🔗 Share this article

Much has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, though, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya steadily accelerates up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their internal hurdles, laying bare the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime is deficient in narrative subtlety and tempo, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing trace-over animation, in which cartooning is traced over live-action footage, the film generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of grey strokes that immerse the frame. Apart from conversation, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.