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Much has been documented about the art of running, a restorative movement with capacity for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, though, the pressure of contests can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past trophies and medals to investigate the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories separate when they turn professional. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the challenges of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is rather superficial; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film falls short in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the film generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the frame. Beyond spoken words, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.