'Look Back' review: A moving story and beautiful visuals

"Look Back": A moving short film animated from Tatsuki Fujimoto's original work

"Look Back," released on June 28, 2024, is a short animated film based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki Fujimoto. Distributed by Avex Pictures and animated by Studio Dorian, the film left a deep impression on audiences in its short 58-minute run. It was directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by the "Look Back" Production Committee.

Background of the original work and anime adaptation

Tatsuki Fujimoto expressed his talent and passion for creation through the manga series Look Back, which was serialized on Jump+. The manga was released in 2021 and quickly attracted many readers. Due to the success of the manga, it was decided to make an anime adaptation, which will be released in theaters in 2024.

The appeal of the original work lies in its simple yet profound storytelling. Through the relationship between the main characters, a young girl named Fujino and a young boy named Kyoda, the story depicts talent, friendship, and growth. In adapting it into an anime, we sought to bring out the essence of the original work to the fullest extent.

Story and Characters

The story of Look Back revolves around the relationship between Fujino, a talented girl, and Kyoda, a boy who is jealous of her talent but supports her. The two begin drawing manga when they are in middle school, and their talents gradually blossom. However, their relationship becomes complicated due to differences in talent and jealousy, and ultimately ends in tragedy.

Fujino is a girl with genius talent, and the manga she draws inspires many people. Meanwhile, Kyoda is a kind-hearted boy who is jealous of Fujino's talent but tries to support her. As the two grow up, the story depicts friendship, jealousy, and the weight of talent.

Animation and performance

Studio Dorian faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original work while taking advantage of the expressive power of animation. In particular, the manga scenes by Fujino skillfully use color and movement to leave a strong impression on the audience. In addition, the scenes depicting Kyoda's inner conflict have an exquisite balance of silence and music, moving the audience to the core.

Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama has a deep understanding of the theme of the original work and has used various methods to express it in the medium of animation. In particular, he has paid particular attention to the facial expressions and movements of the characters, bringing out the emotions of the original work to the fullest. Music also plays an important role, and the soundtrack is used effectively to enhance the emotions of the audience.

A moving ending and message

The ending of Look Back deeply moved many viewers. As the relationship between Fujino and Kyoda comes to a tragic end, the importance of talent and friendship is highlighted once again. Kyoda's actions in the final scene in particular left a strong impact on the audience, moving them to tears.

Through this work, Tatsuki Fujimoto asks the questions "What is talent?" and "What is friendship?" The play depicts the loneliness of having talent and the difficulty of supporting friendship, encouraging deep reflection in the audience. It also functions as a story of growth and self-discovery, and will resonate with many young people.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Look Back" has been widely accepted not only by fans of the original work, but also by anime and movie fans alike. Its deeply moving story in a short time, beautiful animation, and moving ending left a strong impression on many viewers.

This is a must-see for anyone who resonates with themes of talent and friendship, and is also a great story of growth and self-discovery, making it suitable for both young and old audiences, as well as those who enjoy beautiful animation and effective use of music.

Additional Information and Recommended Content

The original work of "Look Back" is published by Shueisha Jump+ Comics, so if you are interested, please pick it up. Also, if you check out Tatsuki Fujimoto's other works, you will be able to understand his unique worldview and storytelling even more deeply.

For anime fans, we also recommend other works by Studio Durian, especially since many of their works are characterized by beautiful animation and deep storylines, so if you enjoyed "Look Back," be sure to check out their other works.

There are also many other anime and movies that have themes of talent and friendship. For example, Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" and Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name" are excellent stories of talent, friendship, and growth. By watching these works as well, you will be able to understand the theme of "Look Back" more deeply.

"Look Back" is a deeply moving film in a short time, and it left a strong impression on many audience members. It is also an excellent story of talent, friendship, and growth, and is a film that can be recommended to a wide range of audiences. Please come and experience the excitement at the theater.