Featured Articles

Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket

Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket are two definitive anime titles about basketball. Both became hugely successful in the respective periods they were released - comparing the two was always going to be inevitable. Let's take a look at some differences and similarities between them!

by HazColumn
May 9, 2016 2:48 AM | 68,040 views

Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 1

Both the Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket series follow the competitive journeys of underdog high school basketball teams who surmount impossible odds to achieve their dreams. Always a popular point of debate, the superiority of one series over the other remains a hotly contested topic amongst fans. We consider some points of interest below.


Depiction of Basketball


Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket differ most markedly in the way each series treats the sport of basketball. In Slam Dunk, there is an unquestionable love for all things basketball. From its realistic presentation of the sport, to the occasional basketball history lesson, to the explanation of the sport’s finer rules by Dr. T - the author's in-anime avatar - Slam Dunk is an unreserved love letter to basketball.


Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 2
By contrast, Kuroko no Basket treats basketball more as a plot-device that allows for the author to tell their story about friendship and conflict. In Kuroko no Basket, there are players with powers that are frankly impossible in any real-life basketball situation. Yet it is precisely the anticipation in seeing the battle between these powers which fuels much of the drama that unfolds in Kuroko no Basket. Arguably, Kuroko no Basket would have been just as successful if the subject matter was any other team-based sport.


Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 3


Art Style


Products of two different eras, the art style of both Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket also differ accordingly. Hailing from the 90s era, the art style in Slam Dunk favours more detail in facial expressions, emphasised through the use of shading and angularity in the shape of the features.


Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 4
Kuroko no Basket, by comparison, hails from the 2010s era; facial features are more rounded and less detailed, with cleaner, more simplistic lines. The later era of Kuroko no Basket also meant access to more advanced CGI techniques, allowing for exaggerated fantastical emphasis to be made on certain plays or powers exhibited by each of the main characters.


Themes


Both series weave great stories out of their subject matter, and explore some potent themes over the course of their narratives. Slam Dunk generally deals with darker themes, such as loss, redemption and ambition. On the other hand, Kuroko no Basket deals with somewhat lighter and more optimistic material, such as the power of friendship and never giving up. One notable theme that both series do share is the importance of hard-work and dedication.

In Slam Dunk, protagonist Sakuragi Hanamichi starts the series as a complete basketball newbie. Although he possesses excellent physical stats, his hot-headed, lackadaisical behaviour made him more of a liability on the court than a genuinely useful part of the team. However, his determination to actually contribute to the team drives him to practice extremely hard - at one point committing to shooting 20,000 jump-shots within a 7 day period. By the end of the series, Sakuragi not only becomes useful to the Shohoku team - he is an indispensable part of it.


Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 5
In Kuroko no Basket, titular protagonist Kuroko Tetsuya is repeatedly referred to as one of the players with the weakest attributes. He regularly collapses from physical training sessions and does not possess the stamina to play a full game. Nevertheless, his unrelenting work ethic sees him through hellish practice after hellish practice in the exacting Teiko team – to the point where he catches the eye of Captain Seijuro Akashi, who eventually moulds him into the champion team’s ‘Phantom Sixth Man’.


Slam Dunk vs Kuroko no Basket 6

Natural athletic ability or not, becoming a true player of a basketball team requires putting in the hard yards and fully applying oneself to the cause.


Conclusion


This was just a short, quick look at some of the main similarities and differences between Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket. Any in-depth examination would probably be pages and pages long. But the truth is, although both series used basketball as their main focus, the similarities pretty much end there. If we were asked the question of which series is better to watch, the answer would invariably be: neither. Both should be watched and appreciated for their own merits, as audiences will no doubt derive different delights from each series.

Give them both a go, we promise you won’t regret it!

Related Articles

The Teams of Inuzama Eleven!

The Teams of Inuzama Eleven!

Inazuma Eleven has introduced a bunch of soccer teams throughout the series, ranging from the traditional good guys, to aliens, and even angels and demons. Here we will try to discuss all the soccer teams that appeared in the series! All the good, the bad, and the crazy!
Double Interview of Voice Actors from Yowamushi Pedal

Double Interview of Voice Actors from Yowamushi Pedal

The rookie VA for the main character Onoda, Yamashita Daiki, and the majorly popular veteran Miyano Mamoru are interviewed about their roles in the new movie adaptation of popular cycling anime Yowamushi Pedal!
The Gakkou no Kaidan Dubbed Anime is So Funny it's Scary!

The Gakkou no Kaidan Dubbed Anime is So Funny it's Scary!

In most cases, anime with subtitles are more interesting to watch than dubbed anime. However, some anime dubbed are even better than the originals. Let’s find out what made the Gakkou no Kaidan (aka Ghost Stories) dubbed anime so horrifically funny and so unforgettable!
The Devolution of Animation: Dragon Ball Super Episode 5

The Devolution of Animation: Dragon Ball Super Episode 5

It has been about 30 years since the Dragon Ball anime was born. During this time, fans have watched the characters evolve from aspiring fighters to true heroes. But never could we have imagined that the series would hit rewind. Let's explore the infamous Dragon Ball Super episode 5.
Pokemon Celebrates 20 Years With Awesome Super Bowl 2016 Commercial

Pokemon Celebrates 20 Years With Awesome Super Bowl 2016 Commercial

After 20 years of continuous success, Pokemon celebrates its achievements with a fantastic Super Bowl commercial that brings the Pokemon world closer to ours! Get a taste of what it's like to face a Pokemon in real life, and bring back all the feels that you have for the game and the anime!

All Tags Trending Tags

It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login