MAPPA Studio received tons of backlash over the last year for overworking their animators for the highly successful Jujutsu Kaisen with its second season. This work culture only seems to be a consistently occurring theme as upcoming anime director, Kiyotaka Oshiyama, recently made a shocking revelation about his work while animating Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back.
Tatsuki Fujimoto is mostly known for his artistic and creative works in the popular manga series Chainsaw Man, which became a massive hit among fans, even receiving its own anime which debuted on 12th October 222. Chainsaw Man, directed by Ryu Nakayama is one of the 4 animes that crashed Crunchyroll‘s servers, given its gargantuan popularity. Now, Kiyotaka Oshiyama seems to be putting in the hard work to do justice to Fujimoto‘s one-shot manga, Look Back.
Kiyotaka Oshiyama reveals the unimaginable work he put in for Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back is a coming-of-age drama thriller manga that revolves around an aspiring artist, Ayumu Fujino, who comes across Kyomoto, a girl around the same age but with talent far surpassing her own. The manga received positive feedback from readers, and Kiyotaka Oshiyama seems to be looking to do anything to bring justice to the its’ anime adaptation.
Given that Look Back will be Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s directorial debut, the 42-year-old is sparing no expense to bringing the movie as close as it can get to perfection. Oshiyama also recently revealed that he had been sleeping in the studio office for 2.5 months, leaving for his home just a day before the premiere.
“Look Back” Anime Movie director Kiyotaka Oshiyama reveals that he has been working on the movie until yesterday, just a day before the premiere happening today.
He has been sleeping in the studio office since last 2.5 months and finally got to sleep in his home yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ThfzLSOSez
— Anime News And Facts (@AniNewsAndFacts) June 1, 2024
Kiyotaka Oshiyama looks to be aiming for a big break with the upcoming movie. Given how the trailer for the movie looked, fans are definitely excited to see Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back come to life. And with the release edging ever so close, fans are in for a real tear-jerker with Look Back.
Look Back is set for theatrical release on 28th June in Japan. Supporting Kiyotaka Oshiyama, Kiyoshi Sameshima will be the art director and Karuka Nakamura will take over the music of the upcoming film. There are quite a lot of expectations for Studio Durian this time around. However, for those people who can’t wait for the movie to get released, there is always the manga that will make you go through emotions you never thought lingered inside you.
3 reasons why you should read Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto
1. A powerful and emotionally overwhelming story: You don’t need to commit to a hundred chapters for a good story. Look Back packs an emotional punch in its single volume where you’re guaranteed to shed some tears. It’s the perfect manga to read over the weekend or even a lunch break escape.
2. Deep dive into the artistic passion: We all love seeing characters chase their dreams, but Look Back certainly takes it one step further. It explores the darker side of artistic ambition, the relentless push to improve that can blur the lines between passion and obsession. This manga will most likely make you root for the characters even as they grapple with self-doubt and the pressure to succeed.
3. Celebration of friendship: At its core, Look Back is a story about two girls connected by their love of manga. Their rivalry fuels their growth, but their bond goes deeper than competition. Look Back will let you witness the beauty of shared passion and the power of friendship in a way that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
You can read Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back at Viz.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed the Look Back anime film and is it based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga?
Look Back is directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, marking his feature directorial debut. It is adapted from the one-shot coming-of-age manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, and was produced at Oshiyama’s Studio Durian.
What is the story of Look Back about?
Look Back follows Ayumu Fujino, an aspiring young manga artist, who crosses paths with Kyomoto, a reclusive classmate with remarkable drawing talent. The story explores their friendship, rivalry, ambition and the demanding craft of making manga together.
How long did the director spend living in his office, and when did Look Back release?
Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama revealed he slept in his studio office for about 2.5 months while finishing the film, leaving only the day before its premiere. According to the article, Look Back opened theatrically in Japan on June 28, 2024; confirm regional dates through official distributors.
