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A great deal has been documented about the act of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of competitive games, though, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past trophies and medals to examine the existential drive that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they enter elite competition. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story tracks their internal hurdles, revealing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, locked in a cycle of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s because of the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the film lacks in story nuance and pacing, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Utilizing trace-over animation, in which cartooning is drawn atop real-life video, the film generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of competition are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with torrents of charcoal lines that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the film aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.