Look Back

With the monumental success of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man it is no wonder that studios immediately turned to adapting more of his works. The concern of course then becomes whether there will be a rush to pump something out regardless of the quality. Thankfully, much like Chainsaw Man, Studio Durian was able to uphold and even uplift Fujimoto’s Look Back and, in the process, create a beautiful, heartfelt and devastating movie that will surely leave an impact for years to come.

Clocking in at only a little over an hour Look Back is a very short film, however it absolutely makes the most of that ... runtime. Beautifully sequenced timelapses emphasise the feeling of constant time passage which establishes a real sense of progression for the film. There is also no time wastage, with every scene playing an important role in either the plot or at tugging on your heartstrings. I also wouldn’t say I was left wanting more by the end, rather that it had an entirely satisfactory and fitting conclusion – perfect for a self-contained movie.

Despite being a relatively new studio, Studio Durian took the opportunity to show off their animation skills with some of the most mind-blowingly smooth and fluid animation in the business. For a film about the creation of manga, crazy animation was certainly not necessary, but it does make the overall package that much better. Any scene with movement whether it be running or paper floating about features dynamic action shots with constant flow, employing the common modern technique of 3d environments to stunning effect. This animation style also perfectly reflects Fujimoto’s style of drawing, with realism less important than the impact and emotion behind the scenes. The thinner, sketchier art style of the manga is also reflected in the movie. I think the perfect example of Durian’s desire to go above and beyond is the opening scene, where they fully animate Fujino’s first yon-koma manga in her style creating an exciting opening out of what could otherwise have been a fairly standard scene.

The music in Look Back is another aspect executed flawlessly. Nakamura Haruka crafted a fitting soundscape composed primarily of piano and strings. Whilst it swells up at times, particularly during the montages, it also knows when to remain minimalistic in order to let the raw emotion be displayed in full. The ending theme (played at a brilliant moment I might add) remains in much the same style as the soundtrack with the addition of soothing vocals to encourage reminiscence on the short but moving experience that just occurred.

I finally want to touch on the theme and story. It is clear from the outset that Look Back is largely a distillation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s experience as a mangaka (if you couldn’t figure it out from the premise, the appearance of the Chainsaw Man parody Shark Kick later on will surely suffice to demonstrate that fact). Fujino’s feelings of incompetency, her struggle to maintain friendships, the clashes in her partnership, the choice between art university and becoming a mangaka outright, and on and on. All of these elements feel as though they are coming from Fujimoto’s heart directly which makes them all the more impactful and realistic when they occur in the film. Even when things exit the realm of reality towards the end, they do so to emphasise the need to push forward and move on whilst respecting and building on the events of the past that is central to the overall message.

Tldr; Look Back is a raw, stunning, beautiful and emotional ride all packed into an hour that left me utterly blown away by the level of craftmanship and heart put into it.

Regret is one of many of human emotions, it’s a painful part of life that everyone at some point will experience. Many wish to live without regret, and that wish is a high one, yet when that feeling comes at a time too late, what do people more often than not do in order to handle it?

Look back.

Look Back is a sentimental film that depicts themes of regret, how connection forms and holds when we often take it for granted at times, and how art is a medium that can change people regardless of who they are or once were. Despite being a short film ... that runs in at a little over an hour, there is this utterly profound feel of passion that exudes across the length of the film from the people who worked on it. From the vision of Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama that he vividly explains in the after-credit interviews, to the melodic range of the soundtracks of Haruka Nakamura that grasp both the joy and pain of life, to the stunning performance of both Yuumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida, Look Back is a defining example of not only a stellar adaptation that improves the source material but a captivating experience on how to deliver a bittersweet message in such little time.

Fujino is a character that captures what many of us were like in youth and carries those elements into adulthood. She isn’t the best friend nor is she the most likable person but that’s where Kyomoto comes in, she’s a counter to Fujino. Their relationship is an incredibly touching yet bittersweet one, from the common interest of manga between the two to their years of being a mangaka duo to the events near the end of the film bringing a painful lesson for Fujino. That lesson is one of regret, because even though regret is often painful and revives memories that we may want to forget or wish we could change and do things differently, there is no way to return to that time and the only thing people can do is learn from it. Despite that, Fujino brought Kyomoto out of that room while Kyomoto brought change to Fujino. Fujino however is the main catalyst, with her efforts and pain of creating to her insecurity of her abilities to draw, it’s these feelings and challenges that reach out to many people who have attempted to create but we mustn’t forget about Kyomoto with her problems of connecting to others and her struggles of social activity. In that way of Fujino bringing Kyomoto out of that room, she was the person that Kyomoto needed in order to grow as a person, to get her into the world and to try to go beyond.

