When an author writes about themself.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

- Jeremiah 29:11

Why do we create? That question is such a tender and intimate one and its very rare that an author will open up that soft part of himself in order to tell a story. However, that is exactly what we get in the 2024 film, Look Back. The story is so beautiful not just in a vacuum, but also when held up to the life of its brilliant creator, Tatsuki Fujimoto.

[lelouch]

Fujimoto literally split himself into two cute anime girls and he's such a king for that

[Vndett.a]

pls never doubt your artistic skills ever again. your video brought me to tears and teleported the pencil and paper in front of me. this literally cleared my artblock. thank you.

[doppleganger]

"There weren’t any prep schools near me, so I went to an art class with a lot of old people, where I did oil paintings in the corner. There were good artists there, so I decided that if I didn’t get better than them in four years I would kill them, and since I didn’t want to go on the run if I was a good artist, I just kept drawing." - Tatsuki FujiGOATo

[arslanhassan]

I just want to write.
My reason to create is simply that.
I want to write. No matter what. To sit down and have one person read it. To have one person look at it a stranger. Not someone i know. Not someone who's job is to praise my work. Some stranger. Not knowing the context of why i write. Not even someone who read this comment and would find out my writing.

It's the one unfiltered pure validation I seek.

I see to write something that I want to read. You know how you're just scrolling through a list of stories on a platform and then you see a title, the synopsis and the lack of reviews and you look at it and say "let me give this a shot" and then magic happens in your brain as you go through a chapter and the next and so on.

Without you realizing you've read a 100 pages of this one random book you found and are totally in love with it. You love the author for making such a story and can't wait to tell the world how great that one story you found is and tell them to try it. Regardless if they do or don't.

That's the sort of impact i want

[hankevin]

“Then why do you draw, Fujino?”

That line hit really hard, especially hearing it in Kyoumoto’s innocent voice along with her rural accent…

[TylerRamos-ho]

Man RIP Kim Jung Gi. It’s dope that Fujimoto mentioned him as an influence. It still makes me sad how he died so suddenly.

[farhanasafran]

that activate windows notification pop up got me wheezing while tears were streaming down my face when i noticed it

[fuzzywuzzy]

that moment when fujino saw art that was better than hers and got so overwhelmed with jealousy hit home really hard for me. as an artist, i remember when i first got very serious about my art, studying anatomy like CRAZY, was when i realized just how much better other artists around me were. i would constantly compare my art with others to see where i had failed and they succeeded or vice versa. that scene spoke a million words to me and acknowledged the competitive nature that comes with insecurity

[hellcatz]

I had a childhood friend and we were literally art buddies until I moved abroad. I stayed in high school but due to anxiety, she stopped attending and focused on an art career instead. When I saw this movie IM TELLING YOU!!

[Kayliee__]

I started creating art because it was fun, but as time progressed, i found it as a source of comfort. I dont talk much and have a hard time expressing myself with words, art enables me to release emotions and express myself. It also brings me joy.

[deliii]

To me not just Look Back but Goodbye Eri too feels like Fujimoto writing about himself. While Look Back introspects on the pursuit of art itself and is a way for the artist to come to terms with the pursuit of art in times of tragedy & grief. Goodbye Eri disects his own writing style and the way in which he deals with tragedy. The need for shock, the need for catharsis, the need for distance from reality in fiction all materialized through the iconic explosions that have been termed "Fujimoto Explosions" from which his protagonists walk away unscathed.

[krazy]

Call me sensitive but I literally cried while watching lookback, I just see myself so much in Fujino. In my entire life I've always felt like I was never enough and I have to constantly "improve" myself despite it already taking a toll in my physical and mental health just because if you were not enough then you are doomed to be alone and lookback really opened my eyes so much and taught me that you don't really need to constantly prove yourself and that just really warms my heart to see that this struggle is actually just me waiting for me to love myself.

[bashar]

My friend died 3 weeks ago, he got me into web development and design, I used to envy him for his skills, for his free time, for his love for it, I loved web dev but I only continued learning because I wanted to be like him, I went on even though I was in the 2nd year of med school, then I gave up, just like fujino, exactly like that, I snapped out of it, time flew by, after two years he went abroad and died their, all the memories of him are flowing through my head, my eyes and my heart peace be upon him.
That alternative ending is closest to my story, except that he dies in it too.

[Mirage]

I have always hated creating stories because I can't draw, I can only write. For the longest time I gave up on writing, the only way I'd produce art was through poetry when I felt like it. It's been about a year since I last tried to throw a story together, and watching this video I realized that even though I am limited in what I can do, I shouldn't trap myself in a rabbit hole of hating my work. I should try to get better instead, write about myself and how I feel. Thank you, this video was a blessing.

[King_Dijon]

Are we gonna ignore the fast his speech near the end of the video was inspiring like a lot, that crap was actually amazing

[nick_graphics]

i create because i want people to have respect for me despite my lack in social skills

[khanthemonke]

look back has had such a powerful impact on me as an artist, like I was literally in tears the whole time reading it reminds me so much of myself

[stupidlyserena]

This anime really affected me. My best friend since childhood passed away last year. They loved my art, and when I was at my worst, they were the first person who got me to leave my home in years. I miss them. I hadn't spoken to them in a few years prior to them passing away. The news was shocking. I miss them, and I wish we got to share more of our art with each other. Fly high, Ash. Your art was displayed at your funeral. It was beautiful.

[kanta]

Why did I listen to this while doing groceries? Now I'm finding an empty aisle to cry on its floor. Man, why did you have to write and narrate it so wonderfully and compellingly? 😭😭
I was an art student and quit drawing until I knew I couldn't compete with my peers who were publishing authors or freelancers, and I couldn't attend university for art without my parents' approval. But I just really want to draw.

[Rosebbygirl]

i love how you structured this video, created these moments, where in the end it brought me to tears, the ending segment where you stated how "I" am unique and no one like me has walked the earth made the tears roll faster, thank you for walking the earth the same time I have, this made me want to understand the world, and myself in a new light, and I think I can say for everyone who liked or commented. (or subscribed)

we love you, thank you.