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Much has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of professional sports, though, the strain of competition can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to investigate the core impetus that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths split when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale follows their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an athlete’s life, trapped in a cycle of societal observation, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s down to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in plot refinement and pacing, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which animation is traced over filmed sequences, the feature generates stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race ends in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the frame. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to provoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.