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A great deal has been documented about the act of running, a healing activity with potential for cathartic release. Within the context of elite athletics, yet, the stress of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories diverge when they turn professional. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, revealing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a cycle of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the film is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop filmed sequences, the movie generates remarkably precise running sequences. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with sheets of charcoal lines that engulf the scene. More than any dialogue, these displays of artistic excellence capture the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from November 16.