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Much has been written about the act of running, a healing activity with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of elite athletics, though, the strain of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond awards and honors to explore the inner motivation that drives an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they go pro. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the pair enter their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story tracks their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of societal observation, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; time and time again, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Using trace-over animation, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the film produces remarkably precise running sequences. The athletic effort of a race is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race concludes in the downpour, with cascades of grey strokes that overwhelm the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery embody the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to inspire.

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