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Plenty has been documented about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for emotional liberation. In the realm of competitive games, however, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to examine the core impetus that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Plot Overview

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys separate when they turn professional. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the story tracks their internal hurdles, laying bare the struggles of an athlete’s life, locked in a loop of public scrutiny, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.

Creative Merits

Perhaps it’s down to the source material, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is rather superficial; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters falls short in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie creates stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a sprint is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Impactful Sequences

One notably pivotal race finishes in the rain, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that engulf the screen. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.

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