100 Meters Anime Film Wins Runner-Up Best Animated Film at Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

GKIDS announced on Bluesky on Monday, December 22, 2025, that the anime film of Uoto's 100 Meters (Hyakuemu) manga won the runner-up award for Best Animated Film at the Florida Film Critics Circle Awards, which took place on Friday, December 19, 2025. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain won the grand prize for Best Animated Film, while 100 Meters secured the runner-up position, marking a significant critical achievement for the sports drama as it moves into global streaming. The movie premiered in Japan on September 19, 2025, and ranked #8 in its opening weekend, earning 102,666,040 yen (about US$694,700) in its first three days. The film held its world premiere at Annecy on June 12, 2025, where it was part of the festival's Work in Progress lineup, building anticipation for its theatrical release. The Japan Society screened the East Coast premiere in New York on October 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. with director Kenji Iwaisawa in attendance, providing fans with an opportunity to experience the film and meet the director. GKIDS screened the film on October 12-14, 2025, in Japanese with English subtitles and with an English dub, making it accessible to both Japanese-speaking and English-speaking audiences. The film also screened in Los Angeles on October 10, 2025, expanding its reach to West Coast viewers. Netflix will stream the film with Japanese audio and English subtitles beginning on December 31, 2025, bringing the award-winning film to a global audience. Tori Matsuzaka plays the gifted runner Togashi, a naturally talented athlete who has won every 100-meter race effortlessly since childhood. Shōta Sometani plays Komiya, a hard worker whose obsession with the 100-meter dash began when he met Togashi as a transfer student in sixth grade. The story follows the intense rivalry and psychological evolution of these two sprinters, exploring themes of natural talent versus determination, mentorship, and personal growth. The anime also stars Kōki Uchiyama as Saizu, Kenjirō Tsuda as Kaidō, Jun Kasama as Nigami (Togashi's teammate), Rie Takahashi as Asakusa (a high school girl who invited Togashi into the team), Yuki Tanaka as Shiina (a high school girl on the team), Atsumi Tanezaki as young Togashi in elementary school, Aoi Yūki as young Komiya in elementary school, Yūma Uchida as Kabanoki (an aspiring world-class runner), Junya Enoki as Numano (a team member when Komiya was in high school), Haruki Ishiya as Kyōden (the team captain when Komiya was in high school), Hiiro Ishibashi as Morikawa (an athlete who looks up to Togashi), and Tomokazu Sugita as Onomichi. This ensemble cast brings together experienced voice actors who will bring depth and personality to the various characters in the story. Kenji Iwaisawa (ON-GAKU: Our Sound) directed the film at Rock 'n' Roll Mountain, bringing his acclaimed hand-drawn animation style to the project. Pony Canyon, TBS TV, and ASMIK Ace are credited with production, demonstrating a collaborative effort between multiple studios. Yasuyuki Mutō (Tokyo Revengers) wrote the script, adapting Uoto's manga for the cinematic format. Keisuke Kojima was the character designer and chief animation director, and Keikankun Yamaguchi was the art director, ensuring visual consistency and quality throughout the film. Producers include Yūsuke Terada, Yūki Katayama, and Akane Taketsugu, overseeing the production process. Hiroaki Tsutsumi composed the music for the film, creating a soundtrack that enhances the emotional and dramatic moments throughout the story. The band Official HiGE DANdism performs the film's theme song "Rashisa," adding to the musical identity of the 100 Meters anime film and bringing a popular contemporary sound to the project. A preview of the film screened at last year's Annecy International Film Festival in June 2025 as part of the festival's Work in Progress lineup. The festival described the story: Togashi is born to run. As a kid, he is naturally gifted and wins every 100-meter race without effort. But in sixth grade, he meets Komiya, a transfer student who is full of determination but lacks technique. In teaching him, Togashi gives Komiya a new purpose: to win no matter what. Years pass by, Togashi and Komiya meet again as rivals on the track and reveal their true selves. Uoto (Orb: On the Movements of the Earth) launched the Hyakuemu manga in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app in November 2018 as Uoto's first series, and Kodansha published the manga's third compiled book volume in August 2019. The manga explores the psychological and emotional journey of two runners with contrasting approaches to the sport, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with readers who appreciate stories about competition, mentorship, and personal growth. The announcement of the Runner-Up Best Animated Film award from the Florida Film Critics Circle marks an important milestone for the 100 Meters anime film, recognizing its quality and impact in the animation industry. The award bolsters the film's reputation following its world premiere at Annecy and its successful theatrical run in Japan, demonstrating that the film has resonated with both audiences and critics. As the film prepares for its Netflix streaming debut on December 31, 2025, this critical recognition will help introduce the award-winning sports drama to a wider global audience. Fans can find official updates on the GKIDS Official Site for theatrical and awards updates, and follow the Official 100 Meters X (Twitter) Account for the latest news and promotional art. The combination of critical acclaim, successful box office performance, and upcoming global streaming availability ensures that 100 Meters will continue to reach new audiences and gain recognition as a standout sports anime film.