Much has been recorded about the act of running, a therapeutic exercise with capacity for cathartic release. In the realm of professional sports, however, the stress of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this primary objective. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime goes past awards and honors to explore the existential drive that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.
100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they turn professional. Formerly the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. 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 narrative follows their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a cycle of public scrutiny, result pressures and commercial obligations.
Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what 100 Meters is deficient in story nuance and rhythm, it redeems itself with in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop filmed sequences, the film creates exquisitely intricate running sequences. The athletic effort of a sprint is on full display, and the pain and the joy of rivalry are etched on the characters’ bodies.
One notably pivotal race concludes in the downpour, with cascades of grey strokes that immerse the scene. Beyond spoken words, these displays of creative mastery embody the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to evoke.
The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.
A passionate golfer and journalist with over a decade of experience covering PGA tours and equipment innovations.