
a review by 10Suna

a review by 10Suna
Production: 10/10
Kenji Iwaisawa really pushed the boundaries of his style of animation and artistic vision with this movie, rotoscoping was always viewed as this limited technology, if not directly then by how it's only used in a limited variety of scenes where it works best.
Iwaisawa saw an opportunity in this grounded work to use rotoscoping so much it'd be absurd if not for how fantastic it came out, and went on to make, honestly, THE single most impressive rotoscoped scene I have ever seen, and also one of the most impressive animated scenes in general. (genuinely interested if anyone saw rotoscoping done any better)
Voice acting was really good as expected of all the Seiyuus, Wonderful soundtrack (with a running version too).
very well paced, can't say on the adaptation since I haven't read the manga but the final product's full of signs pointing at its excellence.
Plot: N/A
Uoto, Uoto, Uoto ..
With all eyes on him after Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, he not only did not fail the expectations set on this new piece of work, but he managed to leave a touch of his philosophy and his writing style from Orb.
There's not much to say on the plot, it uses some cliches well to help deliver its message in a limited run-time, and the actual story is what you'd expect, it follows the Career of a bunch of people as they run the 100-meter race with more on the line than just medals .. more on that in the next section.
Characters: 15/10
The real reason I wanted to write the review is here, any small grip or nitpick that I had, or anything that went against my preference are all triumphed by the characters.
But I admit calling this section characters is misleading, characters -while they serve as characters with their own motives and way they go about them- are really just there to carve the messages of the movie IN.
We first see Togashi sweeping the races at his school, and learnt that he's the talented type, his body just knows the correct running form, he has good balance and he shifts his weight correctly, so with some good running technique he's unbeatable at school, but his biggest struggle is his gift itself.
"Running the 100m faster than anyone else can solve almost anything.", this didn't make sense to Komiya at first, but Togashi really meant it.
As gifted kids go, he relies too much on his success for his life to go on, he's popular because he runs faster than anyone else, he wins medals and gets recognition because he runs faster than anyone else, he gets approval from seniors and even goes on TV because he runs faster than anyone else.
"For what reason do you run ?"
The questions he goes around asking other people.
"You're misusing running for such a dumb reason."
if running is a sport to set records or to chill out for others, for him it was the pillar his life was built upon, he doesn't KNOW what life's like NOT running faster than anyone, that's why as he grew up and noticed the bar for other runners go up while he doesn't improve much, he feared running anymore.
Togashi doesn't join a running powerhouse school, and doesn't join the track and field club, he fears going second as much as he fears death itself, as they're one and the same to the life he's leading.
"50 times"
when Togashi decides to go back to running, it's not out of overcoming any fear, all he says is simply "Sprinting all out like that again reminded me of something, that I'm damn fast"
he didn't overcome his fear by that point, only started thinking he's invincible again, so he gave running another shot .. if for the wrong reason
"Togashi, your running style changed"
The last words words he heard as his biggest fear he came, heavy rain pouring down washing down all colors, washing out all thought, drowning out all background noise and the crowd's cheer.
Then 10 years later here he is, living in a delusion, a delusion with a promise.
"I'm doing just enough to get by", he thinks that by never giving it his all again, he can keep thinking "I would've if I tried" and "I've got better I just don't care that much" .. etc
That's until he meets Kaidou
"Running with your eyes open and standing still with your eyes closed differ, looking straight into reality is terrifying, you see.
you must accept things you hate, but if you want to change reality or negate it you must face it first, as soon as you close your eyes, you'll stop moving for good"
he'd been escaping reality the wrong way all this time, now he knows that giving it your all every time, fully recognizing the odds and crowd aren't on your side, but always thinking you're gonna win next time
now that's a way to live, not just survive, he found his reason for running
"However, none of those can strip the sheer joy that we feel when we're giving our all."
"I think you would've won the race"
While Togashi still feared defeat, and feared racing Nikami, all Komiya could think of was how Togashi could beat his senior, no feat was impossible and no record was set in stone to him
"I want to be a national record holder."
Being faster than someone was not it anymore, he had to be the fastest, full stop, he'd keep eating himself till he gets there, to prove his worth by being the absolute best at something, with a definitive metric no less.
"There's only one reason why you can run at such speed, it's your willpower
That's a red flag. A runner who can remove their limiter via emotion has no brakes!
Even if they attain momentary glory, they'll keep running till they crash."
perhaps the most honest life advice he got, and sure enough.
"My record was beaten by someone who doesn't care about records .. Even if I set a new record again, what's waiting for me beyond that?
What the hell are we running for?"
Komiya was so focused on the results, he forgot the joy of running the track, even claiming to have never seen or experiencing it, that's when he gets his flame ignited again by Togashi .. a simply invitation to feel the joy of giving something your all no matter the reality nor outcome.
But it always seems like to him, track and field is a chore, sprinting is like taking over his dad's shop for him, people treat him well, but not how you'd treat a normal person
"Did they treat you well ?", "Is coffee good ?" and a fancy introduction when he goes on TV or on stage.
At the end he couldn't find company even amongst pro-runners, in turn he couldn't run as fast and ended up quitting
Yet still, he realizes the effect the 100m has on people, the euphoria that only running this distance allows, and the package of emotions you feel in the 10 seconds you give your all for, he knows what people run for.
But life on edge to hold a record for as long as possible, a life constantly in the spotlights, a life competing with no one but yourself, like a dog chasing its tail endlessly, he was done with that kind of life.
he simply had a reason to run, and it was the most solid of them all, the one he passed on to Togashi and Togashi passed on to Komiya.
.
And now they're all running towards the finish line, there can only be one winner, and that matters so much yet it doesn't.
it's so important here that we don't see who wins, only those 10 seconds.
Afterall winning the race is only there to make giving your, all if only just for those 10 seconds, putting everything you have on the line, risking anything you'd lose if you're outperformed, having everything to gain if you win, all of that is just there to make the euphoria of running all the more worthwhile.
Those 100 meters, where your life is condensed, are the biggest joy and greatest honor one could have, enough to die for, yet enough to live for.
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