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Plenty has been written about the act of running, a healing activity with ability for emotional liberation. In the sphere of professional sports, however, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both confront fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film falls short in story nuance and tempo, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Using rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop real-life video, the movie produces stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a race is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of contests are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race ends in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the scene. More than any dialogue, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from 16 November.