🔗 Share this article

Much has been recorded about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for emotional liberation. In the realm of professional sports, yet, the pressure of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past awards and honors to examine the existential drive that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys separate when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the essentials. As the pair move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, locked in a loop of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters is deficient in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the feature creates stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with torrents of grey strokes that engulf the frame. Apart from conversation, these bursts of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from November 16.