I really like how this is animated and drawn; it's not a style I often see in anime, and it really brings out the intensity of the racing, especially with the various angles used to display the characters when they are racing or facing intense emotions. I love the POV of what things look like ahead when they are running, It's a view we have all seen when hitting a sprint for whatever reason.
The race in the rain particularly stands out in the film; it is visually stunning to look at.The way the rain was animated was unlike anything i usually see in anime it felt like it was one with the background rather than being animated on top of it. Don't really know how to describe it.

There appears to be some high-quality rotoscoping being used for a portion of the film, but I could be wrong. It made the races feel so much more real. I really liked how the background seem to almost be like a drawing, where the focus is on the characters and they almost seem to move over an unchanging landscape. The use of blur whenever they race or go through some intense emotions was amazing too you truly feel the speed and intense emotions they are going through in those races. The voice acting was class too not just with how they conveyed the emotions of the characters but the breathing. If you told me the voice actors were sprinting too i would almost believe it.

The story is a truly engaging one that incorporates numerous themes and messages. This film conveys many concepts that prompt you to think a little. It was not a simple sports anime about achieving your dream, but it really reflected life. How do you deal with constant comparisons with who you used to be? How do you deal with not being young anymore? How do you accept your situation and others being so much better than you? Why should anxiety be a deterrent, rather than fuel? What's the point of working so hard for this specific thing? What is the meaning, when it's all said and done, of what you want to achieve?

I'm glad the supporting class each had their own thing going on and their impact on the story, rather than it being purely about just the 2 rivals. You really see a full cast of athletes: The Talented, The could have been, the goat, the wonder kid etc. Best thing is so many of these characters find themselves in some of these boxes at different points in their career. The movie does not have them progress in a linear or robotic fashion it reflects the real world of athletes.

It was great that you could see the journey of these 2 rivals all the way into their life as pros; it's a nice change for a sports anime.

As for Togashi, I love the journey and stages he finds himself at different points in his career. It's very on point with how even an amazing talent will find himself as low as he is high when tackling pressure, decline, and the past.