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A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of elite athletics, however, the stress of contests can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the inner motivation that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both confront fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale follows their internal hurdles, exposing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a pattern of public scrutiny, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s because of the base story, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; frequently, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters is deficient in story nuance and tempo, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the feature generates remarkably precise dash moments. The bodily strain of a race is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the rain, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of creative mastery embody the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.