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A great deal has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for cathartic release. In the sphere of elite athletics, though, the pressure of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories diverge when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s due to the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the anime is deficient in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the feature produces remarkably precise dash moments. The bodily strain of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of competition are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of creative mastery embody the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from November 16.