'Look Back' is almost perfect - Movie Review

Here are my thoughts on Look Back, a 2024 animated film directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, based on the one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto.

[ragelmatt]

I'm seeing an uptick in views since the movie got released in other regions, especially the US, but I'm glad people are enjoying this movie! If you haven't, go check out the original one-shot manga... or if you're looking for something else, I highly recommend you all to read Goodbye Eri!

[ezequielcarrascorodriguez]

Just came back from the theater and something interesting happened. The movie ended, nobody moved until the credits ended and then some, and there was total absolute silence. I was the first that stood up after wiping the tears on my face and i took a glance at the people sitting behind me, there were some people still crying, almost everyone was on the brink of crying and nobody broke the silence as we started walking out. I think we were like 25 humans on that room. Ive never seen something like that

[ninaclark]

The still images brought out a bigger feeling of grief. In America I feel like we’re so use to animation always moving, looking at a artist viewpoint the director as he said wanted to bring out the emotion more as in reality all we have left of someone passing away are images stuck in time

[maryhutson-]

I've just came back from watching the movie, started researchin on the film "Look Back" and came across your video. Full disclosure, I have neither read the manga or watched any trailers so I came to this movie blind. I agree with your statement that the first half of the movie was incredibly entertaining due to the character's facial expressions and subtle body animations. I was in awe with the animation and I believed that the vision of Tatsuki Fujimoto was masterfully rendered on screen. However, I disagree with your point that the last 20 mins was not as engaging. It was emotional and heart-breaking. Despite the characters not having many cross-hatches expressed, the feeling of regret and loneliness was still deeply felt. The main theme at the end was undeniably gut-wrenching. And yes, I felt disappointed with the slideshow in the end. Looking back at it, it would still be as impactful as it was even if its not a slideshow. Nonetheless, its all good as I felt that the main theme of the movie was still brought across. Overall, 9/10 anime.

[screwdriver]

Just watched it here in the Philippines. It was damn beautiful and although I agree with you with the montage reel, this movie was like a breath of fresh air. Sucks in the PH, as I had the theatre all by myself lol. Nice review man.

[JxhnNichxlls]

I can understand why people might not like the end montage. The way I look at the end comes full circle with the themes of love of creating for manga artists (artists in general really.) when it’s non moving frames where we as viewers can appreciate the detail of every frame.

Those held shots thinking of the value, hue, tone, focusing our eyes can navigate at a comfortable speed taking in the moments between Fujino and Kyomoto. Also would like to believe Fujino would’ve drawn those moments as memories for panels. I thought it was a brilliant comedown from the motion and a love letter to manga artists that work so hard on still images.

[seujroge]

I wasn't mentally prepared for this movie at all, I hadn't read the one-shot, I didn't know ANYTHING about this movie before watching it. I thought it was going to be a sweet telling of two girls becoming friends and living happily ever after, but I couldn't be further from the fucking truth. I cried so hard.

[leifmochi]

Great video bang.
Yesterday watched it with my bro, Cried hard in the movie like 5 or so time. its personal for me.
i already read the manga before but it hits me hard.
Shi the i have the same experience with you. the first minute where fujino just drawing while looking at her my eyes already watery.
At the end i was sobbing hard, and my eyes are red.
Man even while writing this i my eyes are watery.

[iomartinez]

The last 20 are the ones that made me cry, it really drives home the idea of a life long friendship and what that means

[Karbumkle]

straightforward explanation, 10/10 review. while i do *Really* love ur opinion, personally still images on the montage makes it a lil easier for viewer to digest(i read the manga before seeing it) and having kyomoto gleaming with joy animated hits a lot harder.

upon multiple viewing i began to appreciate the climax, ofc they could done a bit differently on the tone shift but its still one of the best movie ive seen.

[nobuyukiohnishi]

I cant stop my tears dropping from my eyes. Its so beautiful.

[kiniiiru]

I came into this blind and am amazed at how much emotion was packed into this short of a run time. Also fully agree with your review… I felt that the ending needed just that extra push, because the first 1/3 was so so good.

[finding_Jami]

The remaining 20 minutes of the movie you're talking about was I think one of the most important part of the movie. Many, including you, may think its a sliding show presentation, but its a representation of a manga, or the still picture itself. Just cause its an animation, it doesn't have to be moving all the time. I find it appealing on animations when it has this kind of scenes. And you may not be thinking about it but this movie has so many meanings, the still images may be conveying that time itself is stuck when looking back at the good times that just serves as only a memory to those especially who's grieving. And many details in this movie is such unnoticeably beautiful, like how the credits rolled begins with a sunrise and ends with night city and her leaving her work place. This is a chiefs kiss in all aspect.

[ergohash]

An amazing video, professional. A+, all the stars. Congrats on the new channel, excited for what you will upload here.

[finding_Jami]

The fact that not many people don't know much about the artist makes this movie not as much as relatable. If you havent seen the interview of Fugimoto way back before he started chainsawman, he said that he struggled conveying his emotion through art cause "he's not good enough" just like the character in the movie, Fugino and Kyoumoto represent himself.(Its not a total coincidence for the characters to have half of his name in them.) He kept studying so he could show more in details his genius ideas though his arts, yet he struggles to improve.

I as an artist myself find this movie relatable in all aspect. The difficulty of making arts, struggling to keep on finding its purpose, "Why do you draw, Fugino?" As Kyoumoto asks hits hard for me. I think this is a true story of the artist himself. The movie itself is amazing, but when you know what the meanings behind them is what makes it even more amazing.

[CoconutJewce]

Just watched it yesterday. It's crazy how a montage and some simple piano/orchestral music can make a rather mundane scene so emotional (Wolf Children vibes). Why am I crying while watching a middle school girl draw? 😭 And they did it a few times. lol The music was so good for the entire movie.

And I think I enjoyed the anime more than the manga because it was more clear to me when they were switching between past/present or the alternate timeline. I was kinda confused while reading the manga but that's my fault, I guess. lol

[さかたん-sf]

I really liked this movie, it was so famous in Japan. They all said it is an amazing movie in 2024. I want you to focus on music also more lol

[leucthuan]

I just watch the Movie in Vietnam Cinema. I love ❤ the manga artist couple Fujino and Kyomoto and feel very sad when seeing Kyomoto Die. This is a short but amazing beautiful Anime by Fujimoto sensei

[jjstarrprod]

Hi man !
Great review.
I just watched it in a screening in Taiwan (and surprisingly, the theater was full). And I agree with pretty much all your points.
I hadn't read the manga, but was already spoiled by a youtube video that explains all the plot of movies. I had no idea what this manga was and felt like whoa ! That's a powerful story !
And lo and behold, just a few days after watching this vid, I saw an announcement that this movie was gonna come out in just a few months... And I felt "Goddamn..."

Long story short, since I already knew the story, I was still curious to watch the movie in theaters coz I kept hearing rave reviews about its art direction and animation, and yep ! It's a gorgeously animated movie... For the first half.
Indeed, the final chapter does feel a bit dry compared to what came before, and I feel like it must have come down to deadlines or budget constraint, coz that final powerpoint slides reeks of "we would have loved to animate all these in a prior moment so that the climax would have hit harder, but we ran out of money and the animators were dying of malnutrition, so we had to settle for a 3rd act exposition slideshow)".
Which is really sad to end a movie that could have been so powerful with such a whimper. So much potential to be anime of the year.

[Vontonone]

Ngl these under 10 min reviews are pretty good