'Look Back' is almost perfect - Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- Here are my thoughts on Look Back, a 2024 animated film directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, based on the one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
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I'm seeing an uptick in views since the movie got released in other regions, especially the US, but I'm glad people are enjoying this movie! If you haven't, go check out the original one-shot manga... or if you're looking for something else, I highly recommend you all to read Goodbye Eri!
GoodBye Eri is an ABSOLUTE CINEMA and the best manga for me
Is Goodbye Eri sad, I need a happy ending
Just came back from the theater and something interesting happened. The movie ended, nobody moved until the credits ended and then some, and there was total absolute silence. I was the first that stood up after wiping the tears on my face and i took a glance at the people sitting behind me, there were some people still crying, almost everyone was on the brink of crying and nobody broke the silence as we started walking out. I think we were like 25 humans on that room. Ive never seen something like that
That right there shows what a masterpiece it is.
I've just came back from watching the movie, started researchin on the film "Look Back" and came across your video. Full disclosure, I have neither read the manga or watched any trailers so I came to this movie blind. I agree with your statement that the first half of the movie was incredibly entertaining due to the character's facial expressions and subtle body animations. I was in awe with the animation and I believed that the vision of Tatsuki Fujimoto was masterfully rendered on screen. However, I disagree with your point that the last 20 mins was not as engaging. It was emotional and heart-breaking. Despite the characters not having many cross-hatches expressed, the feeling of regret and loneliness was still deeply felt. The main theme at the end was undeniably gut-wrenching. And yes, I felt disappointed with the slideshow in the end. Looking back at it, it would still be as impactful as it was even if its not a slideshow. Nonetheless, its all good as I felt that the main theme of the movie was still brought across. Overall, 9/10 anime.
Yeah i agree with you, the youtuber is downplaying the subtleties of the last 20 mins. It doesn’t resolve outright, but it puts you in the shoes of Fujino and she mourns and honors her friend, Kyomoto.
Yeah I enjoyed the whole journey of this film.
@@itsdasonand most importantly the theme about life moving on despite how painful loss is, time goes on, we move on, and hopefully forget a little bit of how bad we felt when it happened.
@@daelanbro that’s exactly the point
The still images brought out a bigger feeling of grief. In America I feel like we’re so use to animation always moving , looking at a artist viewpoint the director as he said wanted to bring out the emotion more as in reality all we have left of someone passing away are images stuck in time
Could be Fujino reflecting on their journey together through Kyomoto’s artistic lense or POV, whereas Fujino’s style is more frantic and humorous. She finally puts herself in Kyomoto’s shoes
real, my friend told me it felt like we were sitting at a funeral mourning someone's life
Agreed.
I agree with this take. Heartbreaking to think about.
I still don't think that appraoched was as effective as they intended it to be, or as impactful as it could've been.
Just watched it here in the Philippines. It was damn beautiful and although I agree with you with the montage reel, this movie was like a breath of fresh air. Sucks in the PH, as I had the theatre all by myself lol. Nice review man.
Lmao same. When I went inside the theater, I was the only one there until another person went in 15 minutes after the movie started.
@@MrGallopy samee. me and my girlfriend were literally the people people there
Literally the same with me, I fear such a masterpiece would probably not make enough money.
At the time of commenting on this, think there's like 3 days left. (I guess it depends on the region at the moment)
Please everyone watch this.
@@snimon5824 I watched it in California yesterday, had a near full room!
@@deedumeday518 GREAT NEWS!!
Tho I heard that it was just released in the US recently, having it packed is good news. Hope the momentum stays strong and spread the good word.
Great video bang.
Yesterday watched it with my bro, Cried hard in the movie like 5 or so time. its personal for me.
i already read the manga before but it hits me hard.
Shi the i have the same experience with you. the first minute where fujino just drawing while looking at her my eyes already watery.
At the end i was sobbing hard, and my eyes are red.
