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Plenty has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, however, the stress of contests can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends trophies and medals to examine the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they go pro. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the essentials. As the pair progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, laying bare the struggles of an athlete’s life, trapped in a cycle of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Creative Merits

Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime is deficient in narrative subtlety and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the feature creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The bodily strain of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence capture the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to evoke.

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