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Plenty has been written about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for emotional liberation. In the sphere of professional sports, yet, the stress of contests can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends prizes and accolades to examine the inner motivation that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the story documents their internal hurdles, revealing the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a cycle 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 complicated problems is a bit simplistic; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop real-life video, the film produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race finishes in the rain, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that immerse the scene. More than any dialogue, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the movie aims to inspire.

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