GKIDS announced today it has acquired theatrical and home video rights for North America to the Japanese critical and box office sensation Look Back. Directed and adapted for the screen by Kiyotaka Oshiyama in his feature directorial debut, the film is based on the critically acclaimed original manga by best-selling author Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man).
GKIDS will release Look Back in in theaters nationwide starting October 4 in its original Japanese language.
Look Back debuted at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival to multiple packed house screenings and rave reviews. It additionally held sold-out premieres at New York City’s Japan Cuts and Los Angeles’ Anime Expo. In Japan Look Back opened on 119 screens and quickly climbing to over 1 billion yen at the box office in the first two weeks. Due to popular demand, the film remains in theaters and has since expanded its Japanese domestic run.
Fujimoto’s original manga boasted 2.5 million reads on its first date of digital publication, and climbed to over 4 million in two days. The manga went on to receive numerous awards and nominations, including a nomination at the 2023 Eisner Awards.
Synopsis: Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing.
Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. The heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams.
Look Back is the first feature production from Studio Durian, which was founded by director Oshiyama. Prior to Look Back, Oshiyama has held key roles in several acclaimed works, including key animator on Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, character designer for the anime adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man and director of Flip Flappers, his series directorial debut.
The deal was negotiated between GKIDS and Avex Pictures.
