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A great deal has been written about the practice of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of elite athletics, yet, the strain of contests can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they go pro. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, laying bare the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in plot refinement and rhythm, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop real-life video, the movie creates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race ends in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that immerse the scene. Beyond spoken words, these displays of stylistic brilliance capture the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to provoke.

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