Look Back

Wow, this was such an amazing little movie. First of all, the animation was really nice. I like the realism that was combined with the art style, it made the movie stand out, even when compared to other great animated films I’ve watched. What I love about this movie is that it’s, for lack of better word, chill. It doesn’t need over the top, melodramatic scenes that punctuate every happy moment, it’s quiet and calm, even during more heartbreaking moments, and that makes it so much better. The plot was great, it illustrates how simple life can be while still being a challenge. Some people struggle with social interaction, and Kyomoto is such a good representation of that kind of struggle. And, another part of the plot, how much a friendship can change a person’s life. They simply bond over manga, and that brings them so close, which would’ve never happened if one of them decided art wasn’t for them, that they impact both of their lives for better and for worse. Another great thing is how they represent the guilt, even in such a short moment, of losing a friend. (I’m about to spoil the ending if you’re reading this and haven’t watched it yet) Fujino felt that, because she pushed Kyomoto out of her comfort zone, she was to blame for her death. Blame can manifest from any very small thing, and that was portrayed here. Honestly this movie conveys a lot more emotion than what I expected given its short length, and that’s just so amazing. It’s short, I know you have time to watch it, you can literally watch this on YouTube, I highly recommend seeing this movie at least once.