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Much has been written about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of professional sports, however, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their internal hurdles, laying bare the challenges of an competitor’s existence, caught in a cycle of media attention, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Possibly it’s due to the original work, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Using rotoscoping, in which drawn art is superimposed on live-action footage, the film produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the rain, with torrents of charcoal lines that immerse the frame. More than any dialogue, these bursts of stylistic brilliance capture the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to evoke.

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