It has been announced that the manga "Hyakuem." (author: Uoto) will be adapted into a theatrical anime set for release in 2025. Along with this announcement, a special illustration and comments from the author Uoto have been revealed, with Rock'n Roll Mountain handling the animation production.

The story is a passionate tale of individuals who dedicate their lives to the glory and setbacks of the 100-meter dash, a mere ten-second moment of brilliance in the world of athletics. It portrays the human drama of Togashi, a sixth-grader whose only talent is his speed, and Komiya, a gloomy transfer student who is slow at running. Togashi argues that "being the fastest for just 100 meters can solve everything" and expresses that the 100-meter distance "gives power to time" and "determines human value." This work marks the debut serialization of rising star Uoto, who also won the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for "Orb: On the Movements of the Earth." The manga started serialization on the "Magazine Pocket" app in 2018.

Directing the theatrical anime is Kenji Iwaisawa, a cutting-edge creator known for his feature debut "On-Gaku: Our Sound," which received high praise at numerous film awards both domestically and internationally, including a nomination at the Annie Awards, often referred to as the "Academy Awards of the animation world." The film had a long run of nine months in theaters in 2020 and has a strong following among many notable figures in the film industry.

The special illustration released depicts the protagonist Togashi standing on the track under a blue sky. His calm yet somewhat wistful gaze hints at the intense battles of the men aiming for the fastest speed.

Author Uoto commented, "I am excited to see how the characters, who have been manipulated by 'distance,' will output their 'speed' through the 'time' of the movie, which is different from the manga. As one of the viewers, I am eagerly looking forward to the start of the race." Director Iwaisawa expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Running is simple, yet expressing it is challenging. We are shaping the images we have reached while feeling this difficulty daily."

Additionally, "Hyakuem." has been selected for the "Work in Progress" section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, known as the world's largest animation film festival. On June 11 (local time), Director Iwaisawa and others will present the work in progress to local movie fans and international film industry professionals.

Source : ORICON NEWS