“Exception!” : This moving film is available this weekend as a must-see at the cinema!

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Fujino, a talented teenager, has absolute confidence in his talent as an aspiring mangaka. Kyomoto hides in his room and tirelessly practices the same art. Two young girls from the same provincial town, brought together by a burning passion for painting and united by an unshakable bond…

A great project by a great talent

Only about 134 pages long, this one-shot look back at the works of Tatsuko Fujimoto, a young mangaka twenty-eight years old when she published this story on the Japanese platform Shônen+ in 2021. Based on the global success of Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man. From the same author, this new project immediately intrigued enthusiasts and recorded more than 4 million questions in two days.

Topping multiple trade magazine polls, and following the acclaimed adaptation of Chainsaw Man, Look Back attracted the attention of professionals and animation studios. In February 2024, a mid-length film was announced in production with big names in the credits.

The production was largely entrusted to Kiyotaka Oshiyama, regular Ghibli animator (Arietty, The Wind Rises, The Boy and the Heron) and co-founder of Durian Studios, which is responsible for the adaptation. The music, on the other hand, is directed by Haruka Nakamura, who already worked on the recent and very popular reboot TRIGUN STEMPEDE. The project is released in a 57-minute format, presented out of competition in the “Annecy Presents” category during the 2024 International Animated Film Festival.

A fascinating and inspiring story

Far from the bloodshed of Chainsaw Man or the violent burning of Fire Punch, Look Back takes us into the quiet everyday lives of two children who are diametrically opposed to each other. However, their shared passion for drawing and manga brings them together in many ways, while heartbreaking.

With this one-shot, Tatsuki Fujimoto returns to his roots as a mangaka without turning it into an autobiographical work. Indeed, this strange relationship between two young girls, budding artists, allows him to raise several themes typical of artists: pride as a brake on progress, rivalry as a creative engine and friendship as a step towards maturity.

An ode to art and young people who dream of segregating their passion, Back is a bitter, melancholic story with a tragic ending that should not be presented to young audiences. Tissues must be provided for your session.

The film will be available in theaters on VOSTFR only on September 21 and 22, 2024.