100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Animation of Young Athletes in Search for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for cathartic release. Within the context of elite athletics, however, the strain of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past awards and honors to investigate the core impetus that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.
Story Synopsis
The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories diverge when they turn professional. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the pair enter their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both confront anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their mental obstacles, exposing the challenges of an athlete’s life, caught in a pattern of societal observation, result pressures and sponsorship demands.
Creative Merits
Perhaps it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; frequently, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the anime falls short in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which animation is drawn atop filmed sequences, the movie creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The physical exertion of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.
Impactful Sequences
One particularly momentous race concludes in the rain, with cascades of charcoal lines that immerse the scene. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the almost spiritual high the film aims to provoke.
100 Meters is released in Britain from November 16.
