Look Back

Fujino was the leading manga creator for her school until Kyomoto, the class recluse, entered the scene. From then on, they grew together and pushed each other to improve themselves and achieve their dreams. They were on top of the manga game until Kyomoto decided to branch off and go at it alone. They continued to do what they loved until tragedy struck, forcing Fujino to reevaluate her circumstances.

This is a beautiful anime film about how people can find a friend in the most unlikely of places and how that person can push them to greatness. The story is simple but uses the full range of human emotion. The animation changes as the story progresses, giving the film a unique look. With a runtime of fifty-eight minutes, the story is not rushed. It focuses on the significant parts of Fujino and Kyomoto's story. This is an excellent film for all and should be streamed or watched in theaters as soon as possible.

Look Back is a debut anime, and yet it already connects with some of the masterpiece of Japanese animation.

A coming of age story, Look Back tells the story of two kids sharing the same dream. Complex feelings such as jealousy, competition, friendship, codependency, social anxiety, ambition, grief and trauma are told in such a delicate and genuine way.

Watching this movie made me feel very nostalgic, thinking about my dream as a kid and how self critical we are towards ourselves. In some moments, it reminded me of Your Name and 5 cm per second by Makoto Shinkai, even if the art style is completely different.

I can't wait for this anime to become widely available, 100% recommended!

The Look Back anime movie does an exceptional job of adapting the amazing manga short story into animation, bringing it to life with added layers of depth that only this medium can provide. The film skillfully uses animation, voice acting and music to heighten the emotional impact of the story. The atmosphere created by the soundtrack and the heartfelt performances of the voice actors enriches the narrative, making it even more profound.

A special mention goes to Fujino's voice actor, who was a first-time performer, yet delivered a remarkable performance. It's impressive how well she captured Fujino's energy and emotion, despite being new to the craft. Kyomoto's voice actor also deserves high praise for perfectly portraying a character who is so inexperienced with human interaction and shy. The subtlety and depth in the way these two characters are brought to life is one of the movie's strongest aspects.

At its core, Look Back is a love letter to creators, celebrating the passion, challenges, and personal growth that come with the artistic journey. But the film also balances this theme with a genuine, heartfelt relationship between Fujino and Kyomoto, making their bond feel real and deeply touching. This balance between creativity and emotional connection makes the movie a must-watch for not only fans of the original manga but anyone who appreciates stories about art, friendship, and the human spirit.

This is about life, death and life. Fujimoto is a great contemporary writer in the manga scene known for Chainsaw Man - gory and heavily handed on social commentary. This work is truly a gem and also boasts the depth in writing. It's a very simple yet very deep piece that feels very calculated and precise in it's form and message.

A little background might help us understand where this manga came from and what it wants to come across. In 2019, there was an arson attack on the famous Kyoto Animation that killed many many brilliants artists. This left everybody in shock about everything in the community. This manga(2021)/movie(2024) uses this tragic event to ponder about life, work (anime and manga industry) and hardships.

It's not a coincidence that both characters came from the author's name: Fuji(no) and (Kyo)moto. They're both part of Fujimoto's sense of self: the shut-in genius persona and the social energetic persona. Having this two sides working together is what Fujimoto thinks as a point where success comes from. But, when faced with a great real tragedy, the real-life genius side also takes a hit (i guess). So Fujimoto writes away finding a path to go on making art.

What makes this an effective work of art is how anyone can relate to this feeling. A heartfelt breakup, something that you worked so hard and failed, death, etc. There are many thing in life that makes you look back on past events and than you find a way to get back on your feet to live life again!

My heart goes to all the manga/anime industry community that went through this tragedy. And to the victims and victims family members, I will forever treasure the work made in KyoAni. This will not be forgotten.

'Look Back (2024)' is a mediation on friendship, passion, and art, examining what happens when these elements intersect. It essentially aims to answer the question that plagues all artists: what is art for? Is it driven by ambition? Success? Fame? Is it to tell a deeper truth? To say what can't be said with words? To get what's inside out for all to see? Is it to connect with strangers? To make someone feel less alone? To make someone smile or weep or take a step back and look at their place in the world? Or is it simply to do something you love with someone you love? If so, why do you carry on even when one of those things has gone? The film explores these ideas through the relationship between two girls who grow up together making manga after one of them confesses to being a fan of the other's school newspaper strips. Taking place over a number of years, the picture depicts their evolving relationship with both each other and the art they create, ultimately taking an emotional turn when life inevitably catches up with their ambitions. There's a semi-fantastical element here that could be interpreted one of two ways, and interestingly I prefer the more literal version than the metaphorical one (which I tend to lean towards). Either way there's a lot of thematic resonance to be found here, and it's unsurprising that it's connecting so deeply with so many people.

Clocking in at just under an hour, the piece doesn't waste any time. It sort of feels like a long short film, but it's actually a short long film (it's over the minimum length to be classed as a feature). In some ways, it feels like it could have been expanded by twenty minutes; in other ways, it's exactly as long as it needs to be. It's a focused experience that mimics the insular nature of the central dynamic, as the two leads are the only important people to us just as they seem to be the only important people to each other. The animation sometimes seems slightly rough, in that it isn't consistently refined and some movements don't quite keep things on model, but it also includes several scenes that must have been really tricky to pull off because they include sweeping camera moves and changing perspectives. I can't tell if the animators used 3D models and custom shaders for these scenes or if they, much more painstakingly, animated everything in 2D; either way, if I can't tell, it's equally as impressive. There's a meta element to the movie, too, because it's based on a manga that's about producing a manga (obviously the meta aspects are watered down somewhat by the adaptation process, but the parallels between the film and its subject are still strong nevertheless). This makes each and every frame, as well as the time and effort that's gone into it, all the more relevant, and it's a perfect example of a film's form enhancing its content.

Ultimately, this is a moving and engaging anime that doesn't waste a moment in conveying its story and themes. Its a gentle, bittersweet experience that's both devastating and life-affirming, and it feels as though it grasps at a deeper truth about artists and their work. Its a strong effort.