100 Meters (2025)

I continue my incidental pattern since April 2025 of watching at least one animated movie per month. This one's my first anime since October, and it continues another incidental pattern: animes that are neither fantasy nor sci-fi. Considering how I used to think that all anime was too weird, I can't complain.

The most focal character herein is Togashi, at three points in his life: sixth grade, high school, and ten years after. In each chapter, he's an excellent sprinter, but his attitude toward the sport isn't stable. Sometimes he thinks it'll solve all his problems, sometimes he loses interest, and sometimes he falls to pieces over an inability to stay on top.

Several other sprinters in Togashi's life have their own stories in the limelight. First is emotionally troubled misfit Komiya, who runs initially to take his mind off his life. Togashi talks him into going for the gold, producing a somewhat friendly competition. Slightly older champ Nigami also needs encouragement, thanks to a past injury. Zaitsu craves a more serious threat to the record he holds; his longtime rival Kaidō remains hopeful. And lest you think there are no ladies of note, Asakusa and Shiina invite Togashi and Nigami into a mixed relay.

Does the story benefit from animation? Yup. The hand-drawn quality gets quite pronounced, particularly when speed blurs vision. We get an odd combination of typical anime stiffness (e.g., characters moving only their mouths in conversation) and rotoscoping for realistic movement. Most viewers like the latter.

As sports flicks go, this one doesn't emphasize who wins or "must" win. Nor do we learn much insider knowledge. It's more an exploration of mindsets. Not an especially deep dive, but to someone as unathletic as me, it's new.

100 Meters is about as conceptually simple as 106-minute non-kiddie fare gets, with little narrative flow. I gave it a like on Netflix, but only after deliberation. You have to zero in on the impressive aspects as much as Togashi sets his sights on the finish line.