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A great deal has been documented about the practice of running, a healing activity with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of elite athletics, however, the pressure of rivalry can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to investigate the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the story documents their internal hurdles, revealing the challenges of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of societal observation, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s due to the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which cartooning is superimposed on live-action footage, the feature produces remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of contests are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the storm, with sheets of charcoal lines that engulf the screen. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.