"The First Slam Dunk" has captivated audiences across Taiwan, dominating the box office and raking in NT$300 million in just 17 days. To thank moviegoers for their support, distributor Taipei Double Happiness Film is adding limited-edition bonus items for fans. Starting February 3rd, for every 2D movie ticket purchased during the specified period, moviegoers can redeem one "Coach Anzai Chibi Sticker" with their ticket stub. This amusing sticker features the classic manga scene "Hanamichi Sakuragi playing with Coach Anzai's chin," one of the most beloved "meme-worthy moments" among manga fans. When it was released in Japan, it was highly popular with moviegoers who eagerly collected it. Fans on Taipei Double Happiness Film's social media have been eagerly requesting this item, and to celebrate the film's box office success, they specifically secured this popular bonus item as a treat for the audience.
"Mitsuyoshi Anzai," as the coach of the Shohoku team, is the most important spiritual pillar for the players. His famous quote, "If you give up now, the game is over," remains timeless and classic. He faces opposing teams with composure, successfully enabling each player to unleash their potential. When Hisashi Mitsui went astray, he guided and reformed him. His interactions with Hanamichi Sakuragi are often amusing, and his plump appearance is quite comforting, making him very popular with fans. Previously, when character figures were sold simultaneously in Japanese cinemas, Coach Anzai's figure was the first to sell out, with scalper prices even soaring to 7 times the original. Recently, singer "Xiao Pang" Lin Yu-chun even dressed up as "Coach Anzai" to perform anime songs, sparking widespread discussion. For the Taiwanese dubbed version, Coach Anzai is voiced by veteran voice actor Sun Chung-tai, who returns to the role after more than two decades. Upon hearing his voice, audiences immediately got goosebumps, triggering a flood of memories and tears. Sun Chung-tai expressed his joy at seeing the movie version released. He believes that while Coach Anzai's screen time may not be extensive, he is extremely important. He grasped several key understandings of the character to interpret the voice: "Coach Anzai appears gentle on the outside, but he is actually constantly observing changes on the court, strategically deploying players to secure the final victory – he's an old fox. He always maintains a poker face in his clown-like interactions with Hanamichi Sakuragi, occasionally adding a few cartoonish laughs, which brings a relaxing effect to the intense and tense atmosphere of the court, serving as a stroke of genius."
The success of "The First Slam Dunk" is by no means merely selling nostalgia. Original creator Takehiko Inoue mentioned in the film's special booklet, "THE FIRST SLAM DUNK re:SOURCE," that he could not present a half-hearted work to everyone. Although he recruited 10 people, used motion capture, and set up many cameras for multi-angle shooting, and consulted numerous professionals and professional athletes, when converting it to 3DCG, he didn't feel the realism. Therefore, he personally adjusted it frame by frame. The Sannoh match from the manga "came to life," and the game was incredibly realistic. An astonishing feat, even more thrilling than live-action films, was the "silent moment" lasting nearly two minutes during the final crucial period. It not only featured slow motion but also delicately presented the characters' emotional transformations, leaving all moviegoers amazed: "You really have to watch it in the cinema to appreciate the essence of this film." However, many fans complained about being disturbed by others' voices or even people taking out their phones, disrupting the viewing atmosphere. Taipei Double Happiness Film also appealed to everyone on social media: "Please do not film during the movie to avoid breaking the law; and please show public courtesy, maintain the highest quality silence, and respect other audience members." They also suggested that fans could choose IMAX, which not only offers a large screen to watch the exciting game but also immersive surround sound and excellent viewing quality, making it definitely one of the top choices. Starting February 3rd, purchasing one IMAX movie ticket will also allow you to redeem one "Slam Dunk Acrylic Keychain." Both Taiwanese and Japanese dubbed IMAX versions are available. Bonus items are limited, so hurry and grab yours!
"The First Slam Dunk" is expected to break NT$10 billion in Japan this week and continues to break records in Taiwan. It reached the NT$100 million milestone in just 6 days, surpassed NT$200 million in 12 days, and swept NT$300 million in 17 days, surpassing "One Piece Film: Red," "Your Name.," and "Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the Movie" to become the second highest-grossing Japanese film in Taiwanese box office history. To thank moviegoers for their enthusiastic support in breaking records, Taipei Double Happiness Film will also strive to secure more bonus items for fans, so please continue to follow their social media updates.
"The First Slam Dunk" is currently dominating the nation in its general digital version (Chinese and Japanese dubbed), IMAX (Chinese and Japanese dubbed), Dolby Cinema, and Dolby ATMOS formats!