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Plenty has been documented about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of elite athletics, yet, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the duo enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya steadily accelerates up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale documents their psychological barriers, exposing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, caught in a loop of media attention, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s because of the original work, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters falls short in story nuance and pacing, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Using trace-over animation, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the feature produces stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is on full display, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Impactful Sequences

One especially significant race ends in the downpour, with cascades of grey strokes that engulf the scene. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to evoke.

100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.