The soundtracks in this film are a testament to how music truly matters in atmosphere and mood. It’s heavily characterized with piano and chordophones or string instruments, having this lovely sound to it that’s reminiscent of life in motion. In the first half of the movie, it’s bright and lively, feelings that are associated with youth. It’s the kind of music you would listen to in the Summer, invoking a sense of nostalgia and tenderness. In the second half of the film, especially near the end, it’s the complete opposite of the first. It’s melancholic and soulful yet immensely sad, capturing a mood that punches you in the gut and is emotionally rich. It’s like that one specific quote, how the keys on a piano represent sadness and happiness yet you need both to play a song.

Across the film, there are two consistent motifs that show the flow of time and the changing relationship between our two leads. Because of how manga is read differently in comparison of Western Literature, being right to left instead of the other way around, the movement of our characters going right to left such as the time when they went out after winning second place in a manga competition, that is one of two said motifs where Fujino and Kyomoto running from the right to the left is a beautiful style of subtlety that shows their relationship changing in tandem with their youth. The second motif and the more obvious one, is how time changes while our leads are in the same position in still frames. This kind of storyboarding was also seen in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s other one-shot, Goodbye Eri or Sayonara Eri. Within Look Back, it’s used to have time essentially move forward quickly and convey how fast their youth is passing by in the span of a few seconds for us while months to years fly by for Fujino and Kyomoto. The room is filling with new material for manga or vice versa, the seasons are changing in the background, and times are changing with them as they age. It’s quiet but poignant, because time often flies by in the blink of an eye. And if we don’t realize the value of that time and the memories that come with it by the time it’s too late, that is where regret is born.

Even though regret can’t be avoided as much as one could wish they could, regret can be learned. So instead of dwelling and being stuck with past regrets, move forward and learn from it so you don’t have to experience it again in the future. That’s why we regret, and that’s why we continue. Thank you for reading.

'Then why do you draw, Fujino?'

Before entering the theatres to watch this movie, I did not know what to expect, really. I'd read other works by the author Tatsuki Fujimoto — such as Chainsaw Man and Goodbye Eri — but not 'Look Back', and when I saw it was releasing in my city literally tomorrow (at the time) for screening, I impulsively bought a ticket, despite knowing next to nothing about the story. I'm not sure whether this limited or enhanced my experience, but regardless this 1 hour movie would leave me torn.

I won't waste your time with a detailed synopsis as it's easy to ... find, so I'll just cut to what I wanted to write in this review. To me, 'Look Back' is a masterpiece in human connection; how it portrays the experience of regret and the beauty of seemingly mundane moments we share with those we care about, as well as no matter how much we do care for someone, we cannot choose what's best for them. The relationship between the two main characters Fujino and Kyoumoto felt incredibly refreshing, each being so different yet so similar, making you route for them the whole way through, in spite of and because of the flaws they both held.

The movie also showcased a mastery in filmmaking and cinematography, utilized in a way I rarely see in anime. Very often there were prolonged scenes of a character's back (because look back, h a h a), and whenever you believe the scene was to cut away to another, it simply continues to roll, the only differences in the scene being the character making subtle movements and adjustments. A lot of the film felt as if we the audience were just getting a glimpse into someone's life, and I think that's exactly what this movie was. There were many wordless scenes where soft background music (composed by Haruka Nakamura) played over Fujino's and Kyoumoto's conversations or work, but never did these scenes feel dull or uninspired. There was silence because there was no need for anything to be said, and muted conversations because maybe they weren't for us to hear.

Fujimoto and the director Oshiyama definitely had a vision for 'Look Back', and I would say it truly came to fruition on the screen because of the immense work and visible creative energy they put into it, along with the talent of the voice actors and everyone else involved.

I did not give 'Look Back' a 10/10 when the lights brightened in the theatre and the credits rolled, but as I chatted about it and went home, I don't know why but I kept trying to figure out the meaning of the movie as a whole; the lesson or purpose 'Look Back' had set out for everyone viewing it. The more I tried to attribute symbolism and analogies to it, the more I thought back to each scene and moment, the more I understood that this movie is just life. I say this in the most metaphorically scarce way. Life isn't all metaphors and similes, it's a conglomerate of love, pains, jealousy, happiness, sorrows. Things happen because they happen. We may attribute disasters in our lives to some sort of twisted karma we hold, but in reality it's just how it is, and the world turns in spite of us, and in spite of it all. We can wish to rewind time, escape from reality for a while, but life goes on.

And that's okay.

I didn't cry in the theatre to 'Look Back', but the next morning in the mirror, I found tears falling down my cheeks. It was then I understood that all this time in the movie I was looking for closure and consolation, but knowing now that it was never needed for the story to be complete.

