LOOK BACK

GREAT
100%
OF 8 SCOUTSRECOMMEND

In a school setting, a talented young manga artist's popularity is challenged when a reclusive classmate also seeks to contribute to the school newspaper.

📖 SYNOPSIS

As a fourth-grader who thinks she's hot stuff, Fujino enjoys her four-panel comics running in the school newspaper, classmates love them, and honestly, for a kid her age, they're pretty good. Then the school asks her to share the comic page with Kyomoto, a shut-in student who never comes to class, and Kyomoto's art is on another level. Like, devastatingly better. That single moment of seeing someone else's work and realizing you're not as good as you thought — this movie captures that feeling with an accuracy that might physically hurt you. From there, Fujino throws herself into drawing with an almost desperate intensity, and the story becomes this quiet, deeply personal meditation on why people create things, what drives artistic obsession, and how one person can completely change the trajectory of your life without even trying. It's a movie, just under an hour, adapted from a one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto (the Chainsaw Man creator), and Studio DURIAN treats the material with real care. The animation itself feels like a love letter to the act of drawing. If you liked the raw creative ambition in Blue Period or the emotional gut-punches of A Silent Voice, this hits a similar nerve. It's also got that same bittersweet tone as March Comes in Like a Lion, where growth and loss are tangled together in ways you don't expect. Keep tissues nearby. You'll probably need them.

✨ MUST WATCH IF...

You love character-driven stories about artistic passion — Fujino and Kyomoto's bond is the whole film
A single-episode movie format appeals to you — Studio DURIAN delivers a tight, emotional punch
Hand-drawn animation quality matters — the film's art mirrors its themes about drawing and creation
Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga work resonates with you and you want a faithful adaptation

❌ SKIP IF...

You want action or plot-heavy narratives — this is a quiet, introspective drama about two artists
Short runtimes frustrate you — one episode doesn't leave much room for deep backstory exploration
You'd rather avoid sudden emotional gut-punches — the final act shifts tone dramatically

🎬 EPISODE GUIDE

Loading episodes...

MANGA BRIDGE

This season covers Chapters 1-1 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 2.

Manga cover

🎭 CHARACTERS

Ayumu Fujino

Ayumu Fujino, a 4-koma artist, initially arrogant but driven to improve after criticism of her work.

Portrayed by Laus Zina, Kawai Yuumi, Ugalde Erika, Ciocca Sara, Paulita Agatha, Homs Emmylou, Rose Lohman Valerie

Great
Great
100%(8 Reviews)
LOOK BACK

Studio

Studio DURIAN

Season

Spring 2024

Start Date

2024-06-28

End Date

2024-06-28

Episodes

1

Type

Movie

©藤本タツキ/集英社©2024「ルックバック」製作委員会

AnimeOshi.com refers to anime titles, character names, logos, and other trademarked or copyrighted materials to identify and describe the works being reviewed, discussed, ranked or otherwise referenced on this site. This usage is believed to be nominative fair use or non-infringing and is not intended to imply any affiliation with the respective rights holders.

All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their owners. If you are a rights holder and have concerns about any content on this site, please contact us at legal@animeoshi.com