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Much has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of elite athletics, though, the stress of contests can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to investigate the core impetus that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a loop of media attention, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s because of the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime falls short in narrative subtlety and pacing, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over real-life video, the movie creates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race ends in the downpour, with torrents of charcoal lines that immerse the frame. More than any dialogue, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to provoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.