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Plenty has been documented about the act of running, a restorative movement with ability for emotional liberation. In the realm of professional sports, though, the strain of contests can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the pair enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya steadily accelerates up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, exposing the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, caught in a cycle of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s due to the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and pacing, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is on full display, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race concludes in the downpour, with cascades of grey strokes that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these displays of creative mastery capture the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to inspire.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from November 16.