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Plenty has been recorded about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of professional sports, however, the strain of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to investigate the existential drive that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film falls short in plot refinement and rhythm, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the feature creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of contests are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of grey strokes that immerse the screen. Apart from conversation, these bursts of creative mastery embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to evoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.