Man even while writing this i my eyes are watery.
I do agree with the last flashback is just a slideshow.
thats the only thing i can think to criticize.
The ending is really good though. just the back of fujino while light song plays.
Truly a cinema experience 10/10
Is the movie out in the US?
I can understand why people might not like the end montage. The way I look at the end comes full circle with the themes of love of creating for manga artists (artists in general really.) when it’s non moving frames where we as viewers can appreciate the detail of every frame.
Those held shots thinking of the value, hue, tone, focusing our eyes can navigate at a comfortable speed taking in the moments between Fujino and Kyomoto. Also would like to believe Fujino would’ve drawn those moments as memories for panels. I thought it was a brilliant comedown from the motion and a love letter to manga artists that work so hard on still images.
straightforward explanation, 10/10 review. while i do *Really* love ur opinion, personally still images on the montage makes it a lil easier for viewer to digest(i read the manga before seeing it) and having kyomoto gleaming with joy animated hits a lot harder.
upon multiple viewing i began to appreciate the climax, ofc they could done a bit differently on the tone shift but its still one of the best movie ive seen.
I wasn't mentally prepared for this movie at all, I hadn't read the one-shot, I didn't know ANYTHING about this movie before watching it. I thought it was going to be a sweet telling of two girls becoming friends and living happily ever after, but I couldn't be further from the fucking truth. I cried so hard.
I cant stop my tears dropping from my eyes. Its so beautiful.
I came into this blind and am amazed at how much emotion was packed into this short of a run time. Also fully agree with your review… I felt that the ending needed just that extra push, because the first 1/3 was so so good.
The last 20 are the ones that made me cry, it really drives home the idea of a life long friendship and what that means
Just watched it yesterday. It's crazy how a montage and some simple piano/orchestral music can make a rather mundane scene so emotional (Wolf Children vibes). Why am I crying while watching a middle school girl draw? 😭 And they did it a few times. lol The music was so good for the entire movie.
And I think I enjoyed the anime more than the manga because it was more clear to me when they were switching between past/present or the alternate timeline. I was kinda confused while reading the manga but that's my fault, I guess. lol
If Fujino's teacher never asked her to go hand out Kyomoto's diploma in person, neither of them would have met each other. Consequently, both of their lives would run their course. Kyomoto's fate would have been the same, and Fujino might never have realized her vision of a serialized manga.
Funny how a single event in time can alter our future so dramatically.
An amazing video, professional. A+, all the stars. Congrats on the new channel, excited for what you will upload here.
The remaining 20 minutes of the movie you're talking about was I think one of the most important part of the movie. Many, including you, may think its a sliding show presentation, but its a representation of a manga, or the still picture itself. Just cause its an animation, it doesn't have to be moving all the time. I find it appealing on animations when it has this kind of scenes. And you may not be thinking about it but this movie has so many meanings, the still images may be conveying that time itself is stuck when looking back at the good times that just serves as only a memory to those especially who's grieving. And many details in this movie is such unnoticeably beautiful, like how the credits rolled begins with a sunrise and ends with night city and her leaving her work place. This is a chiefs kiss in all aspect.
I just saw this movie and it was good! I didnt cry but I enjoyed the character writing!!
I just watch the Movie in Vietnam Cinema. I love ❤ the manga artist couple Fujino and Kyomoto and feel very sad when seeing Kyomoto Die. This is a short but amazing beautiful Anime by Fujimoto sensei
Hi man !
Great review.
I just watched it in a screening in Taiwan (and surprisingly, the theater was full). And I agree with pretty much all your points.
I hadn't read the manga, but was already spoiled by a youtube video that explains all the plot of movies. I had no idea what this manga was and felt like whoa ! That's a powerful story !
And lo and behold, just a few days after watching this vid, I saw an announcement that this movie was gonna come out in just a few months... And I felt "Goddamn..."
