100-Meter Dash Review – Mesmerising Anime of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Mind-Body Elevation
Plenty has been written about the art of running, a restorative movement with ability for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, however, the strain of contests can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s spellbinding anime looks beyond prizes and accolades to explore the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.
Narrative Summary
The 100-Meter Film follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose career trajectories separate when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less confident Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle worries and uncertainties. Encompassing more than 15 years, the narrative documents their psychological barriers, revealing the difficulties of an athlete’s life, trapped in a cycle of societal observation, result pressures and commercial obligations.
Artistic Strengths
Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the movie’s approach to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; repeatedly, a protagonist’s uncertainties just vanish after a lengthy conversation with a colleague or elder. But what the film is deficient in story nuance and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Employing trace-over animation, in which drawn art is drawn atop real-life video, the feature produces exquisitely intricate dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of rivalry are etched on the characters’ bodies.
Impactful Sequences
One particularly momentous race ends in the downpour, with torrents of charcoal lines that overwhelm the frame. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of artistic excellence encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to provoke.
100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.
