Anime’s Next Big Rivalry? ‘100 Meters’ Brings Emotional Sprint Drama to North America
Kenji Iwaisawa, the director who gave us the lo-fi brilliance of On-Gaku: Our Sound, is trading guitars for running shoes — and his newest animated feature is already off to the races! Titled 100 Meters (Hyakuemu), this emotionally charged sports drama has been scooped up by North America’s favorite anime tastemaker, GKIDS, who will serve as both producer and distributor.
The film is set to hit U.S. and Canadian theaters this October, hot on the heels of its September 19 debut in Japan. Both the original Japanese and a newly recorded English-language dub will be available — because no one should miss this one, regardless of subtitle preference.
A Story of Rivalry, Resilience & Redemption
So, what’s 100 Meters all about? At its core, this is more than just a story about fast legs — it’s a tale of friendship, competition, and the fire that fuels a second chance.
Meet Togashi, a naturally gifted sprinter. In sixth grade, he encounters Komiya, a determined transfer student whose enthusiasm far outpaces his skill. Togashi helps him train, igniting a spark of ambition in Komiya that will shape both of their futures.
Years later, fate lines them up as competitors once more — only now, their motivations are deeper, the stakes are higher, and both young men must confront who they really are when the starting gun fires. Think Haikyu!! meets Run Lola Run, but with all the emotional complexity you’d expect from a prestige anime drama.
A Rockin’ Visual & Creative Crew
Animation duties are in the hands of Rock’n Roll Mountain (yes, that’s the real name — we love it too), and the film is produced in collaboration with Pony Canyon, Tokyo Broadcasting System, Asmik Ace, and GKIDS. That’s a power relay team of anime industry players.
The screenplay is penned by Yasuyuki Muto (Tokyo Revengers, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway), promising kinetic storytelling with just the right emotional punch. Keisuke Kojima handles character design and serves as executive animation director, with Keikankun Yamaguchi leading the visual artistry as art director. And if your ears are already tuning in, the score comes from Hiroaki Tsutsumi, known for Dr. STONE and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Star-Powered Voices on the Track
Voicing our brooding speedster Togashi is Tori Matsuzaka, known for his live-action chops in Whisper of the Heart (2022) and animated turns in Hello World and Crayon Shin-chan: Battle of Supernatural Powers. Matsuzaka’s deep vocal charisma adds gravity to Togashi’s internal journey.
His rival, Komiya, is brought to life by the versatile Shōta Sometani, who’s no stranger to emotional complexity. He’s starred in Wolf Children, Belle, and Suzume — so expect another heartfelt, layered performance.
North America, Ready Your Running Shoes
The hype started early with a Work-in-Progress preview at Annecy 2024, where 100 Meters stirred up interest with its raw, honest storytelling and distinct visual style. Since then, buzz has built rapidly — fueled in part by the recently launched official manga website and teaser trailer drop.
With GKIDS now behind it, this film is poised to cross the finish line with global acclaim. Known for bringing critical darlings like Belle, Ernest & Celestine, and The Breadwinner to Western audiences, GKIDS is the perfect home for this unique and heartfelt race story.
