Look Back
Look Back
Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing.
Desmond Dale reviewedJanuary 24, 2025
From its uber emotive piano-driven score to its picturesque blend of animation which combines a backdrop of hyper-realism with fluid Manga-style illustrations highlighting the beautiful flaws that make each character unique. There are some incredibly densely packed frames and angles that would be nearly impossible to capture in a real world space. Look Back utilizes the strengths of animation as well as any such film I've seen putting forth a package that would impossible to replicate in a live-action alternative.
And if that weren't enough the same sort of ethos carries over to its plot and structure. Look Back takes a moment in the lives of its central characters and weaves a colorful narrative tapestry filled with varying outlooks and deep parallels from their lives to the tales in their art. It's one of the most ergonomic films in terms of how it utilizes its time to pack as much emotion and character study into each and every one of its 58 minutes, which is why I feel confident in giving it the score of a masterpiece.