100-Meter Dash Review – Captivating Animation of Emerging Sports Stars in Search for Physical and Spiritual High
Much has been written about the practice of running, a therapeutic exercise with ability for therapeutic unburdening. Within the context of competitive games, though, the pressure of contests can make people lose sight of this fundamental aim. Reimagined from the eponymous manga, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime transcends prizes and accolades to investigate the inner motivation that fuels an competitor’s aspiration.
Narrative Summary
100 Meters follows Togashi and Komiya, early-life buddies whose life paths split when they turn professional. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi assists the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome move through their youth and early maturity, Komiya progressively advances up the leaderboard of top athletes, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both battle worries and uncertainties. Spanning more than 15 years, the narrative follows their internal hurdles, exposing the challenges of an competitor’s existence, caught in a pattern of media attention, achievement demands and endorsement requirements.
Visual Highlights
Possibly it’s because of the original work, but the movie’s approach to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; time and time again, a character’s inner doubts simply disappear after a lengthy conversation with a fellow athlete or mentor. But what 100 Meters is deficient in plot refinement and rhythm, it compensates for in stunning imagery. Using live-action tracing, in which cartooning is drawn atop live-action footage, the film creates stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a sprint is on full display, and the struggle and triumph of contests are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.
Impactful Sequences
One notably pivotal race finishes in the downpour, with sheets of grey strokes that overwhelm the screen. More than any dialogue, these displays of creative mastery encapsulate the quasi-enlightened elation the animation aims to evoke.
100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from the 16th of November.
