100-Meter Dash Review – Mesmerising Animation of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
Much has been documented about the practice of running, a restorative movement with capacity for emotional liberation. In the realm of professional sports, though, the pressure of competition can lead athletes to forget of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past awards and honors to explore the existential drive that drives an sports star’s dream.
Plot Overview
100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths split when they turn professional. Previously the fastest grade-schooler in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the essentials. As the duo move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya consistently improves up the standings of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative tracks their mental obstacles, exposing the difficulties of an sports professional’s journey, trapped in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and sponsorship demands.
Artistic Strengths
Possibly it’s because of the source material, but the movie’s approach to these intricate issues is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in story nuance and pacing, it redeems itself with in breathtaking graphics. Using live-action tracing, in which animation is drawn atop real-life video, the feature produces exquisitely intricate running sequences. The athletic effort of a race is visibly evident, and the pain and the joy of competition are engraved on the characters’ bodies.
Unforgettable Scenes
One particularly momentous race concludes in the storm, with sheets of charcoal lines that overwhelm the screen. Beyond spoken words, these bursts of stylistic brilliance encapsulate the almost spiritual high the film aims to evoke.
The Sprint Film is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.
