Netflix Discontinues Popular Influential Anime from the ’90s

A highly influential sports anime from the ’90s has arrived on Netflix, although the platform hasn’t heavily promoted it to subscribers.

Over the years, Netflix has established itself as a go-to platform for top-tier anime, steadily expanding its collection with both licensed titles and original investments. It now features many of the finest anime shows and movies, including a classic series that is experiencing renewed interest.

Slam Dunk, the iconic sports anime from 1993 that played a crucial role in popularizing the sports genre in anime, is now available for streaming on Netflix. This release follows the recent success of the hit film that debuted last month.

The series revolves around Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school student who finds solace in basketball as an escape from a life of petty crime. Throughout the series, he contributes to transforming Shohoku High School’s basketball team into one of the top teams in the region and possibly the nation, as the players manage their teenage struggles and defeat rival teams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9GZjL_Tb8

SLAM DUNK- Sakuragi dunks on Maki (Blu-ray) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9GZjL_Tb8)

All 101 episodes, initially aired from 1993 to 1996, are currently streaming on Netflix, alongside The First Slam Dunk, which completes the on-screen franchise. Despite the film’s name, it’s actually a sequel that centers on an important match against Shohoku’s formidable rivals, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

The series is based on Takehiko Inoue’s beloved manga that commenced in 1990 and concluded in 1996. Alongside other notable titles like Captain Tsubasa, Slam Dunk helped propel sports storytelling into the mainstream of anime and manga, leading to its global popularity.

Currently, there are other successful sports anime such as Blue Lock, which focuses on soccer, and Haikyuu!!, centered on volleyball. Both series have made significant impacts on television before making the leap to the big screen with great success. Other sports like cycling and golf are also gaining similar recognition.

Now subscribers in the US can enjoy a franchise that significantly contributed to establishing the sports anime niche, all available to watch on Netflix.

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