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Plenty has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, yet, the stress of rivalry can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they go pro. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, laying bare the challenges of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of public scrutiny, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s because of the base story, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters falls short in narrative subtlety and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is traced over real-life video, the movie produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race concludes in the downpour, with torrents of charcoal lines that overwhelm the scene. Apart from conversation, these displays of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.