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Plenty has been documented about the practice of running, a restorative movement with capacity for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, yet, the pressure of competition can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the inner motivation that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys split when they go pro. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the anime lacks in plot refinement and tempo, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Using trace-over animation, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie generates stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with torrents of charcoal lines that engulf the frame. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance capture the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.