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Much has been written about the art of running, a healing activity with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, yet, the strain of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this primary objective. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond trophies and medals to examine the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.

Plot Overview

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths diverge when they turn professional. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale documents their internal hurdles, revealing the struggles of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of societal observation, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Artistic Strengths

Possibly it’s due to the source material, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Employing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is drawn atop filmed sequences, the movie produces exquisitely intricate running sequences. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race concludes in the storm, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the frame. Apart from conversation, these displays of stylistic brilliance embody the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to evoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from November 16.