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Much has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with capacity for emotional liberation. Within the context of professional sports, however, the strain of competition can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond trophies and medals to investigate the existential drive that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories split when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the story follows their psychological barriers, revealing the challenges of an athlete’s life, trapped in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s because of the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime lacks in narrative subtlety and tempo, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop real-life video, the feature generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The bodily strain of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the frame. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.