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Much has been documented about the act of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the realm of competitive games, yet, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends awards and honors to investigate the existential drive that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths split when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a extended discussion with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the film generates exquisitely intricate running sequences. The physical exertion of a dash is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that immerse the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of creative mastery embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.