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Much has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with potential for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of competitive games, yet, the pressure of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends prizes and accolades to explore the inner motivation that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their psychological barriers, laying bare the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, locked in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s down to the base story, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is rather superficial; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the feature creates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the rain, with cascades of grey strokes that engulf the frame. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to inspire.

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