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A great deal has been recorded about the practice of running, a healing activity with capacity for cathartic release. In the sphere of elite athletics, though, the stress of rivalry can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an athlete’s life, locked in a pattern of societal observation, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the anime falls short in story nuance and tempo, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the feature produces stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of competition are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that engulf the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from November 16.