The King of Rebounds:SLAM DUNK

When you put a good story, appealing characters, humor and good art together something like SLAM DUNK comes out. It one thing that made basketball popular in Japan. For those who have no idea about SLAM DUNK, its a finished Manga series and a 101 episode long anime about a boy named Hanamichi Sakuragi who liked to call himself "The king of Rebounds". His naiveness and determination drives him to realize his love for basketball.

I think Sakuragi Hanamichi is one of the strongest characters in the whole manga and anime universe. If observed well one will surely find lots of Hanamichi's qualities in Naruto. But SLAM DUNK is not plotted in a fantasy land but in the day to day life of an ordinary boy with more than ordinary determination. There is also a character which heavily influences Sasuke, Hanamichi's true nemesis Rukawa Kaeda. A very talented basketman with all of his will and power invested in improving himself. Visually cool and heavily popular with the ladies. How popular is he with the ladies? He has his own cheer leading team although he doesn't bothers about that. That makes Hanamichi mad. Sakuragi Hanamichi, a good for nothing guy is a problem child. Having been turned down by 50 girls he approaches to high school with hopes and his crazy friends. There he is motivated to join the basketball team by his 1st high school crush Haruko. With only Haruko's motivation and no talent at all joins the basketball team. Playing and fighting for Haruko he slowly improves his game. In contrary to everybody expectation he hangs on to the basketball he improves drastically. He gradually realizes his love for basketball.

There are other interesting characters too who help Hanamichi grow, Gorilla, Haruko's big brother and the captain of basketball team, Mitsui, a junior high ace, Ryoda, the point guard, and Kogure the substitute. The opening theme song is also great. “Kimiga suki dato sakebitai” by BAAD. (I use it as the ring tone in my cellphone). Two thumbs up. Its no good to just read this article to know about SLAM DUNK. Just get yourself the series, its in the Internet. But get the original copies to help the writer and the artist. It has inspired many of today's popular mangas and animes. Let me tell you that it was voted the best manga of all time in Japan.All hail the King of rebound.

SAYO