broadcast was the arrival at the National Championship, so the fans they could not see Hanamichi Sakuragi and his companions crowned (or losers?).

The anime showed the journey of the Shohoku team to reach the Regional, but his work never appeared in the Nacional.

“The production and animation costs were getting higher, which caused the end of the anime and the agreement with Toei, which never publicly referred to the cancellation of the anime ”, they tell ETC.

Toei adapted up to chapter 197 of the original manga. But, what was the final closure of the printed edition?

In total, 31 compilation volumes (tankobon) were published, launching the last one, as we have said, on June 17, 1996.

The ending of Slam Dunk in the manga

The definition of the National Championship for Shohoku has on the way to Toyotama, Sannoh and Aiwa Gakuin, developing in the city of Hiroshima.

The first game he won Shohoku 91-86 to Toyotama, with Sakuragi being taken out of the game by Professor Anzai, and Yasuda helping to strengthen the defense.

The second engagement was between Shohoku and Sannoh. With the fans against it, Sakuragi and his teammates left soul, heart and blood on the table, winning 79-78.

But, worn out after the two previous engagements, Shohoku lost to Aiwa Gakuin.

And in the individual stories, Haruko writes a letter to Sakuragi to inform her that Miyagi is the new captain of the Shohoku, making her the team’s coach. Akagi did not receive a scholarship, having to take the exams together with Kogure to enter the university; and Mitsui is left alone in the team.

Sakuragi must recover from his injury on the back to face new challenges.

In December 2022 the film The First Slam Dunk was released, becoming a success in Japan. However, it has not yet reached Latin America: it is expected to happen in the course of 2023.