REVIEW ❗ (English)
Look Back the Movie

I had the highest possible expectations for this anime, and... MY EXPECTATIONS WERE MET!
What's Good? Check the review below ⤵️

Interesting Points:
1. Visuals, I Love It! Really Love It. The storytelling technique uses visuals, Beuh! That's great! Even though it's a bit excessive, it's suitable because the characters are elementary school students.
2. Story, two people who don't know each other, are met by fate and become close friends, but in the middle of the story there is a conflict between them.
3. Ending, there are multiple endings, between a happy ending and a sad ending, what makes it interesting is ... that they are both related, BRO?! ARE YOU SERIOUS? 1 HOUR MAKE 2 ENDINGS AND IT'S GOOD? I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT!
4. Music, there are 4 soundtracks in this film, and they all touch my heart. The music really brings out the atmosphere of this anime.

Lack:
1. Character design, as I mentioned before, the characters' facial expressions are a bit exaggerated, not suitable for everyone, at first I also felt strange, but a few moments after the film started I started to understand this, maybe this is a characteristic of the Durian studio.
2. Slow story pacing, 1 hour feels like a really long time watching this anime! But enjoy watching it.

There are no fatal flaws in my opinion, because the Fatal Opening S2 Oshi no Ko 😅

Good Job Studio Durian!

Look Back 9/10 for me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REVIEW ❗ (Bahasa Indonesia)
Look Back the Movie

Gua menaruh ekspektasi setinggi mungkin ke Anime ini, dan... EKSPEKTASI GUA TERPENUHI!
Apa Bagusnya? Cek Review di bawah ⤵️

Point Menarik:
1. Visual, I Love It! Really Love It. Tehnik Penceritaan menggunakan Visual nya itu Beuh! Mantap euy! Walau agak berlebihan, tapi cocok karena karakternya anak SD.
2. Story, 2 insan yang saling tidak mengetahui, lalu dipertemukan oleh takdir dan menjadi teman dekat, tapi di pertengahan cerita ada konflik di antara mereka.
3. Ending, ada multiple ending, antara happy ending dan Sad Ending, yang bikin menarik adalah keduanya berkaitan, BRO?! ARE YOU SERIUS? 1 JAM BIKIN 2 ENDING DAN BAGUS? I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT!
4. Musik, Ada 4 soundtrack di movie ini, dan semuanya ngena di hati. Musiknya bener" ngecarry suasana anime ini sih.

Kekurangan:
1. Desain Character, seperti yg gw singgung sebelumnya, mimik wajah karakternya agak berlebihan, gak cocok untuk semua orang, awalnya ku juga merasa aneh sih, tapi beberapa saat setelah Movie dimulai aku mulai memaklumi hal itu, mungkin ini ciri khas studio Durian.
2. Pacing Cerita yang Lambat, 1 Jam berasa lama banget nonton Anime ini! Tapi nontonnya Enjoy Sih.

Gak ada kekurangan yang fatal menurut ku, karena yang Fatal Opening S2 Oshi no Ko 😅

Good Job Studio Durian!

Look Back 9/10 bagi gw

Drawing sucks.

Making art sucks. If I were to describe it, the words "annoying" and "tiresome" come to mind. You can sketch, line, color, and shade all day, all night, for weeks, months, even years, and somehow, you're never truly satisfied. Alone, you mindlessly create, oblivious to the fact that it might not even turn out well. And in the process, your wrists, hands, back, and head all end up hurting. And on top of that? It might not even get the applause and reaction you expect.

So why do we make art?

Look Back is a heartfelt contemplation on the reason we create art. A deeply ... felt musing on the creative process. The film initially depicts art as difficult and lonely. To create art is a huge time sink, a time sink that doesn't seem to ever have a payoff. Every single day that Fujino picks up her pen, she treks into an endless cycle of trying to be "better". Despite the fact that she draws nonstop—to the point of compromising her relationships—her art remains inferior. In her eyes, her work is still not enough. Perhaps it really is useless to try to improve. Maybe it's pointless to create art in a world where there is someone out there far more skilled than you.
Despite the cold start, Look Back is so much more than it seems.

Making art is difficult and lonely, but at the same time inevitable, and beautiful. Art's biggest wonder is its ability to act as a bridge for connecting with others who share the same interests, and feelings as you. Small, but special connections that affect us for a lifetime. Fujino and Kyomoto's simple, yet heartfelt relationship might be one of, if not the most impactful and poetic I've experienced in a long time.

Both the visuals and soundtracks in this film evoke a keen sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Slow, mellow, and sweet piano would play as the two artists' daily life are drawn and depicted with rough, yet purposeful, and beautiful line-art. This film adapts Fujimoto's style extremely well. Sprawling with highly detailed backgrounds and colorful sceneries, the warm feeling of youth and nostalgia that never wanted to leave would come to a halt in the second half. At this point of the film, the colors would become more muted, and the story escalates faster than before. If the first half wanted to depict dreams, sunshine, and rainbows, the second half aimed to ground you back to reality.

