100 Meters Film Analysis – Mesmerising Anime of Young Athletes in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been documented about the act of running, a healing activity with capacity for cathartic release. Within the context of professional sports, however, the pressure of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that spurs an sports star’s dream.
Plot Overview
The 100-Meter Film traces Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories split when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo progress into their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle fears and doubts. Spanning more than 15 years, the tale follows their psychological barriers, revealing the struggles of an athlete’s life, caught in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.
Artistic Strengths
Possibly it’s down to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is rather superficial; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a prolonged talk with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and tempo, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Using live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over filmed sequences, the feature produces stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a sprint is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are engraved on the athletes’ physiques.
Unforgettable Scenes
One especially significant race finishes in the storm, with sheets of charcoal lines that engulf the screen. Apart from conversation, these flourishes of stylistic brilliance capture the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to provoke.
The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from the 16th of November.
