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Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a restorative movement with ability for cathartic release. In the realm of elite athletics, however, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the duo move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the story documents their mental obstacles, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Perhaps it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters falls short in plot refinement and tempo, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is traced over filmed sequences, the movie generates remarkably precise dash moments. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of competition are etched on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race concludes in the rain, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to inspire.

The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from November 16.