100 METERS
it was my first time seeing rotoscoping used, and it added a whole new depth to the animation that i’d never experienced before. yes, i’m a nerd for anime.
the duality between being gifted and being relentless is what makes this film good. i resonated with this entire film. i was the fastest runner when i was younger up until a certain point, then suddenly others were faster. that first feeling of loss, of realising talent can only take you so far and Kenji Iwaisawa captured it all with this film. also, he made the anime Orb so it makes so much sense why i enjoyed it now😭
i think it’s a great life lesson about committing to your “distance” and “running” at it with everything you got. and the feeling of being stuck despite being good, not actually going anywhere… togashi is literally me😔 but i loved how the film shows passion pulling you back when you’re lost, and how rivals and competition feel necessary but natural
that race in the rain with the heavy use of pathetic fallacy.. WOW, genuinely made it feel like time stopped. then being told “you’re not what you used to be”… yeah, that was too real. him breaking down in front of the kids he’s advising was also like DAMN. all that pent up anger and sadness just all came out
the ending frustrated me but in a good way. the parallel between them running as kids and now, and the decision not to show who wins. but, both togashi and komiya smiling. telling us how winning isn’t the goal, but the run itself was the finish all along, so enjoy it