100-Meter Dash Review – Captivating Animation of Emerging Sports Stars in Quest for Physical and Spiritual High
Plenty has been recorded about the act of running, a restorative movement with potential for emotional liberation. Within the context of elite athletics, though, the pressure of rivalry can cause individuals to overlook of this fundamental aim. Adapted from the same-named comic, Kenji Iwaisawa’s enthralling anime looks beyond trophies and medals to explore the core impetus that spurs an competitor’s aspiration.
Story Synopsis
The Sprint Story chronicles Togashi and Komiya, youth companions whose life paths diverge when they go pro. Formerly the speediest young pupil in Japan, Togashi helps the less self-assured Komiya with the fundamentals. As the twosome progress into their teens and their 20s, Komiya progressively advances up the standings of elite competitors, while Togashi is stuck in a slump; both struggle with anxieties and insecurities. Covering more than 15 years, the narrative follows their psychological barriers, laying bare the difficulties of an competitor’s existence, caught in a loop of societal observation, achievement demands and sponsorship demands.
Visual Highlights
Perhaps it’s due to the source material, but the film’s response to these complex dilemmas is somewhat facile; time and time again, a protagonist’s uncertainties quickly dissolve after a prolonged talk with a colleague or elder. But what the film falls short in narrative subtlety and rhythm, it redeems itself with in dazzling visuals. Employing rotoscoping, in which animation is superimposed on filmed sequences, the feature creates exquisitely intricate sprinting scenes. The bodily strain of a race is visibly evident, and the suffering and elation of contests are etched on the protagonists’ forms.
Memorable Moments
One notably pivotal race concludes in the downpour, with torrents of grey strokes that immerse the screen. Apart from conversation, these bursts of artistic excellence capture the near-transcendent euphoria the animation aims to evoke.
100 Meters is showing in the United Kingdom from 16 November.
