‘Look Back’ Review
Working consistently since the 2010’s, manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto broke out with the release of his most influential series, the masterful Chainsaw Man. But while his high-profile work may deliver gore and laughs in gonzo fashion, the creative’s low-key works strip away the high-concept premises to show the beating heart and emotion that he consistently excels at. Among his smaller works, one of the best examples of this on the page and on-screen is Look Back.
Adapted from the 2021 one-shot manga, the story opens with a young girl sitting at her desk with her back to the viewer. The night is drawing on and she is getting tired, but what keeps her awake is a determination to finish her art. This is Fujino, a small-town girl who wishes to become a manga artist. She takes steps towards her dream by contributing to her school newspaper, with her contributions receiving praise from her classmates.
Fujino receives a shock to the system when the newspaper starts accepting manga strips from Kyomoto, a shut-in girl who cannot attend school. Her detailed art style puts Fujino’s drawings to shame, which drives the latter to better herself as an artist. When the pair eventually cross paths, their shared desire to become manga creators leads them to form a partnership as they inspire each other to improve their art.
Writer/Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama (Devilman: Crybaby) takes the reins for this 58-minute adaptation, which is an appropriate length for a 144 page one-shot. Across the breezy runtime, space is given so viewers can digest simple images which say a lot more than they appear to. This is apparent with the repeated images of Fujino’s back, speaking volumes as it captures her determination to move forward and persevere in her craft.
Bringing alive this story is a wonderfully realized art style, which is appropriate considering the subject matter. This is effectively captured as we see the characters going about their lives, and also as Fujino’s stories are charmingly shown in motion, giving life to the protagonist’s admittedly crude drawings while her wit shines through. Providing aid is Haruka Nakamura’s score, phenomenally capturing the joyful highs and crushing lows that the characters experience.
As the lead characters share their passions in silence, it makes for a charming sight as their creative bursts see them growing in each other’s company, both artistically and personally. Through it all, Fujino struggles to say what she truly means, often masking her emotions through brags and hurtful barbs, while Kyomoto starts to tiptoe outside her comfort zone. When the pair best express themselves through drawing manga, it is no wonder that they become such close friends.
Others have pointed out that the character’s shared name would be Fujimoto, with this work theorized to be an autobiographical piece from the Fire Punch creator. This also makes an impact when depicting the tough times that come with being a creative, leaving one questioning if it is better to consume the art one loves instead of creating it. So, the question lingers as to why one perseveres despite these difficult periods where people struggle to believe in themselves.
To quote Biffy Clyro, “Baby, if you could, would you go back to the start? Take any fresh steps or watch it all fall apart again?” If a creative could do it all over, would they avoid the pain of following their love, or is it worth those arduous lengths taken? It is a question that does not have a definitive answer, but it is worth not underestimating a person’s desire to be part of the medium that they adore.
No matter how much one struggles with their ambition, the art is able to connect us with others, and can have an impact that we never would have imagined. As an adaptation of an exceptional manga one-shot, and as a standalone film, Look Back is an impactful masterpiece that hits one with phenomenal emotion. Here’s hoping that this team collaborate in the future for an adaptation of Fujimoto’s masterful Goodbye, Eri.
***** 5/5
Look Back is available to watch now on Amazon Prime.
