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Takehiko Inoue is a celebrated name in the sports genre. His magnum opusSlam Dunkcontinues to be the rage decades after its release. Be it friendships or his passion for basketball, Inoue set a benchmark in storytelling.
Like most of his contemporaries, he took inspiration from other works. His inspiration from this lesser-known anime marked his glory as an artist. And there’s more to it.
Apart from working onVagabondandReal, he is commended for his realistic art style. From his inspiration to his art style, the mangaka’s feats are attributed to this great artist. Not only that, Inoue’s work is symbolic of the legacy of sports mangaka. His passion and love for basketball have inspired many artists for decades.
Takehiko Inoue was inspired by this 70s sports manga
Takehiko Inoueis a seasoned veteran in the manga industry. From Vagabond to Real, he has produced a diverse range of works. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Tezuka Award.
While he is popular for his contribution to the sports genre, he is a truly versatile artist. His art style is praised for its unique yet realistic character designs. This is evident in most of his portraits and illustrations, especially in his magnum opus.
Inoue instills a sense of nostalgia through his artwork. Be it anime or manga, both mediums are reminiscent of the past. This extends to the 2022 movie as well which highlights back-to-school art style.
There’s something realistic yet awe-inspiring about the mangaka’s art. Especially with his illustration of major characters in his manga. This brilliance, however, is attributed to another stalwart in the same genre.
Blue Lock Creator Muneyuki Kaneshiro Already Knows How the Manga Ends: “I also have the ending in mind”
Growing up Inoue had a penchant for basketball as he played the sport in high school. He was thoroughly inspired byDokabenas revealed byThe Collector. The baseball series is one of the finest manga in the genre. Written by Shinji Mizushima the manga was serialized in 1972 and was quite popular at the time.
Not only that, Mizushima greatly influenced the mangaka’s art and style. On top of that, the manga stems from the legacy of the previous mangaka. Especially since most series were popularized in the 1960s due to the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, Inoue is passing down the legacy by setting a benchmark in the genre.
Slam Dunkset a benchmark in the sports genre
From teamplay to character designs,Slam Dunkset a benchmark for most mangas in the genre. It remains an iconic masterpiece by Inoue, especially in terms of its artwork. Its realistic portrayal inspired several artists for decades. The idea of perseverance and determination inspired several shonen series in the genre. However, we have barely scratched the surface with this one
FromHaikyuutoKuroko’s Basketball, several Shonen series highlight the importance of team play. What’s even more interesting is the outlining ofhealthy rivalry. As opposed toBlue Lock’sindividualistic gameplay, the series highlighted growth. The need to work on one’s weaknesses was prioritized.
Another aspect of the manga’s brilliance is the portrayal of female characters. The female characters actively participate and are pivotal in enabling the growth of the characters. Ayako and Akagi aren’t mere catalysts but pivotal characters in the story.
Muneyuki Kaneshiro’s “Biggest Difficulty” Makes Blue Lock Inferior to Haikyuu
On top of that, Inoue’s treatment of the side characters is what set a benchmark in storytelling. As opposed to sidelining the characters, he gives them the main character treatment. It is the fleshed-out characters that set his series apart from his contemporaries. Additionally, his designs and artwork are a cherry on the cake.
Slam Dunkis available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
