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Plenty has been documented about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the stress of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to explore the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths split when they go pro. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story documents their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in narrative subtlety and tempo, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Employing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the feature produces exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a race is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race finishes in the rain, with cascades of charcoal lines that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to provoke.

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