Since its release on June 10, 2024, the Look Back anime film has received universal acclaim from fans and critics. Tatsuki Fujimoto, the acclaimed creator of Chainsaw Man and the original 2021 Look Back one-shot manga, has joined the chorus of praise for the film adaptation of his work.
Fujimoto cried tears of joy after seeing the animated adaptation of Look Back, according to Japanese news website Oricon. “There’s an expression like ‘breathing life into the characters,’ and that’s absolutely true,” stated Fujimoto. “It felt like I was looking through a camera lens at Fujino and Kyomoto’s world. The animation and voice actors’ performances were extremely natural and wonderful. I cried, thinking that I might never again see my work created with such sincerity.”
Fujimoto is far from the only one who praises the Look Back anime film. A public relations representative for the film told Oricon that Look Back has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. “On social media, we’ve been flooded with rave reviews, with people saying things like, ‘I couldn’t stop crying throughout the screening, and I still cry when I think about it,’ ‘The pinnacle of modern animation,’ ‘There isn’t a single second of a scene that’s wasted,’ ‘The respect for the original is incredible’ and ‘The story is the reason it was made into a movie,’ and word of mouth continues to spread.”
These positive social media reviews for Look Back echo early impressions from fans who had the opportunity to see the film before it was released in Japan. Anime Expo 2024 attendees were treated to the first North American screening of the anime film in Los Angeles, California. Although it was suggested at the event that the Look Back anime film would have difficulty securing a theatrical release in America due to its short length, a PR representative working with Avex Pictures stated that the production team is “exploring avenues for a wider theatrical distribution” of the film.
Fans who missed the Anime Expo premiere will be able to see Look Back again at the 2024 JAPAN CUTS Film Festival in New York City. The Look Back anime film grossed over 70 million yen on its first day of release in Japan, despite only 112 theaters being open, outperforming films with over 300 screenings. The anime film adaptation was spearheaded by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, the credited director, screenwriter, and character designer who produced the film through his animation company, Studio Durian.
Source – X (formerly Twitter)
