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Much has been recorded about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for cathartic release. In the realm of competitive games, however, the stress of rivalry can make people lose sight of this primary objective. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the inner motivation that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Narrative Summary

The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories diverge when they go pro. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the more uncertain Komiya with the essentials. As the twosome enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their mental obstacles, laying bare the challenges of an competitor’s existence, caught in a loop of societal observation, achievement demands and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s due to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Employing live-action tracing, in which cartooning is traced over real-life video, the feature generates stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a sprint is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of contests are engraved on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One particularly momentous race finishes in the rain, with cascades of charcoal lines that immerse the frame. Apart from conversation, these bursts of stylistic brilliance embody the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.