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Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a restorative movement with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of competitive games, though, the pressure of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends awards and honors to explore the existential drive that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they turn professional. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the twosome progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the tale tracks their psychological barriers, revealing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s because of the source material, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the anime falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Using rotoscoping, in which drawn art is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie produces exquisitely intricate dash moments. The physical exertion of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race concludes in the storm, with cascades of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. Apart from conversation, these bursts of creative mastery capture the almost spiritual high the film aims to evoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from November 16.