"100 Meters" Manga artist Uo Yutaka's competitive philosophy: what is the significance of using rotoscoping?

Synopsis of "100 Meters"

Togashi is a naturally fast runner who has earned himself both friends and a place to belong, while Komiya, a transfer student, simply runs as hard as he can to forget his harsh reality. Togashi teaches Komiya how to run faster, and the two practice together after school. Komiya finds something to devote himself to and begins to passionately pursue records. Gradually, the two develop a relationship that can be described as both rivals and best friends through the 100m race. A few years later, Togashi (Matsuzaka Tori) has made a name for himself as a genius runner, but is terrified by the fear of having to keep winning. One day, Komiya (Sometani Shota), who has become one of the top runners, appears before him.

Index

• A distance of 100m and a time of about 10 seconds
• The significance of rotoscoping
• Kaido's competitive philosophy
• Process Philosophy Perspective

A distance of 100m and a time of about 10 seconds

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When children were in elementary school, they were respected for coming first in a running race. Perhaps it was because it was an opportunity to show off their instinctive strength as living creatures. However, as they grow older, they come to realize that in modern urban life, being a "fast runner" is not such an advantageous ability.

Togashi, a character in the manga " 100 Meters ", boasts that "most problems can be solved if you're just 100 meters faster than anyone else" when he was in elementary school. This is a truth that only Togashi, an elite elementary school sprinter who was ranked number one in the country, could say. However, maintaining such an advantage into adulthood is an extremely difficult task, as it requires one to stand out among all active athletes.

The animated film "100 Meters" is based on a manga by popular manga artist Uoto, who is also known for " Chi: About the Movement of the Earth ." It depicts from a unique angle the struggle of people who devote their lives to running as fast as possible, concentrating on a distance of 100m, a time of about 10 seconds.

"100 Meters" © Uo Toyo, Kodansha / "100 Meters" Production Committee

The story centers around Togashi, an elementary school student who is number one in the nation in the 100m. He has a tense, hard-boiled look for an elementary school student. He is such a super elementary school student that he has been interviewed in specialist magazines, and one day he comes across a transfer student, Komiya, running with a terrible form. Komiya, who is not good at socializing, says that he deals with the reality that does not go his way by overworking his body, saying that it "distracts him."

Unable to leave Komiya like that, Togashi decides to teach him how to run, saying, "It's a waste to run for that reason," and "If he could just be 100 meters faster than anyone else, everything would be solved." Komiya certainly has poor communication skills, and there is a high possibility that he will be pushed into a disadvantageous situation or isolated in society in the future. However, if he can achieve remarkable results that are recognized by everyone and put himself in the spotlight, even his reticence will be viewed favorably, and rather than being seen as a flaw, he will be praised as the secret to his speed. It is precisely because real society is so unfair that certain results can become the "universal solution."

However, even Togashi, who preaches this truth, hits a major wall. As he grows up and becomes a high school student, he still displays overwhelming ability, but the frustration and pressure of not being able to improve his times as much as he would like leads him to consider quitting the sport. However, when an enthusiastic senior on the track and field team asks him to run, Togashi regains his passion for the 100m sprint. Then, at the high school national championships, he meets Komiya again for the first time since elementary school, and they face off as rivals.

The significance of rotoscoping