Nov 8, 2024
This adaptation of Fujimoto's one-shot, best known as the creator of Chainsaw Man, presents a short story that is anything but lacking in feeling and beauty. The manga arrived after the first part of Chainsaw Man concluded, when Fujimoto was at the peak of popularity. With the anime confirmed and fans wondering if there would be a second part, he chose to create two much more personal one-shots, quite different from his usual work, yet unmistakably in his style: Look Back and, in my opinion, his magnum opus, Goodbye, Eri.
But enough with the introductions; let’s focus on the film, which is our topic here. The
...
production was confirmed to be handled by Studio Durian, marking its debut. This, however, is not the first time for director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who has been involved in a wide variety of projects, both big and small. For this project, he chose to not only direct but also take on almost every aspect (storyboard, character design, key animation, animation direction, screenplay). It’s said he worked day and night, and I believe his efforts have truly paid off.
The film has a very handcrafted animation style that captures the essence of the manga perfectly, giving it a unique personality. It includes moments of incredible fluidity and dazzling “camera” movements. The soundtrack by Haruka Nakamura perfectly complements the visuals, filled with emotion and feeling.
The story is about two girls united by their love for manga, forming a bond that teaches them about each other and many other things. The plot delves into maturity, self-improvement, the obsession with a hobby, the "why" behind creativity, and the challenging world of manga creation. Although somewhat predictable, Fujimoto always manages to add a twist, making it emotional and filled with feeling. With perfect pacing, it conveys everything it wants to in under an hour, plus some nods to Chainsaw Man that will make fans smile. Clearly, as Fujimoto himself has said, it reflects situations and feelings he experienced in his years as a mangaka, making it a profoundly personal story. (Fujino and Kyomoto, the protagonists, represent FujiMoto).
In summary, with the Look Back film, director Oshiyama perfectly adapts what Fujimoto wanted to convey, imbuing it with a unique personality and beauty in the anime world. It’s a shame that in Spain, we could only watch it on streaming platforms (better than nothing). Now, we await the adaptation of Goodbye, Eri, which is bound to break the internet.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
