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Much has been written about the act of running, a healing activity with capacity for emotional liberation. In the realm of competitive games, though, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to examine the core impetus that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories diverge when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story documents their psychological barriers, revealing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, locked in a pattern of media attention, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s down to the original work, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film falls short in plot refinement and tempo, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the feature generates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The physical exertion of a race is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the scene. Apart from conversation, these displays of artistic excellence embody the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from November 16.