Look Back (2024): A Visual Masterpiece Honoring Fallen Colleagues

JAP

I watched it on a streaming service and ended up in tears. First and foremost, the animation is simply stunning. Normally, I’m not a big fan of anime-style artwork, but this one really resonated with me. (For example, I couldn’t get into Your Name because of the art style.) A Thai reviewer criticized the animation quality, but what were they even looking at? They’re probably just influenced by Disney animation. In my opinion, this was the best animated artwork I’ve ever seen.

There’s a scene where Fujino, overjoyed by Kyoumoto's praise, rekindles her passion for manga and runs home, jumping in the rain—just like Singin' in the Rain. The sequence where the two of them go out to explore the town together is wonderful, and the moment when Kyoumoto musters up the courage to end things with Fujino to stand on her own really struck me to the core, even at my age, nearly sixty. Honestly, I could’ve easily ended up as a shut-in myself. There are so many memorable visuals in this film that I’d like to rewatch it to describe them here in more detail, but right now, I just can’t bring myself to go through it again. This one definitely lingers, just as I expected.

I think many people would be reminded of the town where they grew up when watching the film’s depiction of a regional city. I’m from Shikoku Island, which is located in southern Japan (while the anime is set in the north) but it brought back memories of the rice fields I used to walk past on my way to and from school. Back in my childhood, rural towns in the Seto Inland Sea area lacked environmental regulations, and in summer, we’d get smog alerts nearly every day. Walking past the fields, I’d be hit by the oppressive smell of grass mixed with pesticides, which would make me feel lightheaded. Watching the idyllic countryside scenes in this anime makes me think rural Japan has come a long way. Things aren’t always 'better in the past,' as old folks say, even when it comes to nature.

Speaking of parallel worlds, the story touches on the “what if” fantasy that anyone who’s lost a loved one unexpectedly has probably dreamed of at least once. If it were Tarantino, he’d have gone all out, brutalizing the 'villains' and taking their scalps. But here, that “what if” scenario is portrayed lightly, in a way that fits a young girl who loves manga. Now I understand why Wikipedia doesn’t mention the influence of the Kyoto Animation incident. It’s likely because the portrayal of the antagonist is so realistic that some might worry it could lead to discrimination against a specific group of people.

Yet, after watching the final scene, it’s clear that this film is both a tribute to the colleagues who lost their lives in the Kyoto Animation tragedy and a message of encouragement to the survivors.

And, of course, it’s also a platonic love story between two girls. The four-panel manga at the beginning hints at that, doesn’t it?

RIP

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