100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Animation of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with ability for therapeutic unburdening. In the sphere of elite athletics, however, the pressure of contests can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Reimagined from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime transcends prizes and accolades to examine the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.
Plot Overview
The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose personal journeys diverge when they enter elite competition. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Encompassing more than 15 years, the tale follows their psychological barriers, revealing the challenges of an sports professional’s journey, locked in a cycle of public scrutiny, performance expectations and commercial obligations.
Creative Merits
Possibly it’s due to the original work, but the animation’s answer to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; frequently, a protagonist’s uncertainties simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and tempo, it makes up for in stunning imagery. Using trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop filmed sequences, the movie generates exquisitely intricate dash moments. The physical exertion of a dash is on full display, and the suffering and elation of rivalry are engraved on the characters’ bodies.
Impactful Sequences
One especially significant race concludes in the rain, with torrents of grey strokes that immerse the screen. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of creative mastery capture the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to provoke.
100 Meters is released in Britain from the 16th of November.
