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Much has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for emotional liberation. Within the context of professional sports, yet, the stress of competition can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the inner motivation that drives an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys diverge when they enter elite competition. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the pair enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale tracks their psychological barriers, laying bare the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a loop of societal observation, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s down to the original work, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters falls short in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which animation is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to inspire.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.