Image via Studio Durian
Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga, the movie has received a lot of praise.
Another prestigious feather was added to the well-decorated cap that is the beloved anime movie Look Back. Released in 2024, the one-hour film is adapted from a one-shot manga by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto and has touched the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. As per a report by Comic Natalie, Japan’s Film Theater Culture Association awarded the producer, director, and animator of the movie Kiyotaka Oshiyama and another producer and creator Ryo Ayama the special award at the 44th Fujimoto Awards.
The award is named after legendary film producer Sanezumi Fujimoto, who was behind projects such as Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress and Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla vs. The Thing. It honours the best of Japanese movies each year.
Look Back has been earning a number of accolades this awards season. The Tokyo Anime Award Festival honoured Look Back with the Animation of the Year award this year. At the Niigata International Animation Film Festival, the film’s sound director Eriko Kimura and animator Toshiyuki Inoue also won the Koji Fukiya award. It has also been nominated for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prizes in the Excellent Animation Award category.
The story of Look Back follows Ayumu Fujino, who is an elementary schooler with a knack for drawing manga. One day, her teacher asks her to go to Kyomoto, another young artist who is a complete shut-in. After meeting her, Fujino realises that Kyomoto’s talents far surpass her. But instead of giving up, the two embark on a coming-of-age journey together that will tug at your heartstrings. The movie was lauded across the globe for its depth and beauty, and became the highest-rated animated movie of 2024 in Letterboxd. You can read Fujimoto’s Look Back manga on the Viz Media and Manga Plus platforms. The film, which came out in June 2024, is streaming on Amazon Prime Videos right now.
If you love anime films, here are some amazing romantic anime films for an intimate movie date that you can enjoy with your partner.