Long story short, since I already knew the story, I was still curious to watch the movie in theaters coz I kept hearing rave reviews about its art direction and animation, and yep ! It's a gorgeously animated movie... For the first half.
Indeed, the final chapter does feel a bit dry compared to what came before, and I feel like it must have come down to deadlines or budget constraint, coz that final powerpoint slides reeks of "we would have loved to animate all these in a prior moment so that the climax would have hit harder, but we ran out of money and the animators were dying of malnutrition, so we had to settle for a 3rd act exposition slideshow)".
Which is really sad to end a movie that could have been so powerful with such a whimper. So much potential to be anime of the year.
I really liked this movie, it was so famous in Japan. They all said it is an amazing movie in 2024. I want you to focus on music also more lol
The fact that not many people don't know much about the artist makes this movie not as much as relatable. If you havent seen the interview of Fugimoto way back before he started chainsawman, he said that he struggled conveying his emotion through art cause "he's not good enough" just like the character in the movie, Fugino and Kyoumoto represent himself.(Its not a total coincidence for the characters to have half of his name in them.) He kept studying so he could show more in details his genius ideas though his arts, yet he struggles to improve.
I as an artist myself find this movie relatable in all aspect. The difficulty of making arts, struggling to keep on finding its purpose, "Why do you draw, Fugino?" As Kyoumoto asks hits hard for me. I think this is a true story of the artist himself. The movie itself is amazing, but when you know what the meanings behind them is what makes it even more amazing.
I read this less than a week ago after drunkenly ordering look back and goodbye eri on Amazon just after watching Gigguk’s Fujimoto video, and then went on RUclips and found out there’s a movie and I’ve been itching like a crack addict to watch it. I’m desperate. But since I’m in Australia, I really highly doubt I’ll get to see it in cinemas and it’s honestly heartbreaking (almost as much as the manga itself)
It was great, me and my theater were all crying. Heard sniffles throughout and until the end.
hey Matt, just watched the movie and came across your review. I really resonate with a lot of the points that you've raised. I also had previously read (and re-read) the one-shot before watching the film, but even so, getting to watch scenes such as Fujino dancing in the rain or the 4 coma panels being animated was a real treat. Similarly, I also think that the climax of the movie was a little disappointing, particularly from the moment that Fujino opened Kyomoto's room. To me, that was the the hardest hitting moment in the manga, finding out after all this time apart that Kyomoto was still Fujino's biggest fan hits like a truck, and yet what we get in the movie is just Fujino entering her room in silence, and we then quickly move onto the "slideshow" portion. This sequence is perhaps my biggest gripe with this film - to be fair I really liked some of the movie original stills of the pair interacting during the slideshow, but I would have liked for at least some animation as we moved along the montage - alongside the travesty of the gorgeous film theme song "Light Song" only being played at the credits. Otherwise, really solid movie. 8/10
I personally feel that Look Back IS perfect.
The intro shows off Fujino's ego, and that ego, that she tries desperately to hold onto, is what leads to her losing her only friend. After they split up, it's apparent that Fujino is kind of miserable, which is shown even more with the last sequence of the film. We know by now that Fujino NEEDS Tsukimoto, so after she dies, Fujino is empty. The "what if" part of the movie Fujino's power fantasy, it's her blaming art, her own art, and that's why Tsukimoto died. It's Fujino saying "If only I didn't start drawing again, I could've saved Tsukimoto. We could've stayed friends." The movie then jumps up straight back to reality after this, a reality where Tsukimoto is gone, and Fujino has nothing. Why does she draw? Because of Tsukimoto. Without Tsukimoto, why does she draw? There is no reason why, and yet, she does anyway. The same way as she did before meeting Tsukimoto- alone.
I just finished the film and I have no idea what was going on. Guess I’ll have to watch a couple of more times to fully get the gist of it…
I really need to watch this
Ngl these under 10 min reviews are pretty good
I saw this film with a packed crowd yesterday. I really enjoyed the whole film.
