I know that the title blew the eyes of many fans of the best basketball manga, Slam Dunk. But I consider Kuroko no Basket anime better. However I'm not writing this to talk about that. What I will do is talk about Kuroko no Basket: Last Game, the film that closes the franchise.
Last Game is the film adaptation of Extra Game, a small manga of 8 episodes that Tadatoshi Fujimaki wrote to give us a lot, but a lot of fanservice. It is no secret to anyone that if you love basketball as a sport and also like anime, the idea of a Dream Team with the characters of KnB is too tempting. And that's what Extra Game did and its adaptation, Last Game.
A beast worth killing: Team Jabberwock
The only way to organize a Dream Team in Kuroko no Basket is to present a rival that is worthy of it. In the manga and the film this rival is the fearsome street basketball team Team Jabberwock. As a curiosity, the team owes its name to Jabberwocky, a monster that appears in a poem by Lewis Carroll in his book Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There of 1871.
This team, made up of American players between 18 and 20 years old, is the champion in their country of origin. A kind of Harlem Globetrotters of street basketball. Its members have a level similar to that of the NBA, which is already a challenge. But two of them, Nash Gold Jr. and Jason Silver, have the Dream Team level of the USA.
Upon arrival in Japan for an exhibition game, they beat and humiliate their rivals, Team Strky, by an overwhelming score of 86-6. This team is made up of university players that were part of the original KnB manga. These are Kasamatsu (former member of Kaijou), Miyaji (former member of Shutoku), Imayoshi (former member of Toho), Okamura (former member of Yousen) and Higuchi (former member of Rakuzan).
Yes, each one was an ex partner of a member of the Generation of Miracles.
But not content to give them a crushing beating in the game, Jabberwock members scoffed at Japanese basketball and called monkeys Japanese athletes. This blew up Aida Kagetora, one of the promoters of the match, who challenged them to a rematch in a week.
Who will kill the beast? The Vorpal Swords Team, a group integrated by The Generation of Miracles plus Kuroko and Kagami. Well, and three substitutes who do not see a minute of play.
The fanservice is served, let the game begin.
Kuroko no Basket: Last Game appeals to all its strengths
As an anime, Kuroko no Basket is characterized by elements that are already a hallmark of the house. The first is the sensational and dynamic animation, section in which Production I.G. It does not disappoint. Being a film released in cinemas, the level is still higher than that of the TV series.
To that is added a palette of vibrant colors, which make this film a visual delight. The soundtrack resorts once more to electronic music and rock, is not particularly bright but helps to accentuate the action.
With respect to the script, it is almost identical to that of Extra Game. The novelty is in the inclusion of a flashback of Kagami's past that serves as a link to the end, which is very different. The argument is simple, it is entirely focused on the duel between Vorpal Swords and Jabberwock.
The game do not miss the moments of fanservice. Aomine and Kise doing a double team. Murasakibara really enjoying basketball. Kuroko giving invisible passes to his former teammates Teikou. Akashi and Midorima making the direct connection of the triples. The film has everything.
For those who know basketball it is a delight to imagine the possible combinations of players on the board and Last Game does not disappoint. Yes, it's about KnB's super stylized basketball with sparks in the eyes reflecting the Zone or the absolutely fake Midorima triples, but it's still great.
Kurono no Basket: Last Game was created for that purpose, to give us a sweet to the fans. But it does it with quality, and even manages to thrill with its end. In addition, it is allowed to create hype leaving the door open for the future. One where once again everyone is rivals and play the basketball they love, as many times as they want.
Conclusion
Its 90 minutes pass very quickly thanks to the great rhythm that takes both animation and editing. The only real downside that the movie can have is not spending a little more time on training before the game, but it is a minor sin.
If you are a fan of KnB this film, released in March 2017, is an obligation. And if you're not because you love Slam Dunk, give it a try, you might have fun. It is a sports anime film more than competent without real weaknesses.
Understanding that I am evaluating it as a sports anime and also, as an epilogue to a long manga, I give it a 9/10.
Summary
Kuroko no Basket: Last Game is a worthy epilogue to this popular sports manga and anime.
