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Plenty has been documented about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of professional sports, however, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they go pro. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, trapped in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is rather superficial; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in plot refinement and pacing, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the movie generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of competition are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that engulf the scene. Apart from conversation, these bursts of artistic excellence capture the almost spiritual high the movie aims to evoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from the 16th of November.