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The official website for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc , the upcoming sequel film to the Chainsaw Man TV anime series, released a main trailer today. The new trailer features the movie's theme song "Iris Out" performed by Kenshi Yonezu . This is the second time Yonezu has provided a theme song for the Chainsaw Man anime series, following the TV anime's opening theme "Kick Back." Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Main Trailer Kenshi Yonezu shared the following comment on "Iris Out": "It’s a great privilege to continue my musical involvement from the TV anime series to the film. I kept the Reze scenes from the original manga open around the clock, glaring at the pages as I worked on the song. I hope you enjoy it." Kenshi Yonezu artist photo Four new voice cast members were also announced to join the film. Hidenori Takahashi voices...

Since its launch in 2004 in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, the Skip City International D‑Cinema Festival has served as a gateway for emerging talent, discovering and supporting new voices in cinema. It has helped launch the careers of notable filmmakers such as Kei Ishikawa (A Pale View of Hills), Kazuya Shiraishi (Lesson in Murder), Ryota Nakano (The Asadas), Shinichiro Ueda (One Cut of the Dead), and Shinzo Katayama (Missing).

For its 22nd edition in 2025, the festival will be held over nine days from Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 26 at Skip City in Kawaguchi, Saitama, and will return fully to theatrical screenings—online screenings will not be available. Starting this year, the Competition will focus exclusively on Japanese films, spotlighting the next generation of visual creators. From 271 submissions, 13 films were selected. Director Kei Ishikawa, a leading figure in Japanese cinema, will serve as Jury President. As part of the special feature Pathways to Directing Commercial Films,...

To hype up the newest Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc anime film details at Anime Expo in July, the official accounts for the franchise based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki Fujimoto revealed the latest poster for the movie featuring Denji and Reze holding hands with Chainsaw Man and Bomb Girl fight in front of the rest of the characters. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc New Visual Poster Related: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Announces United States Release on October 29 Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously directed the fourth and tenth episodes of the TV anime series and directed much of the Black Clover TV anime, directs the upcoming movie. Hiroshi Seko returns to write the script along with Kazutaka Sugiyama as Character Designer, all at Mappa. Souta Yamazaki and Shun work as the Sub Character Designer, with Sota Shigetsugu as Action Animation Director and Shoichi as the Main Animator.

Look Back offers one of the hard-hitting yet melancholic storylines in anime movies to come out in recent years. Based on a one-shot manga by none other than Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto, this 2024 film even received numerous awards, including the anime film of the year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025.

Many praise it for how accurately the adaptation captures the art style and storyline, calling it a perfect adaptation of its source material. It’s as if the manga itself has come to life through this film, with Fujimoto’s iconic hand-drawn pages seeing the light of day. But is it actually that faithful? The movie’s director, at least, never wanted it to be.

Look Back wasn’t supposed to be a frame-for-frame adaptation

At Anime Central 2025, Look Back director Kiyotaka Oshiyama took the stage as a special guest and shared some of his creative insights for the film.

Look Back, the anime film adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s titular one-shot manga, was released just last year. The past few years have seen a rapid rise in the development and usage of AI, and even the anime industry has been infiltrated by it. Thus, the morals of using AI in art have become a hot topic.

Is it right to use AI to create art? Can something created by AI even be called art? There are multiple questions surrounding the topic and endless online discourses. The director of the Look Back movie, Kiyotaka Oshiyama, also threw in his two cents on the topic.

Look Back director compares AI to the prevalence of washing machines

In an interview with Anime News Network, Oshiyama was asked about his views on AI art.’ The director revealed that he saw AI as a tool that prevented people from doing things the old/traditional way.

Tatsuki Fujimoto is a standout in the manga world. His art is raw and visceral, and this aspect of his art, along with his apologetic way of storytelling that is equipped with hints of social commentary, has made Chainsaw Man a massive hit. When the Chainsaw Man anime debuted in 2022, Studio Mappa delivered a visually stunning adaptation.

While this animation was dazzling, it wasn’t “Fujimoto” enough for fans, who pointed out that the animation failed to capture the essence of Fujimoto’s artwork. Enter Look Back, Fujimoto’s one-shot manga adapted into a film by director Kiyotaka Oshiyama. This adaptation succeeded where Chainsaw Man failed. It preserved the details of Fujimoto’s work and showed us what Chainsaw Man could have been.

Chainsaw Man didn’t feel “Fujimoto” enough Denji with an eyepatch | Credits: Studio Mappa

All of us can agree on the fact that the Chainsaw Man (the...

Artificial intelligence is a topic of heated debate within the animation community, particularly among professional artists who fear that their jobs will eventually be replaced by AI technology. In the midst of this controversy, Kiyotaka Oshiyama -- the director of the critically acclaimed anime film Look Back -- argues that AI can be a valuable tool for the "democratization," or accessibility, of art.

