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A great deal has been documented about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for cathartic release. In the realm of competitive games, though, the stress of competition can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends trophies and medals to investigate the existential drive that drives an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories separate when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the pair progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an competitor’s existence, locked in a loop of media attention, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in story nuance and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is drawn atop real-life video, the movie produces remarkably precise running sequences. The bodily strain of a race is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race concludes in the rain, with torrents of charcoal lines that engulf the scene. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

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