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A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of competitive games, however, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their internal hurdles, revealing the challenges of an athlete’s life, locked in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and rhythm, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Employing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is superimposed on real-life video, the movie generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race concludes in the storm, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of artistic excellence encapsulate the almost spiritual high the movie aims to provoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.