Adapted from a classic one-shot manga by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuji Fujimoto, Look Back tells the story of an elementary school student who strives to improve her manga drawing abilities after being inspired by the magnificent creations of one of her classmates. Because of the film's themes regarding art and creativity, the subject of AI-generated artwork arose during a recent interview conducted by Anime News Network. While Oshiyama actively acknowledges the dangers of "unlawful" AI use, he also views it as a valuable tool for those who...

There are many series that impress us visually or hype us into a frenzy, but the works that can make us think and introspect are few and far between. Look Back by Fujimoto is one of them.

The story is about two aspiring manga artists, Kyoumoto and Fujino. Both are dedicated and talented as they navigate their friendship and grow together. But the story ends in a tragedy with one of the deuteragonists, Kyoumoto, being murdered.

There is an extremely emotional scene where Fujino finds herself in Koyoumoto’s room, burdened wth guilt and blaming herself for her friend’s death. This scene mirrors the ending of the famous 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption.

An anime ending born from a Hollywood classic

The Shawshank Redemption is an incredibly touching story about the inmates of a prison. The main characters are Andy and Red, aka Ellis Boyd Reddington. Andy was falsely convicted...

When it comes to anime, 2025 has been the year of Solo Leveling. Season 2 of the Korean web novel adaptation has soared to previously unimaginable heights, becoming the most-rated title on Crunchyroll, demolishing its own Season 1 record as the most-liked premiere on the streaming platform, and garnering 45 times more engagement than other simulcasts while it was airing, according to White Box Entertainment. All the momentum for Sung Jin-woo's overpowered adventure unsurprisingly culminated in the series winning Anime of the Year at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, one of nine honors it came away with. Now, to celebrate the accomplishment, Funko is giving Jin-woo his own limited-edition golden statuette, which will only be available in the U.S. for two weeks starting today.

The new figure is a carbon copy of Funko's previously released Jin-woo figure, but with a golden visage capturing the all-powerful hunter in action. Standing at approximately 4.2 inches tall, it's...

Solo Leveling Wins Multiple Crunchyroll Anime Awards(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Solo Leveling marched into the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and left no doubt about who ruled the scene. It was a show of unprecedented dominance by the hit anime series as it took home nine trophies, including the prestigious crown for Anime of the Year.

Besides, it stood tall over heavy hitters like Dandadan, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Delicious in Dungeon, Kaiju No. 8, and The Apothecary Diaries, and truth be told, this kind of sweep doesn’t happen often.

Crunchyroll Anime Awards: Sung Jinwoo’s Voice Actors Take Home Multiple Awards

Solo Leveling also walked off with awards in categories that span the full spectrum of anime excellence. According to The Telegraph, it bagged awards in the categories of Best New Anime Series, Best Action Anime, Best Main Character, and Best Anime Score.

The show’s main protagonist, Sung Jinwoo’s international voice talent,...

The program of the 25th Nippon Connection Film Festival is complete! From May 27 to June 1, the world’s largest platform for Japanese film will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in Frankfurt am Main, offering six days of immersion in Japan’s film and cultural scene. Around 100 short and feature-length films will be screened at ten venues, including 67 premieres of current Japanese films. In addition, over 60 filmmakers and artists from Japan will travel to Frankfurt am Main to present their works to the public. Around 70 cultural events and a free Japanese market with various food and craft stalls round off the program. Detailed information and tickets for all films and events are available at NipponConnection.com.

This year’s film selection presents a diverse cross-section of current Japanese cinema. The Nippon Connection Film Festival will open on May 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm with Tetsu Maeda’s comedy 90 Years Old – So What?...

Look Back received the Best Animation Award at the Japan Movie Critics Awards today, joining a long line of prestigious anime films. The Kiyotaka Oshiyama-directed film joins the highly decorated ranks of now classic anime films, Wolf Children , A Silent Voice, Night Is Short, and Walk On Girl . Alongside Look Back , actors from the live-action adaptations of Let's Go Karaoke! and Sayuri also won awards. Here is the full list of winners of the 34th Japan Movie Critic Awards: Best Picture - Living in Two Worlds Best Director - Yu Irie for A Girl Named Ann Best Actor (Male) - Ryo Yoshizawa in Living in Two Worlds Best Actor (Female) - Yumi Kawai in A Girl Named Ann Best Supporting Actor (Male) - Go Ayano in Maru , Yusaku Mori in Missing Best Supporting Actor (Female) - Akiko Oshidari in Living in Two Worlds Best Documentary - Big Home Best Animation...

