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Plenty has been recorded about the art of running, a restorative movement with potential for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of elite athletics, however, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of media attention, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s because of the base story, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and tempo, it makes up for in breathtaking graphics. Employing live-action tracing, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the film creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race concludes in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that immerse the frame. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of stylistic brilliance capture the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to provoke.

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