🔗 Share this article 100 Meters Review – Captivating Anime of Emerging Sports Stars in Search for Mind-Body Elevation Much has been documented about the act of running, a restorative movement with capacity for cathartic release. Within the context of competitive games, yet, the stress of rivalry can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream. Narrative Summary 100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Previously the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the twosome progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their internal hurdles, laying bare the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, caught in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and endorsement requirements. Visual Highlights Maybe it’s because of the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a character’s inner doubts quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime lacks in narrative subtlety and pacing, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over live-action footage, the movie creates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a dash is clearly shown, and the suffering and elation of competition are etched on the athletes’ physiques. Impactful Sequences One notably pivotal race ends in the downpour, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the frame. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of artistic excellence capture the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to evoke. The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from November 16.