It’s that time of year again as the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are right around the corner. The past year gave us quite a few anime that hit the big screen and were definitely worthy of adulation. From sports to drama, familiar series and directors, these nominees bring it all . So, let’s take a look at each anime movie up for Film of the Year in this year’s Anime Awards! Related: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Your Ultimate Guide Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Directed by: Susumu Mitsunaka Your favorite volleyball boys from Karasuno are back on the big screen in a new Haikyu!! movie. It’s the spring National tournament and for the first time in a competition, Karasuno are facing their eternal rivals Nekoma. Two teams that know each other incredibly well have to go head-to-head where only one team can be left standing in “The Dumpster Battle.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc will hit cinemas worldwide, with screenings confirmed in over 80 countries and territories, including India, the franchise’s official X account announced on April 3, 2025.

Fans can expect the film to begin its theatrical rollout in Japan on Sep 19, 2025, followed by international releases through October.

Checkout the release schedule below:

Sep 19, 2025 – Japan Sep 24, 2025 – Hong Kong Sep 25, 2025 – Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand Sep 26, 2025 – India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam Oct 22, 2025 – France Oct 29, 2025 – United States, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Nigeria, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium Oct 30, 2025 – Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Middle East, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Israel, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Latvia, South Africa, Estonia, Spain

While these are the officially listed dates, the announcement hints at even more countries receiving the film.

劇場版『チェンソーマン レゼ篇』

世界中での公開が決定！

劇場公開をお楽しみに...

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc will be hitting theatres in United States on Oct 29, 2025. Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired the worldwide distribution rights for the film, and will be releasing it in the country.

The movie is releasing in Japan on Sep 19, 2025.

#ChainsawManMovie is coming exclusively to theatres October 29. pic.twitter.com/Je02zmQ5nm

— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 1, 2025

Tatsuya Yoshihara, who directed the 4th and 10th episodes of Chainsaw Man anime, will helm the anime film. He also served as a director and then Chief Director for Black Clover anime.

Other staff include:

Screenwriter: Hiroshi Seko Character Designer: Kazutaka Sugiyama Assistant Director: Masato Nakazono Sub Character Designers: Sota Yamazaki, Shun Main Animator: Shoichi Music Composer: kensuke ushio Action Animation Director: Sota Shigetsugu Devil Designers: Riki Matsuura, Kiyotaka Oshiyama Costume Designer: Aya Yamamoto Art Director: Yusuke Takeda Color Designer: Naomi Nakano

Mappa describes the plot of Chainsaw Man – The...

Sony Pictures announced during their CinemaCon panel in Las Vegas today that the company has acquired worldwide theatrical rights, excluding Japan, for the upcoming Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc and will release the movie in the United States starting October 29, 2025. Other releases in 80+ countries are scheduled to begin from September 24, 2025. The series previously announced during AnimeJapan 2025 that the movie will open on September 19 in Japan. Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously directed the fourth and tenth episodes of the TV anime series and directed much of the Black Clover TV anime, directs the upcoming movie. Hiroshi Seko returns to write the script along with Kazutaka Sugiyama as Character Designer, all at Mappa. Souta Yamazaki and Shun work as the Sub Character Designer, with Sota Shigetsugu as Action Animation Director and Shoichi as the Main Animator. Riki Matsuura will design the devils alongside Look Back director Kiyotaka Oshiyama. The Chainsaw Man TV anime,...

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is officially set to hit Japanese theaters on Sep 19, 2025, as announced during the series’ stage event at AnimeJapan 2025 on March 25, 2025.

12 character visuals were also revealed alongside the release date. Check them out below:

Denji

Chainsaw Man

Pochita

Makima

Aki

Power

Kobeni

Beam

Galgali

Angel Devil

Reze

Bomb Devil

Tatsuya Yoshihara, who directed the 4th and 10th episodes of Chainsaw Man anime, will helm the anime film. He also served as a director and then Chief Director for Black Clover anime.

Other staff include:

Screenwriter: Hiroshi Seko Character Designer: Kazutaka Sugiyama Assistant Director: Masato Nakazono Sub Character Designers: Sota Yamazaki, Shun Main Animator: Shoichi Music Composer: kensuke ushio Action Animation Director: Sota Shigetsugu Devil Designers: Riki Matsuura, Kiyotaka Oshiyama Costume Designer: Aya Yamamoto Art Director: Yusuke Takeda Color Designer: Naomi Nakano

Mappa describes the plot of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc as:

Denji became...

At the Chainsaw Man AnimeJapan 2025 stage today, the continuing adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga series revealed that the upcoming anime film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc will premiere in Japanese theaters on September 19. To celebrate, 12 character visuals were released featuring the new designs for the entire cast, including Reze. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Premiere Date Visual Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Character Visuals Denji character visual Chainsaw Man character visual Pochita character visual Makima character visual Aki character visual Power character visual Kobeni character visual Beam character visual Related: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Anime Gets 2025 Premiere in Japan Galgali character visual Angel Devil character visual Reze character visual Bomb Devil character visual Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously directed the fourth and tenth episodes of the TV anime series and directed much of the Black Clover TV anime, is the director for the film.

Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s Look Back won the grand prix at the third Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff) on Thursday (March 20).

