The Trailer That Hits Like a Starter Gun
There's a snap of sound at the start line, a blur of legs, and the rush of adrenaline that only sprinting can conjure. That's what the Full US Trailer for 100 Meters delivers—a high-voltage glimpse of Kenji Iwaisawa's latest project, after the cult hit On-Gaku: Our Sound. It isn't just another sports anime. It's a parable of obsession, mentorship, and the strange intimacy of rivalry. And yes, it's landing soon: September 19, 2025 in Japan, before racing into U.S. theaters October 10–14, courtesy of GKids.
More Than Just a Race
At its core, 100 Meters follows Togashi, a natural-born runner who breezes through races with unnerving ease, until Komiya arrives—awkward in form, stubborn in spirit. Their push-pull dynamic is the stuff of coming-of-age legend. One teaches, the other learns, and then the cycle flips. By the time they reunite years later, their bodies have hardened, but their rivalry burns brighter.
It's not subtle. The trailer hammers the idea of winning as a life-defining purpose. But beneath that, there's a tenderness—about the way competition can shape identity. Hiroaki Tsutsumi's score surges with a kind of bittersweet electricity, the sort of music that makes you remember being a teenager and believing that one race, one concert, one kiss might change everything.
Behind the Track Lines
Kenji Iwaisawa has a reputation for sidestepping anime conventions. His On-Gaku was drawn with rough minimalism, almost punk in spirit. Here, he adapts Uoto's manga Hyakuemu, with Yasuyuki Muto scripting. Instead of stylized explosions of energy, the animation lingers on posture, muscle tension, sweat—small details that reveal character. It feels less like shonen exaggeration and more like cinéma vérité in motion.
And casting matters: Shouta Sometani and Tori Matsuzaka bring weight to the leads, their voices straining not for melodrama but something more jagged, more real.
Event Screenings You Can't Miss
Mark this down:
- Japan Theatrical Release: September 19, 2025
- U.S. Theatrical Event (Limited): October 10–14, 2025 (GKids)
The U.S. rollout isn't a long run—it's a sprint. Just a few days in select theaters, a special event screening model GKids has used with success before. If you blink, you'll miss it.
Why It Stands Out
Because rivalry is eternal. From Rival Schools to Haikyu!!, anime thrives on this tension, but Iwaisawa isn't interested in clean arcs or easy resolutions. The trailer teases something harsher—almost a meditation on the fragility of drive itself. You can't help but wonder: is the finish line really the goal, or is it the chase that keeps us alive?
And maybe that's why this trailer lingers. Gorgeous. A bit grating. Gorgeous again.
5 Key Things About 100 Meters
Kenji Iwaisawa returns – The director of On-Gaku brings his idiosyncratic style to sports anime.
It's adapted from manga – Based on Uoto's Hyakuemu, with a screenplay by Yasuyuki Muto.
Casting matters – Shouta Sometani and Tori Matsuzaka voice the central rivals.
Music by Hiroaki Tsutsumi – The score elevates the emotional stakes, blending intensity with melancholy.
Don't miss the dates – September 19 in Japan, October 10–14 in U.S. theaters via GKids.
FAQs About 100 Meters
Who directed 100 Meters?
Kenji Iwaisawa, known for On-Gaku: Our Sound (2019).
When does 100 Meters release?
September 19, 2025 in Japan; October 10–14, 2025 in U.S. limited theaters.
What's the story about?
It follows Togashi, a gifted sprinter, and Komiya, a determined transfer student. Their evolving mentorship-turned-rivalry defines their lives on and off the track.
Where can I watch the trailer?
The official Full US Trailer is available on GKids' YouTube channel.
