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Much has been written about the practice of running, a healing activity with potential for cathartic release. In the sphere of competitive games, yet, the pressure of rivalry can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends prizes and accolades to examine the existential drive that drives an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Once the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, revealing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, locked in a loop of media attention, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.

Artistic Strengths

Maybe it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and pacing, it compensates for in breathtaking graphics. Utilizing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop filmed sequences, the film creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a dash is visibly evident, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One particularly momentous race finishes in the storm, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that immerse the frame. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of creative mastery embody the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to provoke.

The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from 16 November.