The award was presented to the director on the final night of the festival, which ran from March 15-20 in Niigata, a port city two hours north of Tokyo.

Oshiyama, who was also honoured with the Koji Fukiya prize for his work as an animator, highlighted the importance of hand-made animation during his acceptance speech. “While animating the film, I kept hearing that AI would soon be able to create entire works of animation, which made me nervous,” he said.

The anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto 's ( Chainsaw Man ) coming-of-age manga Look Back won the Grand Prix Award in the Feature Film Competition section at the third Niigata International Animation Film Festival on March 20. The third edition of Asia's largest and the world's first feature-length animation-centric film festival was held from March 15 to 20 in Niigata Prefecture. This year's Feature Film Competition section received 69 entries from 28 countries and regions. The jury consisted of film producer Manuel Cristóbal , artist, filmmaker, animator, and educator Christine Panushka , and stop motion animation studio Dwarf producer Noriko Matsumoto . The reasons given for Look Back 's selection for the Grand Prix Awards reads: "Perfect pacing and beautifully rendered characters. A film with new discoveries both in its theme and in its creators. We commend the technology, storytelling, and maturity of this film. Expectations are high for a new work from this fresh and exciting director." The...

Trigun Stargaze , the “final phase” of the Trigun Stampede anime from 2023 based on Yasuhiro Nightow’s original Trigun manga, announced today the series is set to premiere in 2026. The official accounts also revealed new staff members at studio Orange working on the project, and a super teaser visual featuring Vash and the words “Existence and Pain.” Trigun Stargaze Super Teaser Visual The teaser visual was drawn by new character designer Kiyotaka Oshiyama, best known as the director of last year’s award-winning anime film Look Back and the character designer on Devilman crybaby . Related: Trigun Stampede “Final Phase” Revealed as Trigun Stargaze Other updates to the staff list include Masako Sato ( Haikyu!! To The Top ) as the director, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu ( That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ) writing the series composition and scripts based on Takehiko Oki’s concepts, and Kouji Tajima ( Gantz:0 character artist) once again supplying the...

The 48th Japan Academy Film Awards ceremony took place on March 14, 2025 at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on March 14, 2025, with free announcer Shinichi Hatori and actress Sakura Ando hosting the show.

“A Samurai in Time” continued gathering awards after the three it netted from Nikkan Sports, Michihito Fujii cemented his place on the top of the current directors, while Yuumi Kawai highlighted that she is the next super star of the local industry. “Kingdom 4″ Return of the General” expectedly won the majority of the technical awards. Here is the full list

Best Picture

A Samurai in Time Fantasia Film Review: A Samurai in Time (2024) by Junichi Yasuda

Best Animation Film

Look Back Anime Review: Look Back (2024) by Kiyotaka Oshiyama

Best Director

Michihito Fujii – Faceless

Best Screenplay

Akiko Nogi – Last Mile Film Review: Last Mile (2024) by Ayuko Tsukahara

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Ryusei Yokohama – Faceless

Best...

The award ceremony for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prizes was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on March 14. From the five nominees in the animation category, Look Back won the Best Animation of the Year award. Additionally, the eight main animators of Look Back were also selected for the Creative Contribution Award, which was newly established this year to honor engineers who have made particularly outstanding contributions to the films selected for the awards. The eight animators were: Kiyotaka Oshiyama , Toshiyuki Inoue , Yuka Geshi , Takuya Ninuma , Katsuhiko Kitada , Shuichi Ohara , Tasan , and Ayako Hata . Among them, Oshiyama also served as the director, screenplay writer, and character designer of the film. Meanwhile, actor Yuumi Kawai , who voiced one of the film's two protagonists, Fujino, won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role award for her role as An Kagawa in the Yu Irie-directed...

The official website for the Tokyo Anime Award Festival (Taaf) announced the winners of its 2025 Anime of the Year awards on January 31, 2025. The awards are given to the most outstanding anime works or individuals from all works that were screened, broadcasted or streamed in the fiscal year 2024. The selection process begins with a vote by anime fans to select the 100 best works (20 theatrical films and 80 TV series). From those 100 works, "Best Work" (Feature film and TV series categories) and "Individual Award" awards were voted on by a wide range of animation industry professionals, including producers, creators, other media and stores handling anime merchandise. Additionally, the "Anime Fan Award" was selected by voting by the general users. The "Best Work" award in the feature film category went to Look Back , an anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's ( Chainsaw Man ) coming-of-age manga of the same name. The 58-minute film produced by...

The Tokyo Anime Award Festival (Taaf) unveiled its 2025 Animation of the Year winners on Jan 31, 2025, with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End taking the top prize in the television category and Look Back winning in the animated film category.

The Taaf jury selected winners from anime that premiered between Oct 1, 2023, and Sep 30, 2024.

