100 Meters Review – Captivating Animation of Young Athletes in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
Much has been recorded about the act of running, a restorative movement with potential for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of professional sports, though, the strain of competition can cause individuals to overlook of this primary objective. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to explore the core impetus that fuels an athlete’s ambition.
Story Synopsis
The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys separate when they turn professional. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the duo move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their internal hurdles, revealing the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, trapped in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and commercial obligations.
Creative Merits
Maybe it’s because of the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the anime falls short in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is traced over real-life video, the feature creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The athletic effort of a sprint is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of contests are etched on the protagonists’ forms.
Unforgettable Scenes
One notably pivotal race concludes in the downpour, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the film aims to evoke.
The 100-Meter Anime is showing in the United Kingdom from November 16.
