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A great deal has been written about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of competitive games, though, the stress of competition can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to explore the existential drive that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories split when they go pro. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a pattern of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters is deficient in story nuance and tempo, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Utilizing trace-over animation, in which cartooning is superimposed on live-action footage, the film creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a sprint is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of contests are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race ends in the rain, with cascades of charcoal lines that immerse the frame. Apart from conversation, these displays of stylistic brilliance embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from 16 November.