Art is not immune to its artist's feelings. Much like the inevitable joy and happiness we get from art, regrets are also inevitable. Unlike in art, there is no eraser or undo button to return to the past when it comes to people. We sometimes make mistakes that cannot be undone. Nevertheless, we should learn to grieve and move past it. We should learn to regret.
Much like the inevitable happiness we get from art, regret is also inevitable. One should learn to regret, so one can continue to live.

Why do we make art?

A question with an answer that differs for each person. Perhaps it's a question none of us are qualified to answer. Art is many things. An emotional reprieve, a deeply personal expression, a form of escapism. But for this film? Look Back proudly exclaims that art actually has one simple answer: Art is about making connections, both between the artist and their works, as well as between the human, and the other humans they connected with. Art is about human connections. Connections that are seemingly insignificant and small, but have the potential to permanently alter us. Poignant, yet heartfelt connections that will continue to haunt and impact us and our art, for the rest of our lives.

Look Back aspires you to never give up on your dreams, no matter how bleak and futile it seems. A reminder to carry on with your life with all the guilt, regret, and happiness you've accumulated, and to express them through your own art and passion. A profound reminder for those who still continue to dream.

Don't look back in anger!

Alright, so I just finished watching "Look Back" today at Ayala Fairview Terraces and I've gotta say, STUDIO Durian knocked it out of the park with this one (i believe that this is their first anime adaptation, which is fucking amazing). It's a faithful, beautifully crafted adaptation of Fujimoto's one-shot manga that manages to capture all the emotion and nuance of the source material.

What really impressed me was how STUDIO Durian translated Fujimoto's distinctive art style to animation. They nailed his loose, expressive linework and the way he uses negative space. The character animations are subtle but incredibly effective, especially in close-ups where you can ... really feel the emotions playing across Fujino and Kyomoto's faces.

Sticking closely to the original story was definitely the right call here. The pacing feels perfect for the runtime, allowing those quiet, introspective moments to breathe while still maintaining the emotional punch of key scenes. That twist... man, it hits like a ton of bricks. What's incredible is how they handled it in the anime - with complete silence. It's a bold choice that pays off in spades. The absence of sound in that moment is deafening, perfectly capturing the shock and emotional gut-punch of the revelation. The way the scene plays out visually, with just the characters' expressions and body language telling the story, is masterful.

And the soundtrack? Man, it's fucking depressing. There are a couple tracks that give me chills every time they come on.

I don't throw 10/10 ratings around lightly, but "Look Back" absolutely deserves it. What makes it truly exceptional is how it achieves such a powerful impact through its simplicity and realism. The characters feel incredibly authentic, and every scene is grounded in a way that makes the story resonate deeply.

If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. Just... maybe have some tissues handy. The realistic portrayal of its characters and events, combined with that twist, creates an experience that's going to stick with you long after the credits roll.

11/10. would watch again if i could.

Look Back is a story about choices, the past, and guilt. But Look Back is different from more generic works that deal with the same themes.

Here, it builds something uncomfortable: a narrative essay about how choices shape who we are.
The work presents a clear parallel between the artistic creation of its two protagonists. Fujino doesn’t draw because she enjoys it; she draws because it’s what others expect from her — someone artistically talented. For her, that’s what defines her.

When she realizes that someone else draws better than she does, it isn’t just her talent that feels threatened. It’s her very existence. What defines her.

Kyomoto, in ... contrast, draws as a way to insert herself into the world, almost as a refuge from her reality. While Fujino draws in order to be someone and to be noticed, Kyomoto draws in order to exist.

Another important message of the film is that creating is not liberating. The criticism of how mangaka suffer and sometimes sacrifice their lives for a job that maybe shouldn’t — or simply isn’t — that important is striking.

And maybe this ties into my personal criticism that Fujimoto writes better one-shots (Goodbye, Eri and Look Back) than long-running works (Chainsaw Man).
The frustration of being a mangaka is not romanticized here in any way. There is no guaranteed reward — only insecurity, repetitive effort, and the constant question of whether it’s all really worth it. And this leads directly to the central message of the story: there is no clear mistake in the characters’ lives, only a past that cannot be rewritten.

The film’s production and direction greatly intensify these ideas. Look Back manages to communicate emotion, elevates fictional stories that are naturally simple by giving them strong identity and care, and shows a complete understanding of Fujimoto’s work.
In the end, the greatest textual strength of Look Back lies in its refusal to offer comfort. The film draws a parallel in which choices are made — often unintentionally — and still build paths with no return. Life, just like the position of a mangaka, and living just like creating stories, means accepting that weight.

