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A great deal has been documented about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, however, the strain of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond awards and honors to examine the existential drive that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the essentials. As the pair enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their psychological barriers, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film lacks in plot refinement and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the feature generates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of contests are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race ends in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that engulf the screen. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance capture the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from 16 November.