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Much has been written about the practice of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, however, the pressure of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past trophies and medals to investigate the core impetus that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths separate when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the pair move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, exposing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a pattern of media attention, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is traced over live-action footage, the feature creates remarkably precise running sequences. The physical exertion of a dash is on full display, and the pain and the joy of competition are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race ends in the rain, with sheets of charcoal lines that overwhelm the screen. Apart from conversation, these displays of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

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