Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Renan_
Look Back não encontra sua força na originalidade da história que conta, mas na maneira como sua estética transforma essa história em experiência. A direção de Kiyotaka Oshiyama possui uma energia muito particular porque o formalismo não funciona como simples ilustração da narrativa: enquadramento, ritmo, montagem, animação e encenação participam diretamente da construção dos personagens e dos temas. O desenho não é apenas uma característica de Fujino e Kyomoto ou o meio através do qual elas se aproximam, mas um dispositivo narrativo que aprofunda a relação entre as duas, exterioriza sentimentos e organiza boa parte da estrutura do filme.
Isso aparece desde a construção da relação entre Fujino e Kyomoto. Fujino começa desenhando em busca de reconhecimento, e o surgimento de Kyomoto coloca…
Read at the sourceaverage_citizen
As children, we are raised into comparing ourselves with others, specifically the ones better than us, we start demonising or assuming bad things about them just to make ourselves feel better. But what happens when the person we've been so focused demonising or bringing down proves themselves to be an actual nice person who has worked more than we ever could? What happens when we were so wrong? When we can no longer asume of that person, and we start seeing them more?
What's the reason you keep practicing? If everyone starts bringing you down for it, if no one's on your side, why still do it? When getting better means losing everything and everyone, why still go for it? When there are so many better and useful things to focus one, why stay fixated on that specific thing? Because one cann…
Read at the sourceMizunoYukiko
This is the first Anime i watch related to "Mangaka life" and I would say its a perfect way to show their lives, maybe there is a better show, but as my first show it is perfet in that. How passionate as kids, thinking of fame, wealth and comfort.. and slowly discovering the world of being a mangaka, how stressful it becomes, how it limits creativity due to deadlines and policies of the company you are working to.
Fujino's words are partially the reason of her own trauma, Kyumoto was nothing but the victim. Betrayal hurts even if it was as workers, Kyumoto had feelings for Fujino anyways. Which made the betrayal hurt Kyumoto more, and the realisation more harsh on Fujino than it actually is.
The shift from kids happiness to adult suffers was good, and the way regret and guilt are shown i…
Read at the sourceTinyTony404
Look Back is a short film, but it manages to leave a huge impact.
One of the biggest strengths of Look Back is how brief it is. There is no unnecessary padding or scenes that drag on. Every moment feels like it has a purpose, and because of that, the emotional moments hit much harder.
The story focuses on creativity, passion and the connection people can have through making art. Even though the story is simple, it does a great job showing how important these things can become in someone's life.
The characters are what make this story work. Their relationship feels natural, and watching their journey together is what makes the story so memorable. The film doesn't need a long runtime to make you care about them.
The animation style also fits the tone perfectly. It captures the emotions o…
Read at the sourceHytioz
I wasn't expecting Look Back to tell such a complete story in less than an hour, but it manages to do exactly that. Despite being only 57 minutes long, it never feels rushed or incomplete, and by the time it ends, I didn't feel like anything was missing or needed to be explored further.
The movie does a great job with its characters, especially the relationship between Fujino and Kyomoto. Their passion for drawing, the way they influence each other, and how their lives change over the years all feel very natural. The animation is also great and fits the tone of the movie really well, especially during the quieter moments where it lets the emotions speak for themselves instead of relying on dialogue.
I also liked how simple the movie is. It doesn't try to tell an overly complicated story…
Read at the sourceEnshourT_
When people talk about Look Back they usually call it a movie about friendship or about making manga but I think it's about something much simpler and much sadder than that.
It's about the people who quietly change the direction of your life without ever realizing it.
If you're an artist, you can probably name one person whose existence made you pick up a pencil more often. Maybe they were someone you admired online. Maybe they were a classmate whose drawings made you feel embarrassingly inadequate. Maybe they were a friend who believed in your work before you did. Whoever they were, your art today probably exists because of them in some small way. As a self proclaimed artist myself, this really hits close to home. I got into art because I saw my close friend draw Goku one day and someho…
Read at the sourceFyeonV
Probably the greatest piece of art I’ve ever experienced, a perfect example of "show don’t tell". I really don't understand how Tatsuki Fujimoto (the author) can create such a beautiful scenes in the ending that carry so much meaning and so many words, even without the characters saying a single line of dialogue. It felt really magical, and it made me cry lol
Look Back proves that even a simple story can hit harder than anything when it’s done right. I really, really recommend you guys to read the manga or watch the anime movie by yourself and experience it
It’s a goddamn masterpiece and love it!!! 10/10
Read at the sourcefh1478
Is The Sacrifices Worth It?
