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Much has been recorded about the practice of running, a healing activity with capacity for cathartic release. Within the context of professional sports, though, the strain of rivalry can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to investigate the existential drive that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths diverge when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an competitor’s existence, locked in a cycle of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; frequently, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Employing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the feature generates remarkably precise running sequences. The physical exertion of a race is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race finishes in the downpour, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that engulf the screen. Beyond spoken words, these displays of artistic excellence capture the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to provoke.

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