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Much has been documented about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, however, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the core impetus that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale follows their mental obstacles, revealing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a pattern of media attention, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the anime is deficient in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which cartooning is drawn atop real-life video, the film produces stunningly detailed dash moments. The bodily strain of a race is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race concludes in the rain, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to inspire.

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