Its difficult for me to express in words everything that this movie has made me feel, I have rewritten this review a couple of times (this is my first time reviewing something in this site, also it was in spanish at first to be taken down after that because of the guidelines).
I will only say that it has been very important, at a point in my life in which I had already stopped watching anime, in which not many things make sense to me, and I wanted to let this out of me somehow.
There is a common feeling that I find in my favorite animes, ... which is difficult for me to describe but are characterized by being experiences that help me a lot, that make me want to live. That may sound like Im an emo, or suicidal but nah, Im good, just that theres life stages where is just difficult to think in continuing living, where is difficult to wake up and do something with my life, thats all.
I am not a pretentious dude, nor a fervent lover of anime and manga, in fact, nor am I very attracted to manga. But that does not inhibit me from recognizing that, from time to time, there are works that enliven the spark in my heart and keep it from extinguishing.
And thats it, just wanted to talk a little about how nice it was to see this movie. Fortunately, I was able to see it in theaters, in the short time it was on the billboard in my small third-world city, highly recommended. Sorry if im not great with english, really wanted to express this better in my native language but couldnt, ni modo.

saturday january 4, 2024 - saturday january 4, 2024

Studios: Studio DURIAN
Source: Manga
Genre: Drama
Theme: Otaku culture

huh look back anime movie with a short duration but extraordinary impact, we are taught about what hard work means, the story focuses on a girl named ayumu fujino who is only in the 4th grade of elementary school who dedicates 1 year of her life to drawing manga because she feels inferior to a boy named kyoumoto, a hikikomori who becomes a fan of fujino because each of her works is always made wholeheartedly not just good, indirectly they motivate each other to indirectly compete for the two of them. ... There is a very memorable moment for me when we are shown the silhouette of Fujino's pile of drawing books over time, we seem to be given a picture of her seriousness about drawing manga.

There is a very memorable moment for me when we are shown the silhouette of a pile of drawing books belonging to Fujino over time, we seem to be given an idea of his seriousness to blame Kyoumoto, and at the time of his graduation from elementary school, he was told by his teacher to deliver Kyoumoto's diploma, When he arrived at Kyoumoto's residence, he was surprised to see the pile of drawing books belonging to Kyoumoto, which was not 1-3 stacks anymore, but dozens of stacks decorating the hallway to his room, it gave an explicit message that the hard work of Fujino was far too far to just approach Kyoumoto, it illustrated that the efforts Fujino made were still not enough.

I learned many things from this anime and my review is very very subjective of course because I myself prioritize the feel or the feeling of watching that is memorable according to me, at least that is one of the many lessons that can be taken from this anime, if you want to take all of them it will be too much, the point is this is a very good anime, Although many think that the animation of this movie is ordinary and even classified as not good, but in my opinion this is one of the anime that was made with a full day, it can be seen from every stroke and detail presented in this anime, I still respect the Durian studio for giving extraordinary adaptations and restoring the quality of the real anime, not just concerned with quantity, that's all from me, don't expect anyone to read it too, but if someone reads it, it's good, it can be corrected too, okay, that's all from me, have a nice day; )

Admiration... At some point in life we feel alone and distressed by the feeling of loneliness, after the end of a relationship, or the lack of a relationship, be it romantic, family or friendship. Human beings need interactions at all times to maintain "the will to live" and follow their dreams, it is in these moments, when we feel fragile as glass, that we look for a source of strength in the one we most admire, be it our family, girlfriend/boyfriend, friend or simply an idol from the world of entertainment (music, sports, books...). Look back builds a story permeated by this, in an ... admiration that grows, and little by little becomes a friendship between two girls, where one manages to save the other through the admiration which gradually becomes more than a simple "admiration", and becomes the most beautiful thing in any type of relationship, and that is friendship.

The story follows two girls, Fujino a manga prodigy, and Kyoumoto a girl who admires Fujino's manga and his relaxed way of living life. The story begins with small interactions between the two until they become friends, with conversations, gestures and looks that gradually indicate an emotional bond being created, slowly and logically, Kyoumoto's admiration gradually saves her from herself and her emotional distress. Kyoumoto sees herself being saved with Fujino's company, and Fujino sees herself being recognized and honored for all her efforts as a mangaka. The plot develops mainly at school during Fujino's manga publications, and when the two girls become friends they both help each other in creating a manga, little by little this "help" becomes a bond that keeps both of them alive to pursue their goals.

The development of the story is to show how much admiration and courage can make a person be saved, saved from themselves and the world, sometimes we become our greatest enemy for fear of moving on our dreams and be who we really are. The relationship between these girls grows not because there is any logic to it, but because they both just needed someone to be their "helper" in the great discovery that is: "who am I?", "what is my purpose?", "why am I like this?", "why do I like this?", "why do I hate this?"... There are so many questions that sometimes narrow us down to the point of not knowing who we really are and this consumes us inside, These two girls tried through their friendship to discover what is most beautiful in life, and most importantly, they tried to "find themselves" in a distorted and hypocritical world, where a true friendship is worth more than anything.

