"100 Meters" Special roundtable discussion released

To commemorate the September 19th release of the animated film " 100 Meters ", based on the manga by Uoto , who is also known for " Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (Chi: Chikyu no Undo ni Tsuite), " which was adapted into a TV anime, a special roundtable discussion video featuring the original author Uoto and voice actors Tori Matsuzaka, Sometani Shota, Koki Uchiyama, and Kenjiro Tsuda has been released on YouTube. In addition to behind-the-scenes stories and notable scenes from the original manga, Sometani and Uoto also talk about the "unexpected bond" that they are proud of.

As Uoto was not allowed to show his face during the roundtable discussion, the voice actors spoke in front of a panel depicting a steamed conger eel topped with plums, creating a surreal exchange. Matsuzaka, who plays the main character Togashi, first asked Uoto about his impressions of the film, to which he praised the voice actors' performances, saying, "The expression is completely different from the manga, and even the running scenes were rotoscoped, which made them vivid and realistic. It was wonderful to have everyone's voices in it."

Next, Sometani was asked about what surprised them about the animated feature film, and the topic turned to the national tournament scene in the high school version. The scene, which shows the athletes entering the track and reaching the starting line in a long take of over three minutes, was one that director Iwaizawa Kenji was particularly particular about, and the voice actors all agreed, saying, "I love that scene" and "It was innovative."

When Uchiyama asked, "If you could talk to yourself when the series first began, now that it has been decided that it will be made into an animated film?", Uchiyama replied, "At first there was talk that the book wouldn't be published, but I'm really happy that it was made into a movie. I think it's all thanks to all of you," expressing his gratitude to the readers. Finally, when Tsuda asked about a line that particularly made an impression on him when creating the series, Uoto mentioned an impactful line from Zaitsu, who came to Komiya's high school, saying, "Think shallowly. Don't underestimate the world. Don't just protect yourself. Even if you win, keep attacking." Then they each talked about their favorite lines.

"100 Meters" is Uoto's debut serialized work, serialized on Kodansha's web manga app Magazine Pocket (Magapoke) from 2018 to 2019. It depicts the madness and passion of those in the world of track and field who are captivated by the brilliance of the 100m (meter) race, a moment that lasts less than 10 seconds. Togashi, a naturally fast runner who has made friends and found a place to belong, meets Komiya, a transfer student who simply runs desperately to forget his harsh reality. Gradually, the two develop a relationship that could be described as both rivals and best friends through the 100-meter dash. A few years later, Komiya, now one of the top runners, appears before Togashi, who has made a name for himself as a genius runner but is terrified of the need to keep winning...

The anime will be directed by Iwaizawa, who was nominated for an Annie Award for his work on "Music," and produced by Rock 'n' Roll Mountain, the studio behind "Music." It will be released in North America in October.