100-Meter Dash Review – Mesmerising Anime of Young Athletes in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High

Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with potential for therapeutic unburdening. In the realm of elite athletics, yet, the strain of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime transcends awards and honors to explore the inner motivation that fuels an sports star’s dream.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Formerly the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya steadily accelerates up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the story tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a loop of public scrutiny, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Possibly it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and tempo, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Using trace-over animation, in which cartooning is superimposed on filmed sequences, the movie creates remarkably precise running sequences. The physical exertion of a sprint is on full display, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the downpour, with cascades of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the screen. More than any dialogue, these bursts of artistic excellence encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the movie aims to provoke.

The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from 16 November.