LOOK BACK (ルックバック) (2024)

Genre: Animation
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Cast: Yumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida 
Runtime: 58 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 8 August 2024

Synopsis: Based on award-winning manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of Chainsaw Man. The overly confident Fujino and the Shut-in Kyomoto couldn’t be more different. Their love of drawing manga is the one thing connecting these contrary girls. One day, however, something happens to them that shatters everything… A heart-wrenching and impactful story of growing up.

Movie Review:

This coming of age anime film has a runtime of 58 minutes. Yet, in about an hour, it packs an emotional punch that can last a lifetime, especially if you have gone through a similar episode as the film’s protagonist.

Based on the one shot web manga of the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the story first sees Ayumu Fujino drawing really funny manga for her school’s weekly newspaper. Her creativity is quirkily funny, considering there is death in the work we see.

Fujino basks in the glory of her popularity, until she finds herself challenged by Kyomoto, another who has been submitting her works from home because her social anxiety condition prevents her from attending classes in person. It is clear that Kyomoto’s skills are superior, and Fujino is not pleased about that.

Circumstances then brings Ayumu to Kyomoto’s residence, where the two girls eventually finding themselves working on a manga together. It also turns out that Kyomoto has always been a fan of Fujino’s offbeat humour. All’s good up to this point with this tale of how two individuals forming a heartwarming friendship, and we didn’t know that what follows will shake our senses.

Without giving away too much, we see the Fujino and Kyomoto transiting into adulthood, and as we already know by living life, this journey comes with both uplifting and heartbreaking experiences that may leave a lasting impact, or a lingering melancholy that never goes away.

This anime film adaptation is directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who is also credited for the screenplay and character designs. The animation style is pleasing to the eyes, and while it doesn’t blow you away with dazzling effects, there is a sense of honesty in how the film is visualised. Fujino and Kyomoto feel like real people you know – Fujino is the good natured and confident classmate that is always fun to have around, while Kyomoto is that person in your phone book that you wish you could get to know better. When Kyomoto first appears on screen, you can sense with her jitteriness, thanks to Oshiyama’s superb character design.

Yumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida are the two main credited voice cast for delivering fine performances as Fujino and Kyomoto respectively. The heartrending score composed by Haruka Nakamura complements the story, and the end credit tune "Light Song" composed by Nakamura and performed by Urara is a fitting close to the film, and it will leave you in your seat till the screen goes black.

This writer hasn’t read the original manga, but he is guessing that fans will embrace the film adaptation, judging from the number of people who were holding to official memorabilia at the screening. Like other critically acclaimed anime productions like Your Name (2016), Mirai (2018) and Weathering With You (2019), there is a fantastical element that involves time travelling in this movie. It is treated with absolute elegance and when this part of the story unfolds on screen, you will feel a slight heartache and think about what life could also have been if you had made a different choice.

Movie Rating:

(A poignant anime film that tells a beautifully melancholic story about growing up)

Review by John Li