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Plenty has been documented about the practice of running, a healing activity with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, though, the strain of rivalry can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories separate when they enter elite competition. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the twosome enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative documents their internal hurdles, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s down to the base story, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and tempo, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie generates remarkably precise running sequences. The physical exertion of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race ends in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that immerse the frame. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of artistic excellence capture the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to inspire.

100 Meters is in UK cinemas from 16 November.