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A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for emotional liberation. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to explore the core impetus that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories diverge when they enter elite competition. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the pair progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of media attention, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s because of the original work, but the film’s response 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 tempo, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is superimposed on live-action footage, the film produces remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of contests are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race concludes in the storm, with cascades of charcoal lines that overwhelm the frame. Apart from conversation, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.