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Much has been recorded about the act of running, a restorative movement with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of competitive games, yet, the strain of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond awards and honors to explore the inner motivation that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the tale follows their mental obstacles, revealing the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a cycle of societal observation, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the base story, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Using trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop filmed sequences, the movie produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a race is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of contests are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race concludes in the storm, with cascades of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. Apart from conversation, these bursts of artistic excellence capture the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to provoke.

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