Slam Dunk Episode 75 Now
Do both. It’s worth it. Did Episode 75 make you cry as a kid? Or are you a Rukawa fan who was just glad he got the ball? Let me know in the comments below!
Titled "The Most Excellent Moment" (a cruel bit of irony given the pain it caused fans), Episode 75 marks the end of Toei Animation’s legendary run. Unlike modern anime that wrap up neatly, Slam Dunk ends mid-game. And that is exactly why we are still talking about it 30 years later. To understand the weight of Episode 75, we need context. Shohoku is fighting for their lives against their arch-rivals, Ryonan. This isn't just a practice game; the winner goes to the National Championship. Slam Dunk Episode 75
We never saw the Nationals arc animated (until the new The First Slam Dunk movie in 2022). For 25 years, fans were left wondering if Sakuragi ever became a star. If he ever got the girl. If Shohoku beat the mighty Sannoh. Rating: 10/10 broken hearts. Do both
Toei Animation famously stopped adapting because author Takehiko Inoue was unhappy with the film’s pacing and quality. But by stopping here—on a raw, emotional victory—they accidentally created a masterpiece of anticlimax. Let’s be honest: The final shot of Episode 75 is a tearjerker. The team carries the injured Sakuragi off the court. Haruko hands him a towel. He gives her a thumbs up, and then the screen fades to black. Or are you a Rukawa fan who was just glad he got the ball
For one glorious frame, Sakuragi and Rukawa—the two roosters who have fought all series—high-five. If you haven’t read the manga, Episode 75 is infuriating. The game ends. Shohoku wins. They celebrate... and then the episode just stops. No trip to Nationals. No resolution to Haruko’s feelings. No final shot of Sakuragi walking into the sunset.