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Much has been recorded about the practice of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, though, the stress of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends trophies and medals to investigate the existential drive 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 enter elite competition. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the challenges of an athlete’s life, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in plot refinement and pacing, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing rotoscoping, in which cartooning is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie creates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is on full display, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of creative mastery embody the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

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