Live-Action Look Back Shares New Clip of Kyōmoto and Fujino Making Manga
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s adaptation opens in Japan on September 11, with GKIDS planning theatrical releases in four countries in 2026.
The live-action Look Back film released a clip showing Kyōmoto and Fujino creating manga together. Aju Makita and Natsuki Deguchi play the two aspiring artists.
The official website for the live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga Look Back released a new clip on Friday. It shows Kyōmoto and Fujino working together on a manga.
The film opens in Japan on September 11. GKIDS will bring it to theaters in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland in 2026.
The 79th Cannes International Film Festival showcased the film on May 15. The London Film Festival will screen it in October.
Aju Makita, whose credits include Child of Kamiari Month and Happiness, plays Kyōmoto. Natsuki Deguchi, known for I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t/ and Blue Spring Ride, plays Fujino.
Hirokazu Kore-eda directs, edits, and writes the screenplay. His previous films include:
- Shoplifters
- Our Little Sister
- Air Doll
Yūta Bandō, also known as Taku Matsushiba, composes the music. His credits include BELLE and Kaiju No. 8.
Additional staff members are:
- Photography: Senzo Ueno
- Lighting: Masachio Nishida
- Sound: Kazuhiko Tomita
- Art direction: Shinsuke Kojima
- Costume design: Sachiko Ito
- Hair and makeup supervision: Katsuhiko Yūmi
- Assistant director: Kensei Nakayama
- Scripter: Ryōko Taguchi
- Casting: Toshie Tabata, Yōko Yamashita
- VFX supervisor: Rinto Ueda
- Line producer: Shinichi Muraoka
Three special guest staff members also contribute:
- Musician Kenshi Yonezu plays guitar under the credit “Shark Kick Guitar.”
- Actress and singer Tōko Miura provides vocals for an insert song.
- Animator and director Yōko Kuno directs a rotoscoped animation sequence based on their performance, with animation produced by Shinei Animation.
Cannes describes the film as a tender coming-of-age story spanning more than a decade. Two girls connect through their love of manga and their shared ambition to become manga artists.
Fujino, a talented artist pursuing that dream, meets Kyōmoto, a shy fan of her work. Despite their apparent differences, their shared passion makes them an ideal team.
As their manga attracts praise and attention, decisions arise that could jeopardize their collaboration. Cannes characterizes Kore-eda’s film as a beautiful tribute to friendship and creativity that offers perceptive insight into the craft.
Fujimoto released the original one-shot on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ in July 2021. It drew more than 2.5 million views on its first day.
Viz Media and MANGA Plus released the manga digitally in English. Viz Media’s print edition followed in September 2022.
The Look Back anime film opened in Japanese theaters in June 2024. During its opening weekend, it placed second in ticket sales and first in earnings.
Across its first three days, the anime sold 135,000 tickets and earned 227 million yen, approximately US$1.40 million.
GKIDS screened the anime in North America in October 2024. Its opening weekend at the U.S. box office brought in US$688,253.
Fujimoto, also the creator of Fire Punch, launched Chainsaw Man in Weekly Shonen Jump in December 2018. Its first part, the “Kōan” (Public Safety) arc, concluded in December 2020.
The second part, “Gakkō-hen” (School Arc), began on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ service in July 2022. It ended on March 24, or March 25 in Japan.
Sources: Look Back live-action film's website via ANN
