🔗 Share this article

A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of competitive games, yet, the stress of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past awards and honors to investigate the existential drive that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys diverge when they go pro. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s because of the source material, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the anime falls short in plot refinement and tempo, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn atop live-action footage, the film creates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the film aims to evoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.