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Plenty has been documented about the practice of running, a restorative movement with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of elite athletics, though, the pressure of rivalry can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past trophies and medals to examine the inner motivation that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale tracks their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s down 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 lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film falls short in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn atop real-life video, the movie generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The bodily strain of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.