The festival also recognized outstanding individuals across various creative roles and announced the recipients of its Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe won the Anime Fan Award with 21,316 votes, reflecting its enduring popularity among viewers.

Individual Category Winners: Original Work/Screenplay: Hiroyuki Yoshino Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama Animator: Toko Yatabe Background/Coloring/Visual: Mai Ichioka Sound/Performance: Evan Call Lifetime Achievement Awards: Producers: Masami Iwasaki and Takayuki Yoshii Animators: Kazuhide Tomonaga Color Designers: Sachiko Nonaka Editors: Shuichi Kakesu Music Directors: Seiji Suzuki Voice Actors: Kenyu Horiuchi

The 2025 festival will take place in Tokyo from March 7-10, 2025.

Source: Official Website,...

Last year, director Kiyotaka Oshiyama released his smash-hit anime film Look Back -- an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's titular manga series. While the 57-minute feature has earned respect and accolades for Oshiyama and Studio Durian, the director claims that luck was a major factor in the production's success.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Oshiyama went into depth about the process behind pitching, developing and adapting Fujimoto's concept for the big screen. Since its 2024 debut, the film has earned over $12 million at the worldwide box office while also enjoying high streaming traffic on Amazon's Prime Video service. Despite the film's overwhelming success, Oshiyama characterizes it as a 'hit' in a 'hit or miss situation.' "You don't know what contributes to [success] and I think I just got lucky," he said. "I am thankful for the praise that I am getting, but I try to tell myself constantly to maintain my mental strength.

To say that anime and the Academy Awards have a rocky relationship would be an understatement. Every few years, some anime film reshapes popular culture, and Look Back is the latest buzzworthy hit, thrilling fans ahead of Oscars 2025.

It’s always been maddening how underrepresented anime is during the Academy Awards, but 2025 might just top that. The highly publicized chatter for Look Back was stunned to find out the anime that ruled supreme above others in 2024 was shunned from the Oscars’ Animated Feature category.

Look Back. [Credit: Studio Durian]

Flashy titles that came out in 2024 kept many anime fans’ hopes high for the 97th Academy Awards. Yet, it seems next year might follow the usual pattern, with Disney claiming victory. Still, the snubbing of Look Back from the Oscars 2025 has enraged fans, and they have been speaking their minds online.

Outrage sparks as Look Back Misses 2025 Oscars Nomination

The Academy Awards have had a long,...

Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s animated debut feature film Look Back, based on the best-selling manga by Tatuski Fujimoto, is a heartfelt coming-of-age drama that has resonated with moviegoers and at home audiences globally, amassing more than $12 million worldwide and landing a spot on Prime Video. At just under an hour, Look Back follows the popular Ayumi Fujino (Yumi Kawai) who has been long praised for her humorous comics in the school newspaper. However, when her teacher asks her to share panel space with Kyomoto (Mizuki Yoshida), an absent recluse, her beautiful artwork outshines Fujino’s and kickstarts friendly rivalry between them into their young adult years.

Here, Deadline talks to Oshiyama about the significance of Look Back and the highs and lows of pursuing creative endeavors.

Deadline: What was your entryway into Look Back? I understand that you used to do animation work on Chainsaw Man. Did you read it first,...

Look Back, the animated movie based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot story, was recently revealed to be the highest-rated anime movie of 2024 in a new ranking reveal. The film’s critical and commercial acclaim sets the stage for the upcoming Chainsaw Man anime movie in 2025.

The official social media account for Letterboxd, the social network website for casual moviegoers and film aficionados, shared its 2024 statistics on X (formerly Twitter). Among the many film categories was the top 10 highest-rated animation of 2024. The Look Back anime movie was #1, followed by The Wild Robot at #2 and Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle at #3.

Related Official Oshi no Ko Artist Reveals the 2025 Anime Movie She Can't Wait to Watch

Even professional manga creators can't wait for the release of one of 2025's biggest Shonen Jump anime adaptations.

'Look Back' Has Been a Hit Anime Praised by Studio Ghibli President, Original Creator & More The Letterboxd 2024 Year in Review: https://t.

Look Back has been named the highest-rated animated film of 2024 in Letterboxd’s Year in Review.

Gkids, the North American distributor, celebrated the film’s feat with a post on its official X account, noting its impressive rankings in various categories.

Look Back was not only the highest-rated animated film of the year on the platform but also ranked #4 in the highest rated overall film category, and #2 highest-rated Asian film.

Look Back was all over @letterboxd's Year in Review!

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back began as a simple one-shot manga but ended up being a hit movie that moved audiences both in Japan and overseas. The film received rave reviews and huge positive responses. The emotional weight carried by the story touched souls.

But why exactly was Look Back such a hard-hitting work? Apart from its exploration of friendship, artistic sentiments, and personal growth, it is also a nuanced story that has captured subtle emotions. The visual storytelling has left an impact on its audiences. The film’s success has exceeded the manga’s and the one to take all the credit is the movie’s director.

