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

What an incredibly poignant and detailed look at how we process grief, and how it feels to lose someone close to you.

Look Back feels so personal. I could sense raw, visceral emotion emanating from each and every frame. It paints such a clear portrait of the way one can feel like things could have turned out differently if they just made some different choices, looking back on every decision yet not being able to change any of them, reflecting on the fleeting moments you had with a person who is no longer there. This feeling is also reflected in the film's shorter runtime, telling precisely the story it needs to in just under an hour, without stretching itself too thin.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and take an hour, sit down and give it a watch. You won't look back on the time you spent doing so.

**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.

I don't watch a lot of anime movies, but this one absolutely blew me away.
It starts so sweet, showing a friendship built on manga and small moments, like one person always leading the other's hand. The drawing scenes are used so perfectly, changing meaning with every new shot.
The art style itself is a masterpiece. The clear, detailed backgrounds feel like one character's work, while the rough, expressive foregrounds feel like the other's. It's so meta, and it works so well.
Then, the story hits you with this massive, heartbreaking turn. The end is just... wow. It makes you feel like you're going through the same grief, hoping for a what if or a time travel moment, only to realize you're just watching someone's imagination as they try to cope. And then you realise that you also are trying to do the same.
However it can get a little confusing there too.
It's a powerful and unforgettable tribute to art, friendship, and how we deal with loss. A truly special movie.

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.