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A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of professional sports, however, the pressure of contests can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to explore the existential drive that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys separate when they go pro. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative documents their psychological barriers, revealing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a cycle of media attention, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over real-life video, the film produces remarkably precise dash moments. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race concludes in the downpour, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from 16 November.