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Much has been documented about the practice of running, a restorative movement with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, however, the stress of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to examine the inner motivation that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Narrative Summary

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories diverge when they turn professional. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative documents their psychological barriers, revealing the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Visual Highlights

Possibly it’s due to the base story, but the film’s response to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters lacks in plot refinement and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Using rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn atop real-life video, the movie produces remarkably precise dash moments. The bodily strain of a dash is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Unforgettable Scenes

One particularly momentous race finishes in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that overwhelm the scene. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the film aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.