LOOK BACK Is about the price of art, and how much you have to sacrifice to become a mangaka.
How many sacrifices do you have to do? have to forsake your social life, your family, your status in the school system, but is succeed worth it? well, maybe if you have a friend.
Tatsuki Fujimoto knows how to tell a story, where you can never truly expect, what is going to happen, because every time you expect a certain drama point, the plot point goes in a direction, you could not expect.
The characters are interesting and well realized. especially the main character in how flaws she, and how vain, but that makes mor interesting.
The story is short and sharp like a knife, and the animation is pretty and moving with lots of color, that makes the world feels lively,…
Read at the sourceOlorin666
A very sweet and touching story about two girls who dreamed of drawing manga. This is a very sad story about the pain of loss and the strength to survive this pain and move on. The anime lasts only an hour, but still manages to tell an interesting complete story. It is complemented by beautiful creative artwork. (P.S.: The anime is really good and deserves attention, but I don't understand why it is given such high scores, I think that "A Silent Voice" or "Your Name" are better). It's a great story, but it's too short for you to really connect with the main characters. The sad ending is supposed to bring tears to your eyes, but it doesn’t come across as very convincing. There’s a significant subtext here, but overall the plot is pretty simple. That said, the animation is definitely top-not…
Read at the sourceplewu
I’m not sure if this anime was really for me. On one hand, I can see what the creators were trying to convey, but on the other, it didn’t emotionally engage me at all.
Story – 8/10
The idea and message are genuinely strong. Themes like creativity, loss, and guilt are meaningful and well thought out. It clearly aims to be something more artistic than a typical story.
Characters – 6/10
This is my biggest issue. The characters feel underdeveloped and somewhat shallow. There isn’t enough time to truly connect with them or understand them on a deeper level. Everything moves very quickly – the relationship, development, and then suddenly tragedy. Because of that, the emotional moments just didn’t hit me.
Art – 4–5/10
The visual style didn’t work for me at all. I understand the intention behind i…
Read at the sourceTurbopasta
Look Back is everything to me. Not the film itself, which I only just recently finished, but the underlying message inside of it that Fujimoto is trying to tell.
What does it mean to make art, to be an artist? Why would anyone waste their time making something that doesn't seem to matter very much? Society won't crumble if art ceases to exist, it's only there for the entertainment of others. And if it doesn't matter, who are we even making art for, is it purely for the sake of self-indulgence? If you study hard in school you can go to college and get a well-paying job, and even failing college you can still find comfort filling in the gaps in society. You would find acceptance, purpose, maybe even meet new people and have life-changing experiences. So instead of doing any of that, why wo…
Read at the sourceUzumaki_D_Lufffy
I've been watching a lot of media lately. And I wouldn't hesitate for an instant to say that "Look Back" is the best I've came across. Went in watching without knowing the source and the story, on the very first scene I realized that I'm in for the best adaption out there for a manga source. The way Fujino's character evolves from a confident fourth-grader who draws manga to someone who discovers a deeper purpose through meeting Kyomoto, the reclusive artist, is handled with such delicacy. Their bond, built through shared passion for art, hits differently than most friendships I've seen depicted. The art style is pretty much similar to "One Piece Fan Letter" and "Ping Pong- The Animation". Background scores are great and every frame is a treat itself. The film doesn't waste a single moment…
Read at the sourceemberreviews
Look Back is something truly special. An adaptation of a manga by one of the most acclaimed authors of the decade directed by one the most interesting auteurs in the industry about the process and passion behind making art is already a recipe for success, and even then my expectations were surpassed, lapped, and completely left in the dust. It takes elements that were great because they took full advantage of the manga format and converted them into stellar sequences of cinema that take advantage of the medium of film, whether it’s bringing quick, almost throwaway jokes to life in expansive and hilariously unhinged cuts that I can’t even begin to understand how they were able to animate, the warmth and nostalgia of youth and finding someone whom you can truly depend on, or the absolute dev…
Read at the sourceSnarpKing
A thoughtful and personal exploration of the ways art impacts us both as fans and creatives. Through the characters Fujino and Kyoumoto, Fujimoto not-so-subtly describes his own conflicting feelings regarding his journey as an artist. The characters are treated less as fully realized people and more as symbols to properly convey Fujimoto's ideas. Nonetheless, I was thoroughly impressed with how those ideas were conveyed and still invested enough in the characters themselves to root for them. I'd recommend this movie to anyone passionate about art or any Chainsaw Man fan looking to see what else Fujimoto is capable of.
