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Much has been written about the practice of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of professional sports, though, the strain of competition can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to explore the existential drive that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they turn professional. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both confront worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a cycle of media attention, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and tempo, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Employing rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the film generates remarkably precise dash moments. The bodily strain of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of contests are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. Beyond spoken words, these displays of artistic excellence capture the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.