HomeAnimeREVIEW | "Look Back" Embraces Creative Minds with Triumph and Tragedy

REVIEW | "Look Back" Embraces Creative Minds with Triumph and Tragedy

REVIEW | "Look Back" Embraces Creative Minds with Triumph and Tragedy

In just under an hour, Look Back finds a way to be a love letter to the manga world, while also unexpectedly gut-punching its audience when they least expect it. But that’s Tatsuki Fujimoto for you, who has also done the same with his maddening-yet-brilliant Chainsaw Man. However, Look Back is far from the insanity that highlights the days of Denji, Power, and the rest of the gang. Instead, it’s about two people connecting with a shared interest, and where it takes them.

Originally a one-shot in Shonen Jump+, Look Back follows Ayumu Fujino (Yuumi Kawai), a grade schooler with a knack for drawing. Her weekly comics are a hit with the other students, who often shower her with praise. One day, her work is overshadowed by the reclusive student Kyomoto (Mizuki Yoshida), whose art style is so good it forces Ayumu to do better. She’s on the verge of giving up the art world, until she has to take Kyomoto’s diploma to her home.

It’s here where the two artists finally meet face-to-face. The level of praise Kyomoto showers Ayumu is enough to rekindle her love for drawing manga. Thus the two begin to work together to make one-shots and enter contests, of which they become known as a young sensation. When the opportunity to draw a weekly series arrives, Kyomoto instead decides to go to art school, much to Ayumu’s dismay. But then, something happens that rocks Ayumu’s world to the core.

Revealing more here about Look Back would do a disservice to both Studio Durian and writer/director Kiyotaka Oshiyama. Although it is just a 58-minute film, there is a bountiful of character growth and emotion on display practically every second. From the joy on Kyomoto’s face meeting her classmate hero for the first time to the deep anguish Ayumu displays in the film’s second half, this movie manages to pack so much weight into its narrative in a smaller-than-usual package. On top of the emotional aspect of the film, the visuals are simply a marvel to look at.

The animation feels a lot more closer to Fujimoto’s art style than MAPPA’s Chainsaw Man adaptation. Where the latter smooths out all of the wrinkles, the former embraces the rough-around-the-edges look. It’s properly janky, all the way down to the animated versions of Ayumu’s comics. Perhaps the highlight of the film arrives after Ayumu and Kyomoto’s first meeting, where the once-defeated Ayumu slowly rediscovers her passion to draw via impromptu dancing. It’s youth and inspiration all wrapped together within composer Haruka Nakamura’s gorgeous soundtrack, creating a powerful image of a girl getting the itch back to pick up that pen!

Again, what occurs in Look Back’s second half is hard to talk about without spoiling. Some will be on the fence with how things go down, whereas others will find some clarity into the reason why Ayumu feels the way she does, and why she continues to push herself to draw. Either way, Look Back is a quick-yet-efficient tale about passion, regret, and rekindling that spark that makes us all do what we need to do to make our marks in this big world of ours. But man, prepare to get your heart wrecked!

FINAL GRADE:

Promotional consideration provided by Grace Liriano of GKIDS and Alanna Hall of 42West PR. In theaters October 4th! Click here for tickets!

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The J-POP king of America, Evan has been bringing the hottest sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun to the English-speaking public since his college radio days. He's also an expert in the gaming, anime, & manga realms, never afraid to get critical when the times call for it. Born & bred in Boston, he achieved his biggest dream yet by making the big move to Tokyo, Japan in Summer 2023! For personal inquiries, contact Evan at evan@b3crew.com. For press/band inquiries, write to us at thebastards@bostonbastardbrigade.com. (Drawing by AFLM of Wicked Anime)