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Much has been written about the act of running, a restorative movement with capacity for emotional liberation. In the realm of competitive games, though, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past trophies and medals to investigate the core impetus that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories split when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a pattern of media attention, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and tempo, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the film generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race finishes in the downpour, with sheets of charcoal lines that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.