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A great deal has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of competitive games, yet, the strain of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the core impetus that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys split when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie creates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a sprint is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race ends in the downpour, with sheets of grey strokes that immerse the scene. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.