by It has been announced that the anime film “Look Back,” based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original work directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, will be exclusively distributed worldwide in more than 240 countries and regions on Prime Video from November 8. In conjunction with this, a key visual drawn by Director Oshiyama was released, and comments from Director Oshiyama and Fujimoto have also arrived.
The animated film “Look Back” is a theatrical animation of the one-shot manga of the same name published in “Shonen Jump +” in 2021 by Tatsuki Fujimoto, a manga artist known for “Chainsaw Man” and “Fire Punch.”
The story begins when Fujino, a fourth-grade elementary school student who serializes a four-panel manga in his school newspaper and receives rave reviews from his classmates, is suddenly told by his teacher one day that he wants to publish a four-panel manga by his classmate Kyomoto, who is an absentee from school. As the growth of the two, connected by their single-minded passion for manga, is followed, a shocking event occurs one day that shatters everything depicted.
This heart-wrenching, overwhelming coming-of-age story has garnered much attention. When the animated film was released on June 28, 2024, it started in a medium-sized theater with only about 120 theaters nationwide. Still, it ranked first in box office revenue for two consecutive weeks. Since then, the number of theaters showing the film has continued to increase, and as of October 7, it has become a hit, with box office revenues exceeding 2 billion yen.
The director, scriptwriter, and character designer is Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who has been involved as a key staff member in many major theatrical productions such as “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance,” “The Secret World of Arrietty,” and “The Wind Rises.” The protagonist, Fujino, is played by Yumi Kawai, who gained popularity as Junko in the drama “Inappropriately Too Much!” and has been attracting attention for her acting skills and unique presence.
Yoshida Mizuki plays Kyomoto, the other main character. She has starred in films such as “A Hot Munetogi” and “Kamui no Uta” and continues making a name for herself. Fujimoto’s youth story has been made into a theatrical anime by a luxurious staff and cast.
This is also the first time Amazon MGM Studios, which has produced many hit works worldwide, has joined a Japanese anime production committee. Prime Video will be the first to exclusively distribute an anime film released in Japan’s theaters since “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,” which was distributed solely worldwide in August 2021.
The key visual released for the global distribution on Prime Video was drawn by Director Oshiyama. It shows Kyomoto lying on the bed in Fujino’s room, reading Fujino’s manuscript, showing his confidence as the first reader, and being amazed. Comments were also received from James Farrell, head of international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, Oshiyama, who directed, wrote, and designed the characters, and Fujimoto, the original author, regarding the global exclusive distribution.
The animated film “Look Back” will be exclusively distributed worldwide on Prime Video from November 8, 2024. James Farrell is honored to be able to deliver the film to the world from Prime Video. At Amazon MGM Studios, we launched an animation planning and production department in Japan at the end of 2022, following the United States. We have been seeking to build an innovative yet continuing relationship with the Japanese anime industry, attracting attention from around the world.
As Amazon MGM Studios, whose vision is to be a “Home for Talent” to deliver the works of talented creators from around the world to customers around the world, we are happy and feel that it is significant to be able to make this memorable start by participating in the production committee for the animated film “Look Back,” which has “an ode to creators” as one of its themes.
In the future, Amazon MGM Studios and Japan’s proud creators and business partners will inspire each other, enjoy the process of ingenuity, and aim to deliver touching animated works to the world. Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s film “Look Back” adds my perspective to the powerful story of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga. It’s a short film at 58 minutes, but I’m surprised that so many people have come to the theater multiple times. I’m happy that this worldwide distribution will allow us to deliver the film to even more people, including those who couldn’t attend the theater.
I think that by watching it repeatedly through distribution, you will be able to appreciate the film carefully from various perspectives. Please look for the various Easter eggs hidden in the film’s details. I hope that the charm of animated films will be conveyed at least a little through the power of the pictures. When Tatsuki Fujimoto’s film Look Back was planned, it was said that if the original work were filmed as it is, it would become a short film and would not be commercially viable unless 30 to 40 minutes of original elements were added.
This is because the number of theaters that can release it would be significantly narrower, and in America, movies that are less than 60 minutes long cannot be screened in theaters in the first place. Thanks to director Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s judgment, it was released in its current form and with this quality. I was surprised that the expressions I was clumsy at in the manga version and found difficult to convey were easier to understand and more vivid in the movie.
Also, Haruka Nakamura’s soundtrack is a perfect fit, and I couldn’t think of anything else to match it. It’s all thanks to the two of you. Thank you! And thank you to everyone who came to see it in the theater! For those who watch it on Prime Video, it’s a great animation, so I hope you’ll watch it on the giant screen possible! Thank you! “Look Back” Release date: Friday, November 8, 2024, available worldwide exclusively on Prime Video STAFF Original work: Tatsuki Fujimoto (published by Shueisha Jump Comics) Director, scriptwriter, character design: Kiyotaka Oshiyama Art director: Kiyoshi Sameshima Assistant art directors: Yoshishi Harizaki (the kanji for “Zaki” is pronounced “tatsusaki”) and Takashi Omori Color design: Maya Kusumoto Director of photography: Kazuto Izumida Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose Sound director: Eriko Kimura Music: Haruka Nakamura Animation production: Studio Dorian Distribution: Avex Pictures CAST Fujino: Yumi Kawai Kyomoto: Mitsuki Yoshida Theme song “Light song” by haruka nakamura Sung by aurora Original work: “Look Back” (published by Shueisha Jump Comics) Comics on sale now (C) Tatsuki Fujimoto / Shueisha (C) 2024 “Look Back” Production Committee
