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Much has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with capacity for emotional liberation. In the realm of professional sports, yet, the strain of contests can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they go pro. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the story documents their internal hurdles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the film produces remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a race is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the scene. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to inspire.

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