Plenty has been recorded about the art of running, a restorative movement with capacity for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, however, the stress of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that fuels an sports star’s dream.
The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys diverge when they turn professional. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their internal hurdles, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a cycle of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.
Perhaps it’s due to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; time and time again, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters falls short in plot refinement and pacing, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which animation is traced over real-life video, the film produces stunningly detailed sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.
One notably pivotal race finishes in the storm, with cascades of grey strokes that engulf the frame. More than any dialogue, these bursts of creative mastery encapsulate the almost spiritual high the film aims to provoke.
100 Meters is in UK cinemas from the 16th of November.
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