Through a melodramatic atmosphere and sounds, the anime extends to the point of showing the cruelest side of human beings: hatred. Even though about 80% of the film is about Fujino and Kyoumoto's friendship, at some point the film will show the human being's hatred towards his anguish, where even a simple affliction can end up turning someone into a murderer, and will show how hatred leads us to take out what we feel on someone who has nothing, absolutely nothing related to us. Look back develops a beautiful and melancholic plot at the same time, where the trigger is in the perspective of "what if I had done differently?" that arises after a wrong and mistaken decision and little by little it can become in guilt.

With clean and smooth animation, highlighting the nature and facial expressions of the characters, the studio behind this anime tries to make a composition that refers to the emotions of the characters. Everything that is done seems to be so expressive and intense that even in the simplest scene, you will be impressed by its fantastic visuals. With perfect storyboards and great sequencing of scenes and camera angles, giving a realistic and fantasy impression depending on the scene, but always seeming like something deep and touching. The soundtrack is a farewell, it will tell you that everything was worth it and that there is no need, no need to look back because what lies ahead of you is a long road ahead, clearly at this point I'm not just referring to the soundtrack but the entire composition. Don't look back, because behind you there is only anguish, things that are gone, look forward and embrace your dream, "the future" or else it may slip from your hand and you will be left alone...In a world where admiration tries to sustain the depression of being afraid of who we really are, believing that we could do things differently will change nothing, absolutely nothing...

Thank you for reading this far.

As a first feature by Studio Durian, Look Back is nothing short of a staggering accomplishment and a validation of Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s multifaceted capabilities in spearheading a project. The opening sequence here differs from its manga counterpart, as Oshiyama creatively animates Fujino’s 4-koma manga, capturing her childish humor. It subsequently characterizes her passion for art and sense of pride when her classmates express adoration for her talent. However, her discovery that Kyomoto utterly outshines her in drawing skill, coupled with the shift of attention from her art toward Kyomoto’s, causes momentary dejection but an ensuing drive to improve. Such delicate sentiments are portrayed through brilliant ... character animation that implements Fujimoto’s signature rough linework, elevating emotionally intense scenes. His repetitive paneling in the manga is a crucial attribute of his visual storytelling, which Oshiyama replicates in his film with elegant storyboarding and editing that illustrate the passage of time. Look Back depicts the joy and fulfillment artists attain through their arduous and frustrating learning processes, and it does so by intertwining Fujino and Kyomoto’s lives.

They both discover friendship through their mutual passion for art, uplifting each other in their manga-making endeavor. Fujino gets the recluse Kyomoto out into the world, and Kyomoto helps Fujino reignite her love for drawing. There’s a sequence teeming with raw emotion following their first interaction where Fujino is skipping in the rain, a marvelous display of great background animation, camerawork, character acting, and sound design. On a technical scale, the film is phenomenal, and Oshiyama deserves commendation simply for the amount of effort he’s put into the production. The gradual bond built between the two leads is shown through timelapses of them working on their mangas, and we see how artistic inspiration is found naturally in daily activities. Visual metaphors and references to Fujimoto’s other works are consistently implemented, along with montages and a fatalistic hint towards the ending. The tonal change and the accompanying shift in color grading to more dull shades is transitioned well from the manga, and the latter half of the film is emotionally powerful. Look Back is life-affirming; our pasts might be riddled with regrets, but looking back with gratitude for the good times is essential for us to persist in the present.

What could've been, is just a fantasy. What has been, is reality. When, if at all, will we finally cross over to our own realities?

Life is full of regrets. It is regret that holds us back, and it is regret that can power us to keep moving forever on.

"Maybe I could've done better."
"Maybe I could've acted differently."
"Maybe I could've changed what happened."
"Maybe."

Had Fujino never urged Kyomoto to leave her room, she would not have ended up the way she did. Had she never gone into her house, they never would have met, and Fujino could have potentially saved her. In regret the mind wallows, and ... in regret it creates its own fantasies. At the end of the day, however, reality is immutable, and we have no choice but to return to our own realities.

Ego is a powerful motivator, and the story does not shy away from that fact. Fujino spends days, months, years even, to perfect her amateurish art, all because she refuses to believe that someone could be better than her. In doing so, she gives up her personal life - other joys in life are accidents, unwanted side-effects. Yet, she knows when to hit the brakes, and only resumes her journey when Kyomoto's praise gives her the much-needed ego boost she needs. The story powerfully covers the topics of regret, joy and interconnectedness. Every decision we make, small or big, results in a different outcome.