Its interesting because I saw Bocchi the Rock part 1 & 2 before seeing Look Book yesterday. Never saw the show before.
Just got put of the first showing here in my country. It’s beautiful…
I do feel like the montage part is lacking but I can understand that it could be because of the production scheduling. They probably couldve done it if they are given more time. Its still a very phenomenal movie and wish it couldve been perfect.
Thank you for no spoilers
i never read the manga or anything but i fully agree, the last 3rd of the movie kinda lost me and takes a couple points of the movie, still a great film tho but that last 3rd took it from a 9/10 to an 8/10 for me
久しぶりに泣いた
Wait this got an adaptation? I can’t believe how hard it fell under the radar
It's not out in America yet
@@disky1784 It is now
I read the manga before watching the movie, and i think the second half (or the twist) is the weakest part in both. I felt the same way about Goodbye Eri too.
Both works begin with deeply compelling premises and emotionally resonant relationships between their characters but later take narrative turns that, in my opinion, undercut the emotional weight and sinserity established early on.
In Look Back, the first half is a beautifully crafted exploration of artistic growth and creative synergy. It revolves around two young artists whose contrasting styles and personalities create a dynamic where each complements what the other lacks, both artistically and emotionally. Fujino, though technically skilled and successful in her early work, feels stagnant and uninspired. Kyomoto, on the other hand, has raw talent and a unique artistic voice but lacks confidence, isolating herself from the world. Their relationship is built on mutual admiration-Kyomoto quietly inspires Fujino to improve as an artist, while Fujino's persistence ultimately draws Kyomoto out of her reclusive shell, giving her the courage to share her art and step into the world. This dynamic, where their creative journeys and personal struggles intertwine, felt intimate, and deeply engaging.
However, instead of further developing this relationship or exploring how their creative influences could continue shaping their growth, the story takes a sudden turn towards melodrama and tragedy with Kyomoto's death. The emotional weight of her passing feels abrupt and almost sensationalized, overwhelming the more nuanced themes of collaboration, artistic self-discovery, and personal connection that were so beautifully developed in the first half. The focus shifts from their evolving relationship and shared growth to a heavier, grief-driven narrative that feels disconnected from what initially made the story so powerful.
Similarly, Goodbye Eri opens with a deeply moving and introspective portrayal of trauma, grief, and memory. The story frames these themes through the protagonist’s relationship with Eri and their shared passion for filmmaking, using the art of storytelling itself as a way to process pain. The narrative explores how we choose to remember our loved ones and how artistic expression can serve as both a coping mechanism and a way to preserve the past. However, the second half pivots sharply into meta-fictional territory, prioritizing narrative subversion over the emotional depth established earlier. While the twist is bold, it sacrifices the heartfelt exploration of grief and personal healing for a commentary on the nature of storytelling itself. This shift, while intellectually interesting, feels detached from the vulnerability and emotional sincerity that made the first half so affecting, ultimately diluting the impact of the narrative's core themes.
In both stories, the endings feel like they sacrifice the emotional depth and relational exploration built in the first halves for dramatic twists that, while ambitious, ultimately diminish the overall narrative impact. Fujimoto’s strength lies in crafting compelling premises and emotionally resonant relationships/character dynamics, but the narrative pivots often feel like he prioritize shock value and structural experimentation over emotional depth, causing the stories to lose their resonance. The first halves of both works held immense potential for something profound, yet the narrative shifts left me feeling more disconnected than moved by the end.
I watched it in Thailand and it definitely lived up to the hype. Amazing film and I agree that the only issue is the ending montage. For some reason it felt like the film had a stroke and started to go full on promised Neverland season 2 on us.
But either way, amazing film. 9/10. Plus everyone stuck around for the end credits, a massive rarity with films these days. Goes to show you just how great this film actually is.
