Run with the Wind is a story of a marathon runner where Kakeru is saved by another runner, Haiji after being chased for stealing food. Haiji and Kakeru get together to live in Chikuseisou where they start planning to run the biggest university races in Japan. Not only do they have to train themselves but also the other resident that they are planning to train. Let’s review the anime overall.
Review
The plot and the storyline are quite simple but interesting, following the journey of how 10 college students start working hard to fulfill a dream which wasn’t their own and how gradually it becomes. There is no wasted moment at all, the story begins at a good pace and only keeps getting better episode by episode. The initial episodes are inspiring as well as fun; there are ample comedy elements, and also emotional investment is done in creating the bonds between different characters.
Many people don’t consider running as a sport, where you don’t have tactics to engage your opponent, but while running it is a fight between the amount of energy the runners hold within them, but this show gives a whole different meaning to what running feels like and makes you realize that you might be alone when you are running but you are not actually alone, it is a sport of teamwork. If you want to watch the sports genre but you are bored of a generic high school setting and want something good, then you should definitely watch ‘Run with the wind’, it not only portrays the experience of running but also portrays universal college experiences.
Characters
The Characters are the strength of this story; they are the ones who take the show to a different level. The story primarily focuses on Kakeru Kurahar a- a freshman and Haiji Kiyose – a senior, but even though a lot of screen time has been given to other characters. In the genre of sports, the set of characters is the most important, because viewers cannot follow a show if the characters are not worth being followed. This show has done an incredible job at portraying the individuality of every character in a great manner and also in a very short period. The characters are relatable and this show explores the character’s daily college life, the struggles they are facing, and even amidst that they set on to fulfill a dream when it seemed impossible. This show has also worked incredibly on the development of its characters when you notice where they were in the first episode and where they reached the final episode, you will realize how magnificently they have developed.
The Character of Haiji Kiyose is truly inspirational; he is a coach, a teammate, a friend, a cook, and a caretaker for the other teammates, making a marathon team is not an easy task, especially for a manga enthusiast who has no experience of running, a smoker, a senior who is busy finding a job, troublesome twins and a runner who has almost given up on running itself; basically a set of novices. The relationship and bonding between these 10 characters that develop throughout the show are worth watching.
Art Style/ Animation
The art style is nice, the colorwork is vibrant and the animation is on point and doesn’t have any inconsistencies though they have used CG for large crowds, it’s only minor. The character and their emotions are also portrayed beautifully, along with the background scenes that look perfect. Run with the wind has done a great job at animating runners on the track, in which every runner exhibits his unique body language.
