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Much has been written about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, though, the strain of competition can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to explore the existential drive that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose life paths split when they turn professional. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their psychological barriers, exposing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the anime falls short in story nuance and tempo, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Using rotoscoping, in which cartooning is superimposed on real-life video, the feature creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the film aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from 16 November.