I love the look back manga but the movie just didn’t do it for me,it was amazing sure,solid 8/10 but I think it was way too fast,some slow paced extra scenes would have helped it out a ton
ok i watched the movie. this movie was so dang good.and i agree with your "the movie should've been a bit longer" i totally agree
Oh hell yeah. New channel 💪💪
Basically, that's what I felt after watching this movie.
Didn't know what this film was about and just watched it with my sister because she had tickets.
It didn't make me emotionally invested enough to care and it just made me want to have more scenes. Do a build up to the part where the girl decides to go to art school, instead of throwing a flashback.
This might be a nitpick, but the monologue where fujino was talking about how it was her fault that kyomoto died was not necessary and felt like a slap in the face to the audience. I think it's fully implied without the dialogue that she felt that way when she sees the comic strip and starts to cry.
I thought that the movie was absolutely beautiful, but I would've liked if the drawings were more detailed ? I felt like it was too simple compared to tatsuki fujimoto's artstyle. But I really really loved the animation. As for the story, I felt like when I read the manga it was funnier/ sadder, and some moments in the movie were very slow which wasn't necessary but it still ended up great in my opinion. Overall, it was an amazing movie but I would definitely recommend reading the manga !!
Love how you talk about things. Obviously subscribed immediatly. Your discussions are already great, so seeing reviews from you is a fine addition.
Quick question however: Is this video scripted or did you talk freely?
Either way, hope to see more thoughts on other series/movies.
I used the weird method of talking freely, then make a script based on it lol.
WHERE CAN I SEE THIS? WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU EVEN RECOMMEND SOMETHING AND NOT SAY WHERE TO WATCH IT?
much love bro, thanks for the video
@@Popinazoi think he is never been at the japan so this view is fake ass hell
Movie's already out in South East Asia, and since I lived in Indonesia I got to see it early.
@@ragelmattDo you mind if I ask where you got the footage of the movie to put in the video? I could be wrong but I don’t think this was all from the promo videos.
@@bryanfolkert2854 They're all from official trailers on RUclips.
Nah it’s perfect
Good video, I agree with the final montage - it kind of took the proverbial wind out of the sails and dragged a bit.
I also think they should have revealed Kyomoto's 4koma after she drew it and before it goes through the door. In the movie, it was played comedically when Fujino read it and it detracts from the emotional impact IMO. In the manga there's no gag sound effects or voice-acting and it hits much harder because it's like a relic of love from kyomoto to fujino directly.
Maybe I interpreted it wrong, but I thought that the alternate-reality sequence was all in Fujino's head and that she was the one who actually drew the Look Back 4-koma.
Yeah everything you said was correct
The last 20 minutes was the best part bro. You need more life experience to truly understand the last 20 minutes
Brother I went to art school, I FULLY understood the last 20 minutes on an personal level when I first read the manga. I was talking technicalities and not the writing but whatever man.
Where can I watch it
Amazon prime
京本が廊下走ってる所で何故か泣いたｗ
Where do u get the clips from
official trailers on youtube.
@@ragelmatt yep. Thanks alot. Manage to make a music vid with it
where i can watch the movie?
Theaters
I agree with practically everything you said here. The last montage I sat there after a minute of it going on and thinking "Ok, can we wrap this up?" Felt it dragged too long and could've hit harder. I also think the last part of the film was weaker than the beginning half. The subtle expressions of the characters (notable example being the maniac's expression) were my favorite parts of the movie.
you're Indonesian?
WOOHOO 🎉
Is this spoiled?
Where did u watch
Indonesian theaters.
@@ragelmattahhhh
Bro says almost. Insta dislike.
I CAN'T FIND IT ONLINE IN SUB ENG, PLS HELP ME
It's still only in theaters, it's not out on streaming yet.
@@ragelmatt Bro, I live in Italy, we don't have even a Italian trailer yet😭, I have to find it on some streaming site
The film got boring for me. The Music is to much in the forground
We can’t all have taste
best of the year