Kenji Iwaisawa, celebrated for his indie rock anime movie ON-GAKU: Our Sound, is back in the director’s seat with a new project that promises just as much visual and narrative flair. 100M (Hyakuemu), an upcoming anime film, has revealed its cast, composer, and debut date in a newly released teaser. Here’s everything we know about this exciting adaptation of Uoto’s manga.
What is 100M About?
100M is based on the manga series of the same name by Uoto, who is also known for Orb: On the Movements of the Earth. The story centers around two runners, Togashi and Komiya. Togashi is a naturally gifted athlete who dominates the 100-meter race effortlessly from a young age. His life takes an interesting turn when he meets Komiya, a transfer student with immense determination but lacking in natural talent and technique. Togashi takes Komiya under his wing and teaches him, sparking in Komiya a desire to win, no matter the cost. As the years pass, Togashi and Komiya find themselves as rivals on the track, each revealing their true selves as they compete.
A preview of the film screened at the Annecy International Film Festival in June 2024 as part of the festival’s Work in Progress lineup.
Release Date
Mark your calendars! 100M is set to premiere in Japanese theaters on September 19, 2025. For North American audiences, GKIDS has licensed the film and will release it in theaters in October 2025, both in its original Japanese version and with a new English-language version.
The Creative Team
Behind 100M is a talented team:
- Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
- Original Creator: Uoto
- Screenplay: Yasuyuki Mutō (Tokyo Revengers, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway)
- Character Designer & Chief Animation Director: Keisuke Kojima
- Art Director: Keikankun Yamaguchi
- Music Composer: Hiroaki Tsutsumi
The film is being produced at Rock ‘n’ Roll Mountain, with Pony Canyon, TBS TV, and ASMIK Ace credited with production alongside GKIDS. Yūsuke Terada, Yūki Katayama, and Akane Taketsugu are serving as producers.
Kenji Iwaisawa
Kenji Iwaisawa is the director of 100M. He is most well known for ON-GAKU: Our Sound, a film that took seven years to hand-draw and features a trio of high school delinquents who start a rock band despite having no musical experience. Iwaisawa was responsible for almost everything in the movie, including script writing, art design, and animation direction.
Hiroaki Tsutsumi
Hiroaki Tsutsumi is the music composer for 100M.
Yasuyuki Mutō
Yasuyuki Mutō is the screenwriter for 100M. He is also known for his work on Tokyo Revengers and Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway.
The Cast
The film features the voice talents of:
- Tori Matsuzaka as Togashi
- Shōta Sometani as Komiya
Tori Matsuzaka
Tori Matsuzaka is a Japanese actor who will be voicing Togashi. While he largely performs in live-action roles, such as in the TV series adaptation of In This Corner of the World and the 2022 Whisper of the Heart film, he also has experience in animated films, including Hello World and New Dimension! Crayon Shinchan the Movie: Battle of Supernatural Records ~Shonen Soldier.
Shōta Sometani
Shōta Sometani is a Japanese actor who will be voicing Komiya.
What to Expect
Given Kenji Iwaisawa’s track record with ON-GAKU: Our Sound, audiences can anticipate a unique and visually compelling film. ON-GAKU is known for its distinctive animation style, deadpan humor, and a story that celebrates the raw energy of music and the awkwardness of adolescence. 100M looks to bring a similar level of artistic focus, this time set against the backdrop of competitive sports.
ON-GAKU: Our Sound follows three delinquents, Kenji, Asakura, and Ota, who decide to start a band despite not knowing anything about instruments or how to play music. Kenji just decides he wants to start a band because he felt like it, and the other two decide to join in. Their band has a single drum and two basses, and they strum and mash things randomly. Despite their clear lack of talent, they keep at it and remain as talentless as ever, but they still have fun doing it.
ON-GAKU took seven years to hand-draw, with each frame resembling the tedious work that went into anime in previous decades. The film mixes in scenes of animation derived from tracing live footage, particularly in scenes showing the characters making music. The characters are drawn with simple shapes and lines, and long pauses and still images are used throughout the film, adding to the comedic effect.
The film garnered numerous awards and nominations, including:
- Ottawa International Animation Festival: Grand Prize for Best Animated Feature (2019)
- Asian Film Awards: Nominee for Best Composer (2020)
- Annecy International Animated Film Festival: Winner for Best Original Music Award (2020)
- Annie Awards: Nominee for Best Animated Independent Feature (2021)
- Mainichi Film Concours: Nominee for Best Animation Film (2021)
Where did 100M come from?
100M is based on the manga series of the same name by Uoto. The manga was serialized on Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket website and app from November 2018 to August 2019, and its chapters were collected into five tankōbon volumes.
Final Thoughts
With a talented cast and crew, and a compelling story about rivalry and self-discovery, 100M is shaping up to be a must-see anime film. Keep an eye out for its release in Japan this September, and in North America in October!
