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Plenty has been documented about the act of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of elite athletics, however, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the inner motivation that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a pattern of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s because of the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which cartooning is superimposed on live-action footage, the film produces exquisitely intricate dash moments. The physical exertion of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of contests are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race ends in the rain, with sheets of charcoal lines that immerse the frame. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance capture the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to provoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from 16 November.