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Plenty has been recorded about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of professional sports, though, the stress of rivalry can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to explore the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys diverge when they go pro. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the pair enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the tale tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is superimposed on real-life video, the film generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a race is on full display, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race concludes in the downpour, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to provoke.

100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.