Look Back‘s director delved deep into Tatsuki Fujimoto’s life to breathe life into the movie Look Back written by Tatsuki Fujimoto | Credits: Studio Durian

Kiyotaka Oshiyama is a veteran animator and the director of the Look Back anime movie. The...

The creator of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, Tatsuki Fujimoto, also achieved great success with Look Back, a highly emotive one-shot manga that struck a deep chord with readers all across the world. The story received a lot of praise for its exploration of friendship, tragedy, and artistic growth. However, what really makes Look Back unique is not just the touching story but also the unorthodox strategy Fujimoto relied on for the anime adaptation.

Look Back | Credit: Studio Durian

During production, Fujimoto granted director Kiyotaka Oshiyama a great deal of creative freedom. One of the greatest anime films ever made, this unconventional decision enabled the adaptation to include a unique perspective without sacrificing the integrity of the original manga. The industry norm, where creators often exercise strict control on adaptations, differs greatly from this cooperative approach.

Tatsuki Fujimoto and Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s collaborative vision Fujino and Kyomoto from Look Back...

Look Back is one of the best anime films of 2024 with its emotional take on building friendships through rivalry and the creative process behind drawing. Fujino and Kyomoto compete against each other but end up realizing they inspire each other and it blooms into a beautiful partnership.

The film encapsulated such an emotional message, both about friendship and the wonders of art, within just 58 minutes. So, imagine the surprise when Kiyotaka Oshiyama, the director of Look Back, didn’t believe it would be successful worldwide.

Look Back. [Credit: Studio Durian]

He believed only people in Japan would’ve gone for a film that’s this short in length. However, he possibly didn’t consider the fame of Chainsaw Man would factor into how many people wanted to explore Tatsuki Fujimoto’s other works, especially when Look Back is so different from the previously mentioned one.

Look Back was a guaranteed success from the premise itself Look Back.

Since it first began airing in October 2022, Chainsaw Man has taken the anime world by storm with its compelling and high-stakes action plot. The dark shonen fantasy series, adapted from the original manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, currently has one season consisting of twelve episodes that concluded in December 2022. The series follows main character Denji, a teenage boy with a mysterious chainsaw power that he uses to kill scary creatures called devils.

Chainsaw Man is widely appreciated for its jaw-dropping action and fight sequences that redefine the constraints of shonen, as well as its fantastic and in-depth character development. Denji is a hilariously interesting main hero and every other character also possesses an intriguing backstory and distinctive, realistic personality. Mappa, the studio responsible for truly stunning animation projects like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, produced the first season of the anime with stunning results. The series' animation is perfectly fluid and beautifully colorful,...

Jump Festa 2025 unveiled a brand new trailer for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, confirming its release in 2025.

Two visuals were also revealed at the event: one featuring the Chainsaw Man and another showcasing Denji and Reze.

Tatsuya Yoshihara, who directed the 4th and 10th episodes of Chainsaw Man anime, will helm the anime film. He also served as a director and then Chief Director for Black Clover anime.

Other staff include:

Screenwriter: Hiroshi Seko Character Designer: Kazutaka Sugiyama Assistant Director: Masato Nakazono Sub Character Designers: Sota Yamazaki, Shun Main Animator: Shoichi Music Composer: kensuke ushio Action Animation Director: Sota Shigetsugu Devil Designers: Riki Matsuura, Kiyotaka Oshiyama Costume Designer: Aya Yamamoto Art Director: Yusuke Takeda Color Designer: Naomi Nakano

Mappa describes the plot of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc as:

Denji became “Chainsaw Man”, a boy with a devil’s heart, and is now part of Special Division 4’s devil hunters.

Chainsaw Man set the stage today at Jump Festa 2025 with the first full look at the upcoming Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, after announcing the anime film last year on the same stage . The brand new trailer revealed a 2025 release date for Japan, and two key visuals — one showing Chainsaw Man and the other previewing Denji and Reze. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Second Teaser Trailer Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously directed the fourth and tenth episodes of the TV anime series and directed much of the Black Clover TV anime, is now slated as director for the movie. Hiroshi Seko returns to write the script along with Kazutaka Sugiyama as Character Designer, all at Mappa. Souta Yamazaki is now credited as Sub Character Designer, with Sota Shigetsugu as Action Animation Director and Shoichi as the Main Animator. Riki Matsuura will design the devils alongside Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who...

The nominees are in for the 52nd Annual Annie Awards, which celebrates the world of animation across 37 categories. Among the many nominees are Look Back —the adaptation of the one-shot by Chainsaw Man author Tatsuki Fujimoto—and Ultraman: Rising . Look Back was nominated in the Best Feature - Independent category. Ultraman: Rising was nominated for Best Feature, as well as Best FX - Feature, Best Production Design - Feature and Best Editorial - Feature. Last year saw Takeshi Honda win Best Character Animation - Feature for The Boy and the Heron , which also netted a Best Storyboarding - Feature award for Hayao Miyazaki. We'll find out who this year's winners are when the Annie Awards take place on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. Related: Look Back Anime Film Gets Worldwide Streaming Release on November 7 Kiyotaka Oshiyama ( Flip Flappers ) directs Look Back at Studio Durian.

