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Professional Spanish road cyclist Pepe Benengeli competes as a supporting domestique in the grueling Vuelta a Espana multi-stage bicycle tournament. As the race route winds through the blazing summer heat of his Andalusian hometown, Pepe confronts mounting personal tension: his former lover is marrying his elder brother that exact afternoon, while his team director threatens dismissal. Seizing a tactical opportunity when a sudden crash disorganizes the peloton, Pepe breaks away solo across the sun-baked hills. Battling physical exhaustion and aggressive chasing packs, Pepe pedals desperately toward a triumphant, career-defining hometown victory.
⚠ Background — may contain spoilers
Directed, written, and storyboarded by veteran Studio Ghibli animator Kitaro Kosaka, this electrifying 2003 sports drama was animated by Madhouse, adapting a storyline from Iou Kuroda seinen manga *Nasu*. The production made history as the first Japanese animated film ever selected for the Directors Fortnight section at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Kosaka personal passion for competitive cycling shines through in the film remarkable technical accuracy, authentic peloton tactics, and breathtaking dynamic perspectives of rural Spanish topography.
Established in 2002 and launched as an independent event in 2014, the Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF) is an annual international animation festival hosted in Tokyo, Japan. Operating under the slogan "TOKYO is the HUB of contemporary ANIMATION," its goal is to discover new talent, promote animation culture, and celebrate outstanding works worldwide.
