by As the fourth gift for moviegoers of the animated film “Hyakuem,” based on Uo Yutaka’s original work, a limited number of original visual postcards will be distributed at theaters nationwide starting October 10th.
The visual postcard depicts Togashi and Komiya preparing side by side with concentrated expressions before the finals of the national high school tournament. The visual was created by Keisuke Kojima, who has worked on numerous anime titles, including “One-Punch Man” and “Furiren’s Funeral,” and served as character designer and general animation director for “Hyakuem.” Character design images of Togashi, Komiya, Zaitsu, and Kaido in their uniforms have also been unveiled. Kojima commented, “Uo Yutaka’s characters are not simply artistic skill; I feel they have a certain presence. Uo Yutaka is someone who can create a passion that cannot be achieved through mere artistic skill alone.
The most challenging part of this anime adaptation was preserving that passion.” Additionally, a comment has arrived from director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, known for films such as “Look Back.” He states of the film, “106 minutes is the culmination of the team’s daily efforts, led by the crazy Coach Iwaizawa. But we get to witness that fruition, the fleeting moment of life that is the 100m.” Comments also came from OWV’s Fumiya Sano and volleyball player Airi Miyabe. Currently in theaters, “100m.” is a story set in the world of track and field, depicting the passion and madness of those captivated by the fleeting brilliance of the 100m. Tori Matsuzaka plays Togashi, a naturally fast, “talented” runner. In contrast, Shota Sometani plays Komiya, a “hardworking” runner who becomes obsessed with the 100m after meeting Togashi. Comment from Keisuke Kojima Regarding character design: I feel that the characters drawn by Uo Toyo have a “power” that goes beyond mere artistic skill. I believe the University of Tokyo is capable of generating a passion that cannot be achieved through mere artistic skill alone.
The most challenging part of adapting this work into an anime was preserving that passion. Regarding Togashi, as he grows from elementary school to high school and into the working world, I was conscious of making him look like Togashi at every age. In the original work, his face changes the most depending on his mood, so I struggled to decide what to base his character on.
Regarding Komiya, when he reappears in the high school arc, he has lost the madness he exhibited in the elementary school arc and now has a softer impression. However, after hearing Zaitsu’s words, Komiya regains his madness, creating a difference in his facial expression. Regarding Zaitsu, my first impression was that he is a character with eyes like a “god” that look out over the entire world. One wrong move would have resulted in dead-looking eyes, so I was careful to avoid that.
Regarding Beidou, drawing him was challenging because he has numerous details, such as sunglasses and a beard. Also, despite his beard, he is still young, so I tried to keep him from looking too old. Director Oshiyama Kiyotaka’s comment: The movie experience. It’s… such a short time in life. Behind the scenes, we have no way of knowing how much time these characters spent, what their days were like, or how many losers they had accumulated.
These 106 minutes are the culmination of the team’s hard work, led by the crazy Coach Iwaizawa. But we get to witness that fruition in the blink of an eye in life, the 100m. Comment from Sano Fumiya (OWV): I’ve appeared on running programs myself, and I’ve felt both pressure and loneliness as I continued to win. “100m” depicts the pain of both the winner and the challenger, which really struck me. It’s a work that inspires everyone. Continuing to win is a source of pride, but it can also be a lonely experience.
The pressure of “I have to win again” is always there, clinging to your back and never letting go. “100m” depicts both the image of continuing to run while bearing that pressure and the frustration of never reaching your goal, no matter how hard you try, and I found myself relating to it many times. Seeing the characters run, despite all that was going on, was so moving that it inspired me to keep moving forward as well.
It will encourage everyone who takes on a challenge and will inspire many. Comment from Miyabe Airi: Athletics and volleyball are different sports, but I never thought I would come across a work that I could project myself into so well…!! That’s all I can say. What drives them? What is the view that awaits them once they surpass their own strength? I was deeply moved by the way they put “everything” into the 100m. Theatrical animation “100 M.” Now showing nationwide
Staff Original work: Uo Toyo’s “100 M.” (published in Kodansha’s “Magazine Pocket”) Director: Iwaisawa Kenji Screenplay: Muto Yasuyuki Character design and chief animation director: Kojima Keisuke Art director: Yamaguchi Keikan Music: Tsutsumi Hiroaki Producers: Terada Yusuke, Katayama Yuki, Takeji Akane Animation production: Rock’n’Roll Mountain Production: “100 M.” Production Committee Distribution: Pony Canyon/Asmik Ace
Cast Matsuzaka Tori, Sometani Shota, Kasama Jun, Takahashi Rie, Tanaka Yuki, Tanezaki Atsumi, Yuki Aoi, Uchida Yuma, Uchiyama Kouki, Tsuda Kenjiro (c) Uo Toyo, Kodansha/”100 M.” Production Committee
