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Plenty has been documented about the act of running, a healing activity with potential for emotional liberation. In the realm of professional sports, though, the pressure of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past trophies and medals to examine the existential drive that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths separate when they go pro. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative documents their internal hurdles, exposing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is rather superficial; frequently, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in plot refinement and pacing, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the movie creates stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the screen. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.