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Much has been recorded about the practice of running, a restorative movement with capacity for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the pressure of contests can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to investigate the existential drive that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys split when they enter elite competition. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the pair progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, revealing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, caught in a pattern of societal observation, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which cartooning is drawn atop filmed sequences, the feature produces remarkably precise running sequences. The athletic effort of a sprint is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the frame. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.