100-Meter Dash Review – Mesmerising Animation of Young Athletes in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
A great deal has been recorded about the art of running, a healing activity with capacity for emotional liberation. Within the context of professional sports, yet, the stress of competition can make people lose sight of this ultimate goal. Transposed from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s mesmerising anime goes past prizes and accolades to investigate the existential drive that fuels an sports star’s dream.
Story Synopsis
100 Meters chronicles Togashi and Komiya, childhood friends whose career trajectories separate when they go pro. Once the quickest elementary student in Japan, Togashi guides the less self-assured Komiya with the basics. As the twosome enter their adolescence and adulthood, Komiya consistently improves up the leaderboard of premier sportspeople, while Togashi is mired in a rut; both battle worries and uncertainties. Covering more than 15 years, the tale documents their psychological barriers, exposing the challenges of an athlete’s life, caught in a loop of societal observation, performance expectations and endorsement requirements.
Artistic Strengths
Possibly it’s down to the base story, but the film’s response to these complicated problems is a bit simplistic; time and time again, a lead’s mental struggles quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a peer or a senior. But what 100 Meters lacks in story nuance and tempo, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing live-action tracing, in which animation is drawn atop live-action footage, the movie generates stunningly detailed dash moments. The athletic effort of a dash is clearly shown, and the struggle and triumph of competition are imprinted on the athletes’ physiques.
Unforgettable Scenes
One notably pivotal race concludes in the rain, with sheets of charcoal lines that overwhelm the frame. More than any dialogue, these flourishes of creative mastery encapsulate the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to inspire.
The Sprint Film is in UK cinemas from 16 November.
