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Plenty has been documented about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of professional sports, however, the stress of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the core impetus that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys separate when they go pro. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the story documents their mental obstacles, exposing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s because of the original work, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which animation is drawn atop live-action footage, the feature generates stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that immerse the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the movie aims to inspire.

The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from the 16th of November.