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Much has been written about the act of running, a healing activity with capacity for cathartic release. In the sphere of elite athletics, yet, the stress of contests can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to explore the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream.

Plot Overview

100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less confident Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative follows their psychological barriers, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a cycle of media attention, result pressures and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Possibly it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it makes up for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the movie produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are engraved on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with torrents of charcoal lines that overwhelm the frame. Apart from conversation, these displays of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to inspire.

The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.