100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Animation of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Mind-Body Elevation

A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a therapeutic exercise with potential for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of professional sports, yet, the strain of contests can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that spurs an athlete’s ambition.

Story Synopsis

The Sprint Story follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths separate when they turn professional. Once the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the more uncertain Komiya with the basics. As the pair progress into their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the ranking of elite competitors, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the story documents their mental obstacles, laying bare the struggles of an competitor’s existence, caught in a loop of public scrutiny, result pressures and sponsorship demands.

Visual Highlights

Possibly it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; frequently, a character’s inner doubts just vanish after a extended discussion with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters falls short in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in dazzling visuals. Utilizing live-action tracing, in which drawn art is traced over live-action footage, the feature generates remarkably precise dash moments. The athletic effort of a race is clearly shown, and the pain and the joy of contests are imprinted on the characters’ bodies.

Memorable Moments

One especially significant race concludes in the storm, with sheets of grey strokes that engulf the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the movie aims to evoke.

100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.