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Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of competitive games, though, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends trophies and medals to investigate the core impetus that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys diverge when they turn professional. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, exposing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in story nuance and tempo, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on live-action footage, the movie generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race concludes in the rain, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these displays of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the movie aims to inspire.

The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.