🔗 Share this article

A great deal has been recorded about the act of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of elite athletics, yet, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to examine the core impetus that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories split when they turn professional. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the story tracks their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an athlete’s life, trapped in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing trace-over animation, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the feature produces exquisitely intricate running sequences. The athletic effort of a dash is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of contests are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race finishes in the storm, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.