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Plenty has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with potential for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of professional sports, though, the stress of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the inner motivation that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the pair move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative documents their internal hurdles, exposing the challenges of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s due to the base story, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the movie creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The physical exertion of a sprint is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the storm, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that engulf the frame. Apart from conversation, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the almost spiritual high the animation aims to provoke.

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