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Much has been documented about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the stress of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the inner motivation that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the duo move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, laying bare the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, caught in a pattern of media attention, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a extended discussion with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the anime lacks in narrative subtlety and tempo, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on real-life video, the film creates remarkably precise dash moments. The bodily strain of a dash is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are etched on the athletes’ physiques.

Memorable Moments

One notably pivotal race ends in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.