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Much has been written about the act of running, a restorative movement with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of elite athletics, though, the stress of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to explore the inner motivation that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories diverge when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story tracks their mental obstacles, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of media attention, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the movie generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a sprint is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the downpour, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that immerse the scene. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the film aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.