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Much has been documented about the art of running, a healing activity with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of elite athletics, yet, the pressure of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys separate when they enter elite competition. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of media attention, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s down to the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters is deficient in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie produces remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of competition are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the frame. More than any dialogue, these displays of artistic excellence capture the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.