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A great deal has been written about the art of running, a healing activity with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of professional sports, yet, the stress of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to examine the core impetus that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they go pro. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, exposing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, caught in a loop of media attention, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s down to the base story, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in narrative subtlety and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Using trace-over animation, in which drawn art is traced over filmed sequences, the film creates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race concludes in the rain, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of artistic excellence capture the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to provoke.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from November 16.