Tatsuki Fujimoto’s critically acclaimed one-shot manga Look Back finally gets an anime movie adaptation. Almost three years after it took Japan by storm, the story of Ayumu Fujino will soon be told on the big screen. The anime officially announced the upcoming film adaptation with a teaser that gives a glimpse of the talented elementary schooler, along with its release date: June 28, 2024.
You can see the preview below:
The 30-second teaser shows the Look Back protagonist, Fujino, working on her study table. Fujino is known for her great talent for drawing manga, which she publishes in the school’s paper. Later, after finishing her work, Fujino stands up as the scene is cut to reveal the film’s release.
Aside from the teaser, the anime has also unveiled the first key visual for the upcoming movie. Just like what is seen in the preview, it shows Fujino working on her art. It also features her messy room with books, magazines, her bag, and crumpled papers scattered on the floor.
You can see the key visual below:
Who are the staff of Look Back?
Details about Look Back remain scarce, and the anime has yet to reveal its main cast. So far, it only unveils its director, Kiyotaka Oshiyama (Evangelion: Rebuild of Evangelion, The Borrower Arrietty, The Wind Rises, who also works on its screenplay and character design. Studio Durian produces the film.
Talking about the new anime movie, Fujimoto, also known for his works on Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, said he created this one-shot manga to force himself to understand what was inside of him that he couldn’t fathom. Though he wasn’t sure if he had successfully delivered what he wanted to convey, he was grateful that a lot of people helped to turn this work into a film.
“Director Oshiyama is a monster animator that most anime otakus don’t know about,” he continued. “So, as an otaku, I’m looking forward to seeing this work on screen.”
What is Look Back about?
Look Back is a coming-of-age story about Ayumu Fujino, an elementary student who possesses exceptional skill in drawing manga. However, amid the heaps of praise she receives, she is pitted against another student, Kyomoto, who also publishes her own manga. Kyomoto believes she’s better than Fujino, forcing the latter to improve her talent, putting her friends and family on the sideline as she obsesses over surpassing Kyomoto. But as she fails to beat Kyomoto, she ends up quitting drawing.
You can read the synopsis below:
Fujino and Kyomoto have completely opposite personalities. What connects the two girls is a single-minded love for manga. What is the future that these two people who dedicated their youth to manga saw?
The anime film is based on a one-shot manga of the same title by Fujimoto. It was published on Shueisha’s online platform Shonen Jump+ on July 19, 2021, and collected a single volume, released on September 3, 2021. It was published in English by Viz Media and Shueisha’s Manga Plus. Viz Media also licensed the manga and published its volume on September 20, 2022. It was then adapted into an anime film by Studio Durian.
On its first publication day, it reached 2.5 million reads and 4 million in two days. Its tankobon volume sold almost 74,000 copies in its first week of release and over 80,000 copies in the second. It also topped the Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers in 2022.
Are you excited to see Fujino in the Look Back movie? With the manga’s success, it looks like the anime film will also be a big hit with the fans’ positive reaction to the teaser.
