🔗 Share this article

A great deal has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, yet, the pressure of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond awards and honors to investigate the inner motivation that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths split when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an athlete’s life, locked in a pattern of media attention, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters is deficient in plot refinement and tempo, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is traced over real-life video, the feature creates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a sprint is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of contests are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that immerse the scene. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence capture the almost spiritual high the film aims to inspire.

100 Meters is released in Britain from the 16th of November.