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Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for cathartic release. In the sphere of professional sports, however, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond awards and honors to examine the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories diverge when they enter elite competition. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the story documents their psychological barriers, exposing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and endorsement requirements.

Creative Merits

Possibly it’s due to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the anime is deficient in plot refinement and pacing, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie generates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race ends in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that immerse the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of creative mastery capture the almost spiritual high the film aims to evoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from November 16.