With each passing year, Japanese anime movies are becoming more recognized globally, captivating audiences with their unique blend of storytelling, art, and emotional depth. A Silent Voice stands as the greatest anime film of the 2010s and has garnered an immense fanbase over the years.

A still of Shoya Ishida. [Credit: Kyoto Animation]

The coming-of-age story following high schoolers Shoya and Shoko features elements of mental health, forgiveness, disability, maturation, and friendship in a highly moving, emotionally charged 130-minute runtime. Interestingly, A Silent Voice director Naoko Yamada has announced their upcoming project, promising to enchant anime fans with similar themes.

A Silent Voice Director Shares the Inspiration Behind Their Next Captivating Film

A Silent Voice explored themes relating to disability, bullying, and personal redemption. The anime film offers superb pacing, visual storytelling, and an excellent, sparse soundtrack, and has left a long-lasting impression on the audience.

Shoya and Shoko | Credit: Kyoto Animation

Like A Silent Voice,...

With each passing year, Japanese anime movies are becoming more recognized globally, captivating audiences with their unique blend of storytelling, art, and emotional depth. Several anime movies have shattered box office records, cementing their place as cinematic masterpieces. Look Back, a movie by Studio Durian and director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, which adapts Tatsuki Fujimoto’s hit 2021 manga, is the latest hit in the recent wave of anime films.

Look Back Subway Scene | Credits: Studio Durian

Look Back explores the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. It is less than an hour long, much shorter than most movies currently playing in cinemas, but 58 minutes is enough to enrich anyone with its story and narrative. Amid the Oscar buzz around Look Back, anime fans shouldn’t overlook this hidden gem that truly deserves greater recognition.

Uncover the 2024 Anime Movie Hit That Got Eclipsed by Look Back

Besides Look Back,...

The first anime adaptation of The Lord of the Rings will open this December. In the meantime, Warner Bros. Discovery has given fans another look at The War of the Rohirrim with commentary from the film's star-studded cast.

Warner Bros. Discovery has uploaded a new clip of its upcoming anime adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, which will open nationwide in theaters this December. The latest behind-the-scenes trailer interviews Kenji Kamiyama, the acclaimed anime filmmaker in charge of bringing the fantastical world of J. R. R. Tolkien to life through animation. Kamiyama has built an impressive career working on prestigious anime series like Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Blood: The Last Vampire and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Related "The Fans Are in for a Big, Big Injection of Lord of the Rings": War of the Rohirrim Stars Tease What to Expect in 2 Weeks

New The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim...

Every few years, an anime film comes along that makes significant waves not only in the anime and manga community, but in the ever-changing landscape of popular culture as well. Look Back, the passion project movie by Studio Durian and director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, based on the original manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, is the latest to do just that. Following unexpected success in Japan, the film was released globally to widespread commercial and critical acclaim, and is now eligible for the Best Animated Feature Award at the Oscars.

Sporting a wildly impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% from critics, Look Back is a triumph both in the fields of animation and storytelling, boasting an impressively emotional narrative while offering some of the best visuals anime has seen in recent years. All packaged in a tightly paced, 58-minute runtime, there were questions surrounding the film's eligibility for any awards, given that the official U.

Working consistently since the 2010’s, manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto broke out with the release of his most influential series, the masterful Chainsaw Man. But while his high-profile work may deliver gore and laughs in gonzo fashion, the creative’s low-key works strip away the high-concept premises to show the beating heart and emotion that he consistently excels at. Among his smaller works, one of the best examples of this on the page and on-screen is Look Back.

Adapted from the 2021 one-shot manga, the story opens with a young girl sitting at her desk with her back to the viewer. The night is drawing on and she is getting tired, but what keeps her awake is a determination to finish her art. This is Fujino, a small-town girl who wishes to become a manga artist. She takes steps towards her dream by contributing to her school newspaper, with her contributions receiving praise from her classmates.

November is here, and with sunset falling sooner and sooner, what better way to spend your down time than snuggled up on the couch watching a great movie? A bevy of films are newly streaming in November and we’ve rounded up a curated list of the best ones added to Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock and beyond this month.

Check out our picks for the best new movies streaming in November 2024 below.

“Music by John Williams” “Music by John Williams” (Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Disney+ – Nov. 1

John Williams is the elder statesman of film music. His scores conjure memories and transport you to different times and places. Just think about what he’s contributed over the years, from “Jaws” to “Star Wars” to “Indiana Jones” to “Harry Potter” to “Jurassic Park” to “Home Alone.” Even lesser-known scores crackle with intensity, technical proficiency and creative flair (think Brian De Palma...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the list of feature films eligible for consideration in the Best Animated Feature Film category for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards.

