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A great deal has been written about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends trophies and medals to explore the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and tempo, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on filmed sequences, the film generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.