Watching 'Run with the Wind'

Run with the Wind is the 2018 anime adaptation of the 2006 novel by Shion Miura. The adaptation was produced by Production IG, directed by Kazuya Nomura, who also directed the 2015 Ghost in the Shell film, and Robotics;Notes. The show consists of 23 episodes, which came to a conclusion on the 26th of March 2019. In addition to the novel and the anime adaptation, there is also a manga adaptation of the story, which consists of 50 chapters collected over the course of six volumes. This piece will take a look at the recently concluded anime.

The story revolves around a group of university students who live together that begin running long distance together in the hopes of reaching the pinnacle of university-level long distance running.

What is different about this sports anime is the fact that it takes place at the university-level, as opposed to the typical high school-level. This is a refreshing perspective, as it gives the characters a level of maturity that is not present in the high school-level when it comes to their personal lives. Some of them being in their first years, some being held back, some in their final years and looking for work, and some even trying to manage their relationships. What this show gets right is the university student life. The mature edge that the characters bring with it is a level of emotional weight when they object to training as a result of having to work. Much like any other sports anime, there is the growth in the characters physical ability, as well as the strengthening of the bonds between them. There are also the fantastical visuals that the show uses to get a certain concept across, much in the vein of the idea of the "zone" in Kuroko no Basket.

The visuals at no point stand out as something stellar, and neither is it awful. It is a competent production where the animation remains consistent throughout, without any dips in quality. Where the animation shines is when the group of 10 are in the dining room together, eating and drinking. There is an abundance of detail in the environment, and the character design of each of them is so distinct that they are all visually unique, which accentuates their personalities. These are the moments when we get to know the characters best. The moments where motion is involved are also handled well as the sakuga shines through with flying colors. The facial expressions of the characters are also well animated, as they really hit home their emotions when they are interacting with their friends and running. The environments are all well drawn, and when the visuals need to push themselves, they definitely do, bringing out the most that the image can offer onto the screen to create a truly beautiful scene.

The narrative, in terms of the sports perspective, is quite a standard one, which may not have been the case when it was first written as sports anime was quite rare in the mid 2000s. However, now that we live in a post-Haikyuu, Kuroko no Basket, Days, and even All Out anime sphere, the sports narrative is standard in comparison. That being said, where Run with the Wind excels is in the characters, who all have a narrative arc of their own that they come to terms with in their own way. Each character has a past, some of whom are a complete mystery all the way through to the end—yet, in not knowing the characters' backgrounds, there is still a positive. We are deprived of some character development, however, there is an abundance of character progression present.

There is a balance to the characters where they do not behave too over the top in certain situations, and moments when each character goes through a turning point in their own personal narrative. There is also a balance in the dynamic between the characters involved, and the fact that they are all majors in different courses really adds to their individualism. No character is the same in this 10-man group, as they all have a distinct mindset that is wonderfully illustrated through their actions. At no point do these personalities rise above one another and they are all interesting in their own way. A negative I have with this show is a negative I have with most sports anime, and that is the lack of female characters. It is understandable why there aren’t many given the setting, however, considering there is only one truly supporting female character in a 23-episode anime with an ever-inflating cast of male characters is out of balance.

A great positive towards the show is the fact that it is all a self-contained narrative with a distinct ending. The races themselves are exciting and emotional—the final race, in particular, as at one point the emotions of the characters reach a peak multiple times, leading the way to an emotional roller coaster that would have one reaching for the tissues. This is helped greatly by the fact that the soundtrack was composed by none other than Yuuki Hayashi, who also composed the soundtracks to Haikyuu,Robotics;Notes, and My Hero Academia. The music fits the show like a glove, and the points at which they use the music truly elevate the scenes. Finally, the ending is incredibly satisfying, both from the execution of it and the fact that true endings to anime is so rare that it's refreshing to see.

In closing, this is a show where, if you are a fan of sports anime, you have seen the sports tropes done before, and in places done better. However, because of the narrative of the friends, the visuals, and the music being as good as they are, it creates a truly earnest narrative where you cannot help but root for these guys. If you are a fan of sports anime, this is one I highly recommend. It is available to watch on Crunchyroll.