Among the 31 titles vying for a nomination, five anime films have secured their place.

The eligible anime films are:

The Colors Within – Directed by Naoko Yamada and produced by Science Saru Ghost Cat Anzu – A collaboration between Yōko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita, Shinei Animation, and France’s Miyu Productions. The Imaginary – An adaptation of A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett’s novel, this film is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose and produced by Studio Ponoc. Look Back – based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed one-shot manga, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by Studio Durian. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – Directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by Sola Entertainment.

While these films are among the 31 contenders, some have...

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2024 has been a great year so far, with brilliant animated films released this year. While the year started out slow, but after Inside Out 2 came out in theaters and broke every conceivable record, it was off to the races. We compiled a list of the best animated films we could find that came out this year. So, rest up gather your family for most of these films, and enjoy these best-animated films of 2024.

Transformers One (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Paramount Pictures

Transformers One is an animated sci-fi action film directed by Josh Cooley from a screenplay co-written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari. Based on the Transformers action figures by Hasbro, the 2024 film follows the origin stories of Optimus Prime and Megatron who were once friends before turning into each others’ arch nemesis.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s world in Chainsaw Man has many supernatural elements but it is still realistic through the characters and their aspirations. From Denji to Aki, they all just wanted a bit of normalcy far from the suffering and tragedy they endured. While Look Back doesn’t have a supernatural setting and is more grounded than Chainsaw Man, both Fujino and Kyomoto seemed like outcasts when they accepted their talents.

Fujino draws a comic strip in Look Back | Credits: Studio Durian

Fujino’s journey, even with the few pages, was extremely relatable and there is supposedly a reason behind that resonance. Fujimoto used some personal experiences to shape these stories and characters that touched fans’ hearts.

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Personal Experiences Inspired His Protagonists

Most fans notice that Tatsuki Fujimoto’s characters are often flawed and tragic. The erratic nature of life makes normalcy an aspiration for them. Denji just...

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Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed November this year. The upcoming month will see the beginning of some of Prime Video’s best original shows including Cross and also new brilliant movies like My Old Ass. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the best 7 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in November 2024.

Back to Back (November 5)

Back to Back is a biographical drama film directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson from a screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh. Based on the life of English singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, the 2024 film follows the life and music of Amy Winehouse from her adolescence to adulthood as she creates one of the best-selling albums of our time. Back to Back stars Marisa Abela in the lead role with Jack O’Connell,...

Prime Video has acquired the exclusive streaming rights for the animated film Look Back, written by Tatsuki Fujimoto and directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama. Released in theaters earlier this year on June 28, the film will be available for Prime members in over 240 countries and regions starting November 7, 2024.

A theatrical adaptation of the manga published in Jump+ in 2021, Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the artist popularly known for Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, narrates the beautifully intertwined story of two young girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, connected by their earnest desire for manga and the unfortunate incident that upends their lives.

Following their journey, their shared love for manga, and the shocking event that shatters everything between them. This heartbreaking coming-of-age story garnered an overwhelming response from critics and audiences alike during its successful theatrical run and held the number one position at the box office for two consecutive weeks while grossing over...

The official X account of Prime Video announced on Oct 22, 2024, that Look Back anime film will be available for streaming on the platform globally from Nov 7, 2024.

A new visual illustrated by the director Kiyotaka Oshiyama was revealed to commemorate the announcement.

Director Oshiyama expressed excitement about the upcoming Prime Video release, stating, “The film Look Back is a work that combines the powerful story of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga with my own perspective to create a movie. Although it is a short 58-minute film, I was genuinely surprised that so many people came to watch it multiple times in theaters. I am very happy that this worldwide streaming release will allow those who couldn’t come to the theater and even more people to experience the film. By watching it repeatedly, I hope viewers will take the time to enjoy the movie from various perspectives. Please also look for...

Chainsaw Man's creator, Tatsuki Fujimoto, took the Japanese box office by storm earlier this Spring with Look Back, which has since become one of the best anime movies of 2024. Ever since its theatrical release, fans of Fujimoto's work have been eagerly awaiting a streaming announcement, and after a lengthy wait, Look Back is finally making its way to streaming.

According to a post on X by the streaming hub's official handle, Look Back will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video worldwide from November 7, 2024 (November 8 in some regions). The announcement was accompanied by an existing key visual featuring Fujino and Kyomoto as well as an English-subbed version of the first trailer posted on Prime Video's YouTube channel.

Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back Finally Comes to Streaming Thanks to Amazon Look Back Was A Massive Box Office Hit Manga drew them together. Life made them best friends. Look Back arrives November 7. pic.