100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Anime of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Mind-Body Elevation

Plenty has been written about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for cathartic release. Within the context of professional sports, however, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories split when they turn professional. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the pair move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both struggle with fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, locked in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is rather superficial; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Employing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is drawn atop live-action footage, the film creates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a sprint is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Unforgettable Scenes

One especially significant race ends in the downpour, with torrents of grey strokes that overwhelm the screen. Apart from conversation, these displays of creative mastery embody the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to inspire.

The Sprint Film is released in Britain from the 16th of November.