Netflix quietly released 100 Meters in 2025, and it’s one of the best movies on the streamer in the 2020s. It’s really easy to miss a movie in the age of streaming, particularly when it’s a movie that drops on Netflix. Netflix is filled with overlooked original films, buried beneath piles of quickly made shows and movies.
Through very much its own fault, when Netflix comes out with an original film, it’s not generally assumed it’s going to be something you have to see immediately. This is doubly frustrating because when it does come out with something worthwhile, people end up skipping it, like with 100 Meters.
What Is 100 Meters About?
100 Meters is an anime film from Japanese director Kenji Iwaisawa, based on a manga of the same name by Japanese manga artist Uoto. The film, a multi-year journey, follows Togashi, a track star who has known he was a gifted runner since he was young, now competing in the 100-meter dash.
As a middle-schooler, Togashi befriended the lonely Komiya and became a running coach for him. Years later, after having moved away from one another, Togashi and Komiya reunite on the track, and Togashi is shocked to learn his old student is now his competitor, and a fierce one at that.
100 Meters’ Animation Is Breathtaking
Beyond its unique story and relatable exploration of the differences between talent and preparation, 100 Meters is worth seeing for the animation alone. 100 Meters is beautifully animated and illustrated, about as visually stunning an animated movie as you are going to find in the past few years.
The art is excellent, well-painted, with characters detailed and unique, allowing for an impressive array of emotions, but where the film really excels is in the animation. The running sequences, critical to the story, are amazingly done, with incredible pans and displays of motion that you only see in the best animated films.
100 Meters Will Age As A Modern Classic
It’s possible that 100 Meters could age as a modern classic, as long as more people find their way to the film. Anime has traditionally had difficulty crossing over to mainstream audiences, save in a few notable cases, but 100 Meters is one of those movies that all film lovers should open their minds to.
It’s a classic story, relatable to everyone who has at one point in their lives rested on their laurels, only to later realize that they’ve been overtaken by others who have actually put in the work. 100 Meters will resonate for years, and its incredible animation means it will capture viewers’ attention for long after.
- Release Date
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September 19, 2025
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Tori Matsuzaka
Togashi (voice)
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Shota Sometani
Komiya (voice)
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Koki Uchiyama
Saizu (voice)
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Kenjiro Tsuda
Kaidō (voice)
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
