Look Back

When it's the end, all we can do is to look back and think about why we started everything at the first place and when we finally get to our beginning, it will bring back you to me.

heart shattering twist, literal goosebumps;
i can't describe how sad it made me feel when they revealed Kyomoto's death


the comic strip going under the door and into the future / past, to change someone's destiny was such a great twist, loved it


the music is fantastic, and the story too, i'd like to gaslight myself and believe that the past changed, and everyone survived


but at the same time, the first timeline has it's own charm, it's sad af, but yet, Kyomoto will be remembered and in Fujino's memories for ever

**Look Back** is an anime with a complete package.

The animation is neat coupled with a very good story. Not to mention the beautiful cinematography also adds color to the film.

It's hard to find any shortcomings in **Look Back**.

Amazing movie!!! I went in with 0 expectation, never read the manga, never even read the synopsis!! Fujimoto really amazes me lol dude able to make a story this heart touching but also make something whack like chainsaw man 😭😭😭 how

This film is adapted from Look Back, a one shot Manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch.

When it comes to adaptations, there’s always room for skepticism and a fear of disappointment, and to be honest this is legitimate here, adapting the original work into a film could have been really challenging, the original manga is short, with few dialogues and has an unique and minimalist style yet, this adaptation goes far beyond expectations.

If the original work was already captivating and emotional, this film takes it further, demontring what a true adaptation should be (and a faithful one at that in this case), an adaption that enhances the source material through its animation, mise en scenes, editing, music, and a great and beautiful usage of landscapes and weather, meaning that the film really captures the passage of time, the growing and infinite bond between the two protagonists.
In a nutshell, this is a real masterclass adaptation that stays remarkably true to the original Manga while adding depth to it.

Look Back stands between a short and a feature length film, balancing Fujimoto’s dark and rough lines with vibrant and minimalist pastel style and colors.


It beautifully explores the friendship between two teenage girls, tracing their journey from adolescence into adulthood, depicting the brightness of a relationship and its complexity, but also explore multiples other themes such as ambition, dreams, isolation, the relentless grind of the manga industry (which is too often harsh on mangakas), and the notion of destiny.

A bright film for a radiant relationship, Look Back is a flawless adaptation on every level, but above all, it is an elegant movie.


9/10.

It really impresses me how much this adaptation makes fit in a less than an hour run time. Seeing passions and friendships kindle in the snapshots of Fujino and Kyomoto’s lives was done impeccably well.

I'm going to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of the animation style even though it is quite faithful to the manga. Although there were points where it did have its charm, other times it kind of took me out of the story. That being said, the story is goddamn beautiful. So much is accomplished in under an hour's runtime and the music only enhances everything about the movie. Fujimoto is simply a genius.

What a wonderful, bittersweet little story. Absolutely worth an hour of your time. The rotoscoped art style may not be for everyone, but I really liked it.

I’m amazed by Look Back. I thought I’d want to rewatch it once it’s out, but I’m not sure I can. It’s hard to put into words how much this movie resonated with me. Look Back is raw, beautiful, and packed with emotion, creating an intense journey in just an hour that shows incredible skill and heart. Every scene feels essential, either driving the story or tugging at your emotions, with no wasted moments. The ending was perfectly satisfying, leaving nothing more to ask for.

The animation is breathtakingly smooth, and Nakamura Haruka’s music, primarily piano and strings, adds depth. It swells beautifully in the right moments yet knows when to stay minimal, letting the raw emotion shine through.

A short, beautiful anime, based on a short, beautiful manga, about a pair of teens who dream of one day illustrating their own manga and having it adapted into an anime. You can probably say this was an intimate subject for the authors, and it spoke to me on a personal level, as well. I know how transformative it can be to share a deep, artistic passion with a kindred spirit, especially during early adolescence, and many points of _Look Back_’s story hit dead-center with my own experience. As, I’d presume, it might for a shocking number of creatives. We can push ourselves, toy with different styles, discover new inspirations, but there’s really nothing like the mix of emotional connection and healthy rivalry that comes from meeting and accepting someone on a parallel road.

_Look Back_ is about friendship and passion, and the mutual devotion that ties these together. For Fujino and Kyomoto, the socially divergent girls at the story’s epicenter, that bond is formed around sequential art, but the same story could revolve around any number of liberal pursuits: music, literature, film, dance... anywhere inspiration grows, frantic and ravenous. That fire usually burns awfully bright, though, and emotions can often bite, as is the eventual case for our girls. After years of close, fruitful accord, they hit the rocks and grow apart. This will pose another familiar question for those of us who identify: can our work stand on its own, or were we taking more than we gave to that fractured relationship? Self-doubt is a powerful influence amongst poets.

We follow the plot through fleeting peeks and glimpses that tell just enough to let the story breathe. Resonant moments in time that will linger in the girls’ memories (and, perhaps, our own) forever. The film’s artwork is suitably matched: simple and slight but potently expressive, like a charming haiku. Its ability to capture these characters, the pain of their shifting moods and the majesty of their little corners of the world, is wonderfully efficient. No wasted motions, neither in the telling nor the illustration. _Look Back_ may run for just fifty-eight minutes, but it’s fuller than most movies that go twice as long.