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

Process Philosophy Perspective

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Zaitsu's eccentric speeches and comments in interviews reflect Uoyutaka's true essence. Humans are living beings, and because we are all going to die anyway, it's important to give it your all without thinking about the consequences. It's important to focus on the content while also being particular about the results. And it's important to savor and enjoy those "superb 10 seconds." This is no longer about athletics; it seems to have shifted to a philosophy of life, about how much you can concentrate and devote yourself to something and make the most of your life.

After a setback, Komiya becomes deeply anxious that his path of focusing solely on records may have been wrong. Not only that, but he also falls into a kind of "existential anxiety" wondering what the point will be even if he achieves the results he wants. This topic of Komiya's anxiety is close to the core of "existentialism" in actual philosophy.

Existentialism began with Kierkegaard in the 19th century and was further developed by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus in the 20th century. As Sartre said, the realization that "existence has no essence" succinctly characterizes this way of thinking. However, even if one pursues only what actually exists, results and achievements, it naturally fosters an "existential anxiety" that leads to feelings of meaninglessness and isolation, and this is precisely what overlaps with Komiya's conflict.

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

In response to these issues, this philosophy argues that anxiety stems from the search for the essence and meaning of life from outside. Sartre argues that while it is true that life has no predetermined meaning, this is precisely why we should create meaning through our own actions. Perhaps people like Komiya, who become unable to find meaning in their results and become anxious, have become too dependent on external evaluations for the value of their lives. In response to this type of problem, Sartre argues that meaning in life is not something that is given to us, but something that we choose and create ourselves, and advocates a way of life in which we make our own choices.

And if Kaito can pull off a miraculous run, then perhaps more physically superior athletes shouldn't stop there, but rather use the feedback they receive to move forward and enjoy the experience itself. Zaitsu's perspective of appreciating the process itself, not just the results, is similar to "process philosophy." This philosophy, pioneered by Alfred North Whitehead in the 20th century, proposes that all existence in the universe is not a fixed entity, but a "series of changes" interconnected in a continuous and dynamic way. This process-centered perspective, in contrast to a focus on results, provides an effective response to Komiya's concerns. It's a universal concept that can be applied to many people's outlooks on life.

Perhaps it is precisely because the 100m sprint is such a simple sport that it is able to reflect such universal ideas. The original work, which recognized this potential, is extraordinary in its content, but this film, which has broadened its appeal by streamlining the story and presenting it in a balanced and realistic way as a visual work, can also be said to have acquired a significant existence, just like the athletes who appear in it.

Text: Kei Onodera

A film critic who wanders around and writes for web media and magazines, aiming to become a movie hermit. We will convey the "deep" content of the movie in an easy-to-understand manner from various angles.

Twitter: @kmovie

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