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Plenty has been documented about the art of running, a restorative movement with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of elite athletics, however, the pressure of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to investigate the core impetus that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they turn professional. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story documents their psychological barriers, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s down to the original work, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Employing rotoscoping, in which cartooning is traced over real-life video, the movie generates exquisitely intricate running sequences. The bodily strain of a race is on full display, and the pain and the joy of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race concludes in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that overwhelm the frame. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence embody the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to evoke.

100 Meters is released in Britain from November 16.