The plot is simple. Two schoolgirls Fujino and Kyomoto draw manga. First, separately in the school newspaper, then, by joining forces, they are published in a famous magazine. Further, the friendship of girls with very different personalities is destined to go through a series of tests and difficulties, on which, in fact, the entire problematic of the plot is based.
It’s worth immediately making a remark that “Look Back” is the maximum genre product. As the story progresses, no one will stop and explain to the “mimicrocodiles” who otaku and manga artists are.
The project doesn’t even try to target a wide audience. This – depending on the point of view – can be written down as both pros and cons.
The anime is based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki Fujimoto, best known for Chainsaw Man.
Apparently, for him this story is very personal, perhaps even autobiographical in places, but for viewers who are far from the world of Asian graphic novels, some moments after viewing may remain incomprehensible. It is precisely because of the lack of attempts to give a little more context.
Another feature is the selected format. In the usual sense, it can hardly be called a full-length film – the duration is only 57 minutes.
Photo: kinopoisk.ru
Yes, in the end they turned out to be very focused on the events, without sagging in the dynamics, but still half an hour for a more detailed description of the exposition would not have been superfluous.
It is all the more surprising that even so, the creators managed to develop the script in order to evoke an emotional response in key scenes from those whom fans of Eastern popular culture disparagingly call normies.
Of course, they hit the most basic and key centers of empathy – pain from the loss of loved ones, joy and carelessness of youth, condemnation of human cruelty, etc. Common to people from very different cultures and directions of the world. And this is quite enough to worry and get into the characters.
Photo: kinopoisk.ru
The soundtrack, predominantly consisting of classical piano parts, and the visual design, which noticeably changes in style depending on the events shown on the screen, also help create the desired atmosphere.
As a result, it is very difficult to give an assessment that could at least somewhat claim to be conditionally objective. Fans of popcorn blockbusters clearly shouldn’t waste their time and money on Look Back, while for passionate artists, dreamers, and just anime fans, the film can become a real revelation and a favorite project.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Source: rg.ru
