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Much has been written about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this primary objective. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond trophies and medals to examine the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories diverge when they enter elite competition. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of media attention, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is rather superficial; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters lacks in narrative subtlety and pacing, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the feature creates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race finishes in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that immerse the scene. More than any dialogue, these bursts of stylistic brilliance capture the almost spiritual high the movie aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.