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A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of competitive games, though, the pressure of rivalry can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they go pro. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale follows their internal hurdles, exposing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a cycle of media attention, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s down to the source material, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in plot refinement and tempo, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing trace-over animation, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the movie produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from the 16th of November.