Accompanied by simple but emotional music, Fujimoto's art style has been beautifully adapted to the screen, with some shots that were honestly breathtaking to watch. The only thing that irked me about this story was how quickly their relationship developed while simultaneously having little to no effect on their personalities. Do not, however, let this small nitpick of mine deter you from watching this powerful love letter to the world of art.

Life is beautiful, and "Maybe" should not be allowed to tarnish this beauty.

Look Back is an amazing film that tells a story between two characters. While it is a very short film only being slightly less than an hour, it made use of its time flawlessly. It is filled with happiness, sadness, tragedy, comedy, and many more emotions. To go into some aspects of how great this film is:

Story: 9/10
It has a straight-forward plotline, focusing on mainly 2 female leads with their dedication to art. These two continuously build each other up and their development is very apparent throughout the film. The comedic scenes are funny, and during serious moments, it definitely does a great job portraying ... its dramatic tone. If you can relate to the issues and incidents that happen in this film, it will definitely hit you hard. There are many references to Fujimoto's past work and I am also guessing that this story is related to Fujimoto's own life.

Art: 9/10
While it may not be Makoto Shinkai level, the art is still absolutely gorgeous. The animation is fluid, the colors are vibrant. If I were to describe it, I would say that its almost like a manga that moves. The characters are super expressive and the backgrounds are great as well. The color shifts to fit the tone and it's nothing short of amazing. Highly recommended especially if you're already fond of Fujimoto's art

Music: 10/10
In my opinion, the music is one of the best parts of this film. It captures the moments so perfectly and it hits hard when it needs to. The sound direction really encapsulates you in that moment. There are sudden stops in the music that makes it that much more dramatic and the scores are so damn good.

All in all, this film is amazing. If you have already read the manga and enjoyed it, you will not be disappointed. This story is very down to earth compared to other Fujimoto works. It has many life lessons that teaches about friendship, moving on and of course, to "Look Back" once in a while. Watch it if you have the time, you will not regret it.

Please release Shark Kick now.

If you have the chance to watch this film at the cinema, I highly recommend watching it there.

After watching this in cinemas during the premiere in my country, I'm speechless at how well-adapted this film is from the original manga and its soundtrack (composed by Haruka Nakamura) and how it tugged at my heartstrings. "Light song," when I first heard it from start to finish, made me teary-eyed a bit. If you're an artist, writer, or someone who creates art, I think you might like this movie.

Every detail and scene you can see in this movie shows how well-made it is, and every staff ... member who is involved in this film and created it is passionate. There are also a lot of details in this movie that you can see from Tatsuki Fujimoto's work being referenced, like "Chainsaw Man" and "Goodbye, Eri".

Despite how short this film is, I think it's alright, and it effectively did justice to the original manga (which has 143 pages).

Talking about the soundtrack, I love how vulnerable it is (how it sets up the mood of the film) and the choice of sound they use in this movie—which are mostly piano, vocals, and string instruments—it works so well!! In some scenes, the usage of silence in this film is intentional, and it made me think of being "in the moment," cherishing the moments of Fujino and Kyomoto being together.

Reading the manga and watching the film are two different experiences for me. Finally seeing Fujino and Kyomoto being animated and hearing their voices was amazing.

In the end, "Look Back" was moving for me, and it left me thinking about it for days (upon writing this review). It made me reflect a lot about my passion (it is music): that in order to be better at something, you need to sacrifice something to achieve it—like time and energy. It made me think about the questions, "For whom do you create art?" and "Why are you making art?" and so forth. This film is so meaningful for me, and experiencing it at the cinema was worth it.

I loved it. Everything, the animation, the already bitter-sweet plot and the score.

When adapting a manga to anime I think it's really important that the animation and the ost compliment each other, in this case, they certainly do. I'd never heard anything from this composer, I was moved by every score, everything plays so well!
The animation is wonderful, no complaints there, none at all! It reminded me of Kyoto animation's works, such as violet evergarden. The dynamic here is similar, the soundtrack isn't there just to fill an empty space, it plays a major role in the movie.
The montages really do make you want to ... cry, they really are the parts where the editing excels.

Long story short, this movie is a must watch, a faithful adaptation of the original material, that not only represents it but expands on it, making it even better.

I will never forget the feeling of sitting in a dark theatre when the credits music (Light Song) came up. No one in the theatre stood up to left until the credits ended, it feels as if the universe had stopped to tell me I should embrace this moment.

When the theatre lights came back up, it took me back to reality that I was watching a movie. Me and my homie just started crying and saying "that shit was peak 😭🙏" while also laughing our asses off wiping our tears. I'll never forget that.

I didn't expect to cry since I've already read the manga years ... ago, but the credits music (Light Song) broke me. I didn't watch the trailers, so I had no idea of the song existing. Hearing it for the first time in the cinema was some core memory shit.