Fujino's love for creating art to impress and inspire others contrasts with Kyoumoto's admiration for the work of others, eventually inspiring her own artistic pursuits. The…
Read at the sourcemiizhb
This is a film so close to my soul that I doubt I will ever forget it. That brief two-minute sequence of Fujino, alone, spending all her time practicing her drawings resonated with me on a fundamental level. That moment alone was enough for me to know this was a film that would stay with me for a very long time. Look Back, for me, is the very reason I watch movies. Films like this don’t just tell stories, they offer lessons, they give me guidance, and moments of reflection that quietly shape the way I choose to live my own life. It reminds me why creation matters, why passion hurts, and why we continue anyway. Long after it ended, the film lingered with me, not as a memory of scenes, but as a feeling I carry forward.
Read at the sourceEndless_01
A heart rending slow piece about art and friendship.
Quite surprised with this little one hour anime movie. I appreciate the air-tight narrative that while being relatively slow, does leave a mark in you by providing a lovely emotional tale of friendship and artistic growth.
Carried with a raw, rather simplistic arstyle, it adds a more humane and realistic touch to the story that feels both natural and inspiring, showing us a less exaggerated and more in-touch story that goes quite well with the soft colors and beautiful backgrounds accompanied by a rather tragic soundtrack.
Look Back is a story about friends and artistry in the most humane way. It shows different sides to the same coin about the grueling process of creating, as well as the reasons behind it and how it can accompany us…
Read at the source4Fro
Look Back quickly establishes a plot, develops it, and eventually, hits where it counts and leaves you reeling in your seat from the impact.
"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." In this analogy, both aspiring Managaka; Fujino and Kyoumoto have the talent, but in the beginning, one has the willingness to work hard for success while the other believes she doesn't need to. That is, until Fujino is met with the meaning of this quote first-hand. From there, a rivalry ensues and shows us, perhaps just as good as any series, what competition breeds: the best. Down the line, a crucial decision is made that alters the outlook for the entire movie and Look Back suddenly becomes something you wouldn't have expected.
The quality of the animation, directing, soundtrack, and voice…
Read at the sourceYusukeU
Look Back is a story about choices, the past, and guilt. But Look Back is different from more generic works that deal with the same themes.
Here, it builds something uncomfortable: a narrative essay about how choices shape who we are.
The work presents a clear parallel between the artistic creation of its two protagonists. Fujino doesn’t draw because she enjoys it; she draws because it’s what others expect from her — someone artistically talented. For her, that’s what defines her.
When she realizes that someone else draws better than she does, it isn’t just her talent that feels threatened. It’s her very existence. What defines her.
Kyomoto, in contrast, draws as a way to insert herself into the world, almost as a refuge from her reality. While Fujino draws in order to be someone and to…
Read at the sourceBDkira01
The first time I watched the manga, I was blown away. I couldn't fathom how the creator of such a profound yet stupid manga as Chainsawman (at the time, I'd only watched the first season of the anime, which, in my opinion, was well done, but with a direction that was a bit on par with the manga, even though the manga already has film-like direction and a graphic style that's been cleaned up by Fujimoto's dirty, but not imprecise, strokes) could create something like this. The manga is truly incredible, and when I heard about the anime adaptation, I was scared, but then I had to change my mind. From the first scene alone, you can feel the love that went into translating this film. The technique and direction are incredible, and what's more, I wasn't expecting such a high level of craftsmans…
Read at the source1stDecame4Danime
Oh look, another artist's anime-girl self-insert by this guy. Oh look, it's just like that other one-shot he did about the artistic Sisters' rivalry... Yay
It has a decent start with actual purpose, an actual story. But after that little cloyingly overblown initial rivalry 'conflict' gets resolved (almost handwaved away) in preference for instant enemies-to-lovers gaybaiting via montage in-lieu of any actual character interaction... yeah the story starts spinning its wheels and sputtering as nearly the exact same overblown insecurity (non)conflict recurs on the other foot to fill the screentime and with even more bizarre nonsense about how 'you can't get better by practicing art, you have to go to school to do that.' Very weird nonsense from an artist.
By this point it could've been an a…
Read at the source
