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Much has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, though, the pressure of contests can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends trophies and medals to examine the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths diverge when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of societal observation, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s down to the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the anime is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the feature generates exquisitely intricate running sequences. The physical exertion of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with torrents of charcoal lines that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery capture the almost spiritual high the movie aims to inspire.

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