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Much has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of elite athletics, yet, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to explore the inner motivation that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys diverge when they enter elite competition. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale follows their psychological barriers, laying bare the challenges of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, result pressures and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a character’s inner doubts simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing live-action tracing, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the movie produces exquisitely intricate running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race concludes in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence capture the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from the 16th of November.