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Much has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of competitive games, yet, the strain of competition can cause individuals to overlook of this primary objective. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya steadily accelerates up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both confront fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale documents their internal hurdles, exposing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of societal observation, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s down to the source material, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Employing rotoscoping, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the feature generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The bodily strain of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race concludes in the downpour, with cascades of charcoal lines that engulf the screen. Beyond spoken words, these displays of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from the 16th of November.