Thank you for reading my review, it's been two months and I hope fans in the USA are also loving the movie.

* The movie came out earlier in my region (It was late-July). I'm just writing a review about it now.

Short and sweet. This was really good as I had expected to be having read the one shot manga it's adapting. Studio Durian despite this being their first anime did an amazing job adapting Fujimoto's art style and characteristics, I really couldn't wish for anything more, and the color pallet in this is just perfect. The story is really good, although I feel like it to fully hit its hardest you need to have a little knowledge on the manga industry and ideally even a little bit about Fujimoto himself to really help draw the parallels between the two. It's well told and while its ... really short, no time at all is wasted. I think the ending felt to me on first read as a bit unfinished for certain reasons, upon watching this I think it was actually done pretty well and the conclusion just parallels where Fujimoto is at in life right now, so its not really over. Probably one of my favorite anime short movies now, this is really moving film and I give a big recommendation.

LOOK BACK, a movie that presents drama, beauty, childhood joy, and the reality of adulthood. All of that is wrapped and presented in less than an hour, and it managed to exceed my expectations.

STORY (9/10):
The story is simple. Very, very simple. A story about two childhood dreams, but delivered gorgeously and without any fuss. I like that this film emphasizes 'show don't tell'. You don't need a lot of dialogue, but this movie is able to convey its message and moral values felicitous. This is part of the luxury of this movie. Minimalist and memorable.

VISUAL, ART, ANIMATION (9/10):
Tbh, my first impression at first glance at ... the visuals was that they looked too simple with minimal coloring/shadows. The character's lineart also felt streaky. However, after watching the full movie, my perception changed.

Maybe this is still not at the level of Makoto Shinkai or Hayao Miyazaki. However, the visuals are quite stunning. I like the minimalist pastel colors applied to this movie. The strokes of the lineart are also made as similar as possible to the original work of Tatsuki Fujimoto. The animation of the character's movements feels fluent. Kudos to Studio DURIAN.

SCORING (10/10):
I can't comment much about the OST. MASTERPIECE. I even use it as my daily playlist while I'm working.

CONCLUSION:
For some people who are used to fast pacing movies, maybe this anime is only at the "good" stage. But for me who is also an illustrator, this anime managed to convey the message of the struggle of an artist very accurately with the right amount of drama and tragedy. The best message I can get from this anime is:

"THIS FILM IS A REMINDER FOR ARTISTS/CREATIVES TO ALWAYS BE THEIR OWN BIGGEST FANS"

This is one of the first movies in my lifetime to make me genuinely cry, while this might sound crazy to you(and it is) but this movie is so unbelievably amazing and emotional that it made me nearly start wailing really loudly. First off, the animation and art, the art style sticked so closely to the original its unbelievable, not only did they nearly perfectly replicate Fujimoto's style, they also some how made it very well animated and fluid. Second, the writing and characters are incredibly written and very realistic, at times I was looking at the characters and seeing my self in them(yes I ... know a little corny) and not just my self, but all my friends and family across the small characters list in the movie. What I cant believe is the amount of emotion and tension they were able to put in the short film, to the small but interesting drawing scenes to the silent pans of the camera, they used every scene to their full advantage and included depth and interesting concepts. Third, the voice acting is some of the most stellar performance's in an anime in a long time and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Though I've heard mixed opinions about the last 20 minutes of the movie with them using single frames and panning them, I think this was an excellent idea and really allows you to soak in the tension and emotion put into the film. Fujimoto has captivated me again, well done you crazy man.

A love letter to every artist, and to keep creating; despite. Truly, a masterpiece. Elevated the original work of Fujimoto which is also a masterpiece itself..

The story is not unique, you can probably watch or read similar struggles of an artist in other books or shows but Fujimoto/Oshiyama created something beautiful, raw and honest that speaks for creatives out there from the mundane. Everything is very intentional, the arts style captured Fujimoto’s talent for drawing facial expressions very well and even his rough line works was incorporated throughout. The colors are so refreshing as well, that also gives off a clean vibe especially with the ... shadowless art style. You can feel the love for art in every scene, combined with beautiful film scoring that gave it the soul

Since look back is a one shot, there’s not much time to explore the characters. But I believe Fujimoto managed to fleshed out Fujino and Kyomoto, they’re relatable and they have flaws that makes them realistic. We see this with Kyomoto’s air of arrogant nonchalance in the beginning and during one of the key moments in the film. Fujimoto’s writing leans more towards “showing” through his panels instead of telling. It was translated well in the film, but it can be confusing for some people because it’s very subtle. It gives room for viewer’s own interpretation without losing the true essence. It’s engaging in a way.

I watched this during one of my lowest points in life. While I sat there during the end credits, light song playing in the background, I thought to myself that maybe I want to live.