Togashi (Tori Matsuzaka/Atsumi Tanezaki) is dedicated to the 100-meter sprint, believing that winning that race can solve all problems in life. When he meets transfer student Komiya (Shota Sometani/Aoi Yuki), who is passionate about running, but lacks Togashi’s ability, he decides to train him. After Komiya moves away, the pair meet again years later, now both competent runners and rivals for the National Championships. Meanwhile, other sprinters battling their own demons, are also hoping to claim the coveted number one spot: Zaitsu (Koki Uchiyama), the national record holder, Kaido (Kenjiro Tsuda), his long-time competitor, and Nigami (Jun Kasama), a former star struggling with confidence and physical health.
“100 Meters”, based on the manga by Uoto, with a script by Yasuyuki Muto, appears on the surface as a traditional sports film, with our young protagonists working to overcome various obstacles on their path to greatness. However, the film’s strength is in using the 100 meters race as a metaphor for life itself. Characters often discourse on the event, their drive to win, how they cope with failure, the purpose of running, and whether it is all for naught with the solemnity of people in an existential crisis. For them the race is life in microcosm, the joy, pain, suffering, beauty, thrill, the fear and the potential for glory. The film does an incredible job in bringing to life exactly what it means to the characters. Director Kenji Iwaisawa uses rotoscoping to create lifelike movement that seems unfamiliar at first when compared to traditional animation, but becomes vital in realising this world. It also allows for flowing camera movement and some stunning scenes when paired with the impressionistic style that breaks in on the realism at points. The sequence in which the runners prepare to race in the rain, a mix of rotoscoping and artistic weather effects blends both form and feeling in a unique and compelling style. This method of animation also allows for the performances to shine through, with a top class cast capturing the spirit of each character and their particular world view. Alongside, the main runners we also have a great supporting cast including Rie Takahashi, Yuki Tanaka, and Hiro Ishibashi. The music by Hiroaki Tsutsumi, is used at moments of high-drama to add a kick of adrenaline, getting the blood pumping alongside the athletes as we feel the excitement coursing before and during races.
“100 meters” focusses on a specific event in a specific discipline, but could just as easily have been about any individual event. As mentioned above, the main focus of the film is the relationship between Togashi and Komiya. It is wrong to call it a rivalry as we come to learn that they are not really racing against each other but against themselves; something that Nigami’s character almost states explicitly at one point. Komiya’s believes that nothing matters in the world; he runs because the pursuit of new records has become all-consuming for him; but he is disatisfied, no longer seeing any true value in this pursuit. Togashi, in contrast, comes to have a diffrerent view of the sport; and Zaitsu, Kaido and Nigami likewise all appear to be running for different reasons: either to prove something to themselves, to finally overcome their sense of inadequacy, or because it is all they have. Instead of asking “Why do we run?” the audience is forced to confront the more troubling question of “Why do we live?” What is the purpose of life, when we may not achieve our ultimate goal; or always feel second-best; when we are beset with tragedy and trials; when even victory seems hollow? The film’s answer to this question seems to lie in the final smile of Togashi, and for viewers willing to accept it the film provides solace in a seemingly bleak world.
