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Much has been recorded about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, though, the strain of contests can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond awards and honors to examine the core impetus that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys diverge when they go pro. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the pair progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their psychological barriers, laying bare the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the anime falls short in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is superimposed on real-life video, the feature produces stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a race is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race concludes in the downpour, with sheets of charcoal lines that overwhelm the screen. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to inspire.

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