100 Meters Review – Captivating Anime of Young Athletes in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of professional sports, however, the strain of rivalry can lead athletes to forget of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that fuels an athlete’s ambition.
Plot Overview
The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose personal journeys split when they enter elite competition. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the story tracks their mental obstacles, revealing the struggles of an competitor’s existence, locked in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.
Artistic Strengths
Possibly it’s down to the original work, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a extended discussion with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Utilizing rotoscoping, in which drawn art is traced over real-life video, the movie produces stunningly detailed running sequences. The physical exertion of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.
Memorable Moments
One especially significant race finishes in the rain, with sheets of charcoal lines that engulf the scene. Apart from conversation, these displays of creative mastery embody the almost spiritual high the animation aims to provoke.
The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.
