If you want to read my review of Look Back, read this post. In ルックバック, Fujino was an aspiring manga artist who produced comic strips for the school newspaper. Full of herself, she is confronted with the reality that Kyomoto is on another artistic level.
Fujino (Yūmi Kawai) was good at sports and the artist behind the weekly comic strips in the school newspaper, always well-received by her classmates.
“Regarding next week’s comic strip, can we make room for Kyomoto?”
Kyomoto (Mizuki Yoshida) should have been in the classroom next door, but she wasn’t well enough to go to school. Even so, she wanted to participate in some way.
“Someone so frail that they can’t even make it to class might not be up to the task.”
Praise for her athleticism and artistic talent gave Fujino a certain air of arrogance, but Kyomoto’s art was on another level. Side by side, Fujino’s drawings were ordinary at best.
Look Back: summary
Kyomoto’s constant absence and talent quickly sparked the entire school’s interest in her, which spelled a living nightmare for Fujino.
“A 4th-grade class that draws better than I do? That is unacceptable!”
For two years, Fujino threw herself wholeheartedly into the grueling pursuit of self-improvement. In her attempt to master every drawing technique, she even forgot about her friends.
“And even when you go out with us, you just sit there drawing and don’t talk.”
Unable to catch up, Fujino gives up trying and returns to her family and friends. Because of Kyomoto’s illness, they didn’t even know each other.
“Can you deliver this diploma to Kyomoto? I’ll give you the address.”
Despite her initial displeasure with the task assigned by the teacher, upon meeting Kyomoto, Fujino can’t help but feel energized by the admiration of whom she had considered her greatest rival.
“I’m a fan of yours, Fujino. Please give me an autograph!”
Fujino returns to drawing, joins forces with Kyomoto on a new project and together they navigate the joys and challenges of being manga artists.
Look Back: plot
When watching Look Back, I found myself thinking about some great rivalries in the sport, like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost or Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Of course, having a rival helps you improve at what you love doing, and what is often your livelihood, but Fujino lost touch with life in her obsession. Not everything is about status, statistics and glory.
Having passed away at a young age shortly after retiring, Kobe had little time to enjoy his friends, his family and his reconciled relationship with Shaq.
Why you should watch Look Back
I won’t leave Look Back ending explained and where to watch depends on your location, but this Japanese animation is quite moving and short, under an hour, in the vein of Makoto Shinkai‘s The Garden of Words.
And Look Back won Best Animation Film at The 48th Japan Academy Film Prize, The 98th Kinema Junpo Best Ten Awards and The 67th Blue Ribbon Awards.
Look Back trailer
I really feel that you will like this one. So I decided to do this Rukku Bakku review. Go ahead, immerse yourself in the story, the environment and the soundtrack.
And come back later to tell me what you think in the comments. This Japanese film won Best Animation at three of the five most important Japanese film awards.
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