100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Anime of Young Athletes in Search for Physical and Spiritual High
Plenty has been written about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for emotional liberation. In the sphere of professional sports, yet, the strain of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond trophies and medals to investigate the inner motivation that drives an athlete’s ambition.
Story Synopsis
The 100-Meter Film chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the pair progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both battle fears and doubts. Encompassing more than 15 years, the story follows their internal hurdles, laying bare the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a pattern of public scrutiny, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.
Visual Highlights
Maybe it’s because of the base story, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is rather superficial; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a extended discussion with a colleague or elder. But what the film is deficient in narrative subtlety and tempo, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Employing live-action tracing, in which animation is superimposed on filmed sequences, the film creates remarkably precise sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a sprint is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of contests are etched on the athletes’ physiques.
Impactful Sequences
One particularly momentous race finishes in the downpour, with torrents of monochrome brushwork that overwhelm the frame. More than any dialogue, these bursts of artistic excellence embody the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to inspire.
The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from 16 November.
