100 Meters Review – Mesmerising Anime of Young Athletes in Search for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been documented about the art of running, a restorative movement with capacity for emotional liberation. Within the context of competitive games, yet, the strain of competition can cause individuals to overlook of this ultimate goal. Adapted from the original graphic novel, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime goes past awards and honors to investigate the core impetus that drives an sports star’s dream.
Plot Overview
The Sprint Story traces Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose personal journeys split when they enter elite competition. Previously the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the duo move through their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is trapped in a decline; both struggle with fears and doubts. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative documents their psychological barriers, exposing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, locked in a pattern of media attention, result pressures and commercial obligations.
Artistic Strengths
Maybe it’s down to the source material, but the animation’s answer to these complicated problems is somewhat facile; repeatedly, a lead’s mental struggles simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what the film lacks in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Using trace-over animation, in which animation is superimposed on filmed sequences, the film creates remarkably precise running sequences. The athletic effort of a sprint is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of competition are imprinted on the protagonists’ forms.
Impactful Sequences
One especially significant race concludes in the downpour, with sheets of monochrome brushwork that immerse the screen. Beyond spoken words, these displays of creative mastery capture the almost spiritual high the animation aims to inspire.
The 100-Meter Anime is released in Britain from 16 November.
