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Much has been documented about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of professional sports, yet, the strain of competition can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to explore the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories split when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale follows their psychological barriers, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the film is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is superimposed on live-action footage, the movie generates remarkably precise running sequences. The bodily strain of a dash is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of contests are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race concludes in the rain, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that engulf the frame. Beyond spoken words, these displays of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the almost spiritual high the film aims to evoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.