

Look Back
Directed by Kiyotaka OshiyamaPopular, 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.
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Look Back Ratings & Reviews
- faris demnatiMay 1, 2025absolute cinema
- KennyBarrozJune 13, 2025A beautifully crafted short anime that explores the bond between two young artists as they grow, create, and face personal tragedy. With subtle animation and a deeply emotional narrative, it captures the bittersweet nature of ambition, friendship, and grief. Despite its short runtime, it delivers a profound impact that lingers long after the credits roll. A must-watch for fans of heartfelt, reflective storytelling.
- Jacob ThompsonMarch 7, 2025Short, sweet, and to the point. Nothing groundbreaking
- AkutoberFebruary 13, 2025Absolute Cinema
- Tyler SFebruary 12, 2025👍👍 8/10
- RyezooFebruary 11, 2025Beautifully animated and emotional story. I enjoyed it, just got a little lost with the magical manga strip aspect. Solid short story.
- IanJanuary 27, 2025life changing
- VarunNovember 22, 2024This was really well animated and the camera framing is so good, even still and subtle scenes pack devastating gut punches. The story is sweet, sad and by the end it manages to bring things full circle in an endearing way. It was also inspiring to see the dedication of both characters for their craft. Just a lovely 1 hour watch that’s brimming with passion and sincerity.
- rg9400November 9, 2024I'll start out by being honest: the animation style did not work for me. I found that it looked stiff whenever in motion, often feeling the movements were exaggerated. I didn't mind it when it was more static, even if it was not my preferred style. The music is pretty good, feeling sentimental without falling into sappiness and complementing the story well. Going into this movie, I had no background on the source material, so I was surprised by how short it felt. Under an hour long, it often feels more like a short story than a full-length feature film. The movie quickly jumps through time, focusing on Fujino and her relationship to Kyomoto through manga. I wish the movie did more with Kyomoto as a character because it sometimes feels like her purpose is mainly served to further Fujino's character arc versus being a fleshed-out character in her own right. There are seeds of her own internal struggles and interests, but the movie doesn't explore them as much. This is why I referenced it feeling more like a short story because had it been longer, I feel like it could have done more justice to her character. That said, I think Fujino's arc is heartfelt and compelling. I wasn't fully sure what the story was going for until the end, but the last few scenes really bring out the core themes of this story. It's a powerful story about human relationships and the way they motivate us. Even though I didn't love the animation and wanted a bit more length to the story, I do recommend it, and honestly, the sub-60 minute length means it should be very accessible.
- Desmond DaleJanuary 24, 2025From 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.
- TheAthasNovember 9, 2024meh
- NicolasNovember 7, 2024A quiet but heavy reflection on regret and friendship
- Tahiry GeorgesNovember 7, 2024This is cinema