“Look Back”: Film Director Koreeda’s Live-Action Take on Girlhood Dreams

Oshiyama Kiyotaka adapted Koreeda’s 2026 live-action adaptation of Look Back from a manga by Fujimoto Tatsuki. The manga, first published online in July 2021, gained over 5 million views in less than two weeks and was later published as a physical volume, selling over a million copies in September of the same year. In June 2024, Koreeda directed an anime version of the story, which went on to gross over ¥2 billion at the box office in Japan and was released on streaming services in November.

Producer Koide Daiki approached Koreeda, Koreeda’s former university professor, to bring the story to life. Koreeda, who had first viewed the manga cover depicting the protagonist seated at her desk, was immediately drawn to the story's themes. The film's title, "Look Back," holds significance, as it encourages reflection on personal growth and the pursuit of dreams.

The story follows protagonist Fujino, a fourth-grade girl in rural Japan, who is talented at cartooning. Her school newspaper features her four-panel cartoons, which garner praise from her classmates. However, her teacher asks her to share her cartoon slot with Kyōmoto, a girl who refuses to attend school. As Kyōmoto's art surpasses Fujino's, she rediscovers her passion for drawing after an unexpected encounter with Kyōmoto.

In junior high, Kyōmoto still refuses to go to school, but the pair submits a cartoon to a publisher's contest, securing second prize. In high school, they publish collaborative work in a manga magazine, eventually securing serialization after graduation.

Koreeda studied manga production in-depth to accurately portray the process in the film. Actors spent many hours practicing their drawing skills, and Fujino and Kyōmoto are seen cartooning throughout the movie. The passage of time is condensed, allowing for rapid storytelling within the 58-minute film length. The live-action version adds depth to the relationship between the two main characters, while still condensing their decade-long journey.

Filming took place in Akita Prefecture, Japan, where author Tatsuki Fujimoto was born and raised. The varied seasons in the region provided a suitable backdrop for the story, capturing the changing seasons from winter to fall.