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Plenty has been documented about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, though, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond awards and honors to examine the inner motivation that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a pattern of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and tempo, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie generates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race concludes in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the screen. Apart from conversation, these displays of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.