Theatrical anime “Look Back” will be exclusively distributed on Prime Video from today! Original author Tatsuki Fujimoto, voice actor cast, box office revenue [Information summary]

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The animated film “Look Back”, based on the original work by Tatsuki Fujimoto and directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, will be distributed exclusively worldwide on Prime Video from November 8, 2024. Here, we will introduce all the information about this work so far, including the cast, characters, box office revenue, and awards.

Synopsis

Fujino is a fourth-year elementary school student who serializes four-panel manga in his school’s newspaper. Fujino received rave reviews from his classmates and had absolute confidence in his drawing ability, but one day he saw a four-panel manga of his classmate Kyomoto, who was refusing to go to school, and was published in the school newspaper for the first time. I’m surprised. Since then, Fujino has continued to draw manga without hesitation, but he is overwhelmed by the difference in drawing ability between him and Kyomoto and gives up on drawing manga.

However, on the day of his elementary school graduation, Fujino goes to deliver his diploma to Kyomoto at the request of his teacher, and there he meets Kyomoto for the first time and tells him that he has been a fan of his for a long time.

Kyomoto, who caused him to give up on drawing manga, and Fujino, who started drawing manga together. What connected the two girls was their single-minded love for manga. But one day, something happens that shatters everything…

Original author/supervisory information

Who is the original author, Tatsuki Fujimoto?

The animated movie “Look Back” is based on the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, who has worked on popular works such as “Fire Punch” and “Chainsaw Man,” and whose animated movie “Chainsaw Man Rezehen” is scheduled to be released in 2024.

Fujimoto vividly depicts the two main characters, Fujino and Kyomoto, while also depicting the events that will occur that will decide their fates with a strong sense of realism. This style of drawing attracted the attention of many manga fans, including famous creators.

As soon as it was released on “Shonen Jump +” on July 19, 2021, it became a hot topic, trending on Twitter. Despite being a one-shot, it is 143 pages long, and its sensitive content, reminiscent of actual incidents, shocked readers and led to it being made into a theatrical animation.

Also, Fujimoto’s former assistants, who have produced many such popular works, include Yuuji Kaku for “Jigokuraku”, which has been made into a TV anime, and Nobu Tatsuyuki for “Dandadan”. It has been revealed that when “Dandadan” began serialization, he and Yuuji Kaku also contributed supporting illustrations.

Who is the director, Kiyotaka Oshiyama?

The anime adaptation of this work will be directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who has been involved as a key staff member in many theatrical works such as “Evangelion: Rebuild of Evangelion”, “The Borrower Arrietty”, and “The Wind Rises.” I am in charge of the design.

The key visual released for the worldwide distribution on Prime Video was also drawn by director Oshiyama. It depicts Kyomoto, lying on the bed in Fujino’s room, astonished as he becomes the first reader to read Fujino’s original manuscript.

Box office revenue/Awards

This work was released on June 28, 2024. Although it started out as a medium-sized movie with only about 120 theaters nationwide, it topped the box office for two consecutive weeks. After that, thanks to word of mouth, the number of theaters showing the movie continued to increase, and it became a blockbuster hit with an attendance of 1.17 million people and box office revenue of over 2 billion yen (as of October 2024). It has exceeded $5 million in box office revenue in more than 20 countries and regions around the world.

It was also officially submitted to the animation section of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival, which was held from October 28th to November 6th. Stage greetings and special screenings were also held during the festival.

It was also submitted in the feature length competition at the 11th New Chitose Airport International Animation Film Festival, which was held from November 1st to November 5th, 2024. A making-of talk was held with the director in attendance during the exhibition.

The feature film competition category received 43 entries from 17 countries and regions, and after a rigorous initial screening by the film festival selection committee, only six films from four countries and regions were selected. “Look Back” won the Special Jury Award.

Voice actor information

The voice actors are Yumi Kawai as Fujino and Mitsuki Yoshida as Kyomoto.

Kawai will appear in the drama “Inappropriateness has a limit!” She gained popularity for her role as Junko in “”, and her acting skills and unique presence are attracting attention.
At the time of the cast announcement, Kawai said, “We tried to add new color to the lives of Fujino and Kyomoto by giving them their breath and voices.” Regarding this work, which is his first challenge as a voice actor, he said, “This is my first opportunity to participate.” It was the world of the anime that I received, but I did my best to convey the earnest voice that goes along with Fujino’s body, which moves wonderfully in the picture,” he said, commenting that he took his role seriously.

Yoshida is also an actor who has shown remarkable success, starring in films such as “Atsui Chemomo” and “Kamuy no Uta.”
Like Kawai, Yoshida, who is making this his first attempt at voice acting, said, “It’s my first time as a voice actor, but I’m putting my heart and soul into my role.” When he saw the video for the first time, he said, “ Wow! That world is alive!” Even though it was an unfinished drawing, I was so moved that I couldn’t help but fall in love with Fujino and Kyomoto even more.” was sent.

Additionally, only two cast members, Yumi Kawai and Mitsuki Yoshida, had been announced for this film, but new voice actors have been revealed since the movie’s theatrical release.
In fact, Maaya Sakamoto and Tomoyuki Morikawa both appear as a couple in the four-panel manga drawn by Fujino at the beginning. The 4-panel comic, which has a surreal feel to it even among the original manga, was also a hot topic after its release, as it was enriched by gorgeous voice actors.

Character list

Fujino: Yumi Kawai
Kyoto: Mitsuki Yoshida
Couple role in 4-panel manga: Maaya Sakamoto, Tomoyuki Morikawa

“Look Back”
Distribution date: Exclusive worldwide distribution on Prime Video from Friday, November 8, 2024
■STAFF
Original work: Tatsuki Fujimoto (published by Shueisha Jump Comics)
Director/Screenplay/Character Design: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Art director: Kiyoshi Sameshima
Assistant Art Director: Yoshishi Harisaki (Saki is “Tatsusaki”), Takashi Omori
Color design: Maya Kusumoto
Director of Photography: Kazuto Demizuta
Edit: Kiyoshi Hirose
Sound director: Eriko Kimura
Music: haruka nakamura
Animation production: Studio Dorian
Distribution: Avex Pictures
■CAST
Fujino: Yumi Kawai
Kyoto: Mitsuki Yoshida
■Theme song
「Light song」
by Haruka Nakamura うた : you sleep
■Original work
“Look Back” (published by Shueisha Jump Comics) Comics on sale now

(C) Tatsuki Fujimoto/Shueisha (C) 2024 “Look Back” Production Committee