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Plenty has been documented about the art of running, a healing activity with potential for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of professional sports, though, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to examine the existential drive that drives an competitor’s aspiration.

Story Synopsis

100 Meters traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys diverge when they go pro. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less confident Komiya with the essentials. As the duo move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale follows their internal hurdles, exposing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, locked in a loop of public scrutiny, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Visual Highlights

Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is rather superficial; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the anime is deficient in plot refinement and pacing, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie generates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a dash is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of contests are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the frame. Beyond spoken words, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the almost spiritual high the animation aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from 16 November.