Look Back

Understandable "roughness" aside (which gives it a welcome quirkiness), it is pretty well done!

Has a great visual style, beautiful color palette, good sound design, comical editing, and some very impactful action animations. But more importantly, it tells a meaningful story of tender and weighty moments in less than one hour, with some very interesting characters and interactions. A truly memorable film.

I have an inclination to the ununderstood impact of choices that others can't ever see.. because they will never happen. How some things can only be appreciated when the idea of "yanking them away irreparably" truly sinks in.. and how only dramatic and traumatic events can help a person see that! I've always wondered how can you communicate that without it being too late. It's a thought-provoking crutch in storytelling you don't see a lot of.

Why do we create art? When faced on all side with questions or statements like: "Aren't you too old for that?" or "Why can't you find a normal hobby?" or "Don't you want a job that pays more?", it's a question no small amount of artists have asked themselves.

This film is an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shot manga "Look Back" published in 2021 by Shueisha as part of Jump+. Known for "Chainsaw Man", and lesser so for "Fire Punch", Tatsuki Fujimoto is a wonderful storyteller who always puts his heart into his works, no matter how raw or silly it can come across, and this work is no exception.

Every bit of the animation is emotionally put together, scenes fly from the screen to portray the human emotions on display. It wonderfully captures the spirit of the original manga, while making sure to stand out on it's own creative legs. While Fujimoto wrote the story, it clearly means a lot to the staff working on this as well, and it just goes to show how universal that question of "Why?" is.

The two leads, Fujino and Kyomoto, are wonderful and painful to follow as they find each other and work together. They push each other forward, and in the process walk away forever changed because of each other. Both the original Japanese and English dub are extremely well put together and I don't believe you'll be missing out either way, as both pairs of actresses bring both girls to life wonderfully.

The story is inspirational and tragic. It speaks to the human desire to create, and collaborate. It is about the messy relationship we have to our own creations, as well as each other. That these collaborators, relationships, and fans... are what drive us forward.

Why do we create art? Is it for ourselves? Is it for others? For it's own sake?

I believe it's all of these things.

But we also have to remember to look back at who's following, who's cheering you on, or your own steps in the snow.

And then keep moving forward.

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

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

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

Tatsuki Fujimoto's "Look Back" was a fantastic manga which offered a deeply introspective and thought-provoking look into the mind of the artist himself - a self-reflection on his journey to becoming a successful manga artist, from creating short stories as a kid to writing one of Jump's latest big hits. This adaptation introduces us to Fujino and Kyomoto, two talented and passionate girls who expertly represent the internal ideological debate regarding the very essence of creating art and pursuing goals. Simultaneously, the film tells an emotional tale of the bond between these young artists - although going into detail would involve major spoilers, due to the multitude of heart-shattering twists and turns in just 60 short minutes of runtime.

As a story about art and passion, it is only natural that the film's production would mirror these qualities expertly. Kiyotaka Oshiyama is one of the most interesting creatives in Japan's animation industry, and, so far, this is certainly his greatest work. With a relatively small team, he has managed to craft one of the most visually appealing pieces of animation I've ever seen - single-handedly producing, directing, screenwriting, designing, storyboarding and supervising - and animating absurd portions of the film. Breathtaking work, and inkeeping with the message of Fujimoto's brilliant story.

For bonus points: Haruka Nakamura's soundtrack is amazing, especially the main theme "Light song".

Look Back perhaps may not become a mainstream hit, but will certainly be remembered by those who watched it as a heartfelt, emotional, beautifully-crafted film with an incredible attention to detail.

10/10, without a doubt. This is the type of film that changes lives.

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

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

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

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