Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto’s hotly-anticipated one-shot film adaptation, Look Back, is finally coming to the U.S.
Earlier today, GKids announced the anime film will be coming to North American theaters on October 4. Look Back follows a fourth grader named Ayumu Fujino and her shut-in classmate, Kyomoto. Throughout the 142-page short story, the pair become close artistic rivals thanks to their mutual love for creating manga. Look Back’s manga was first released in 2021, shortly after the conclusion of Chainsaw Man part one.
The global sensation LOOK BACK from Kiyotaka Oshiyama opens in North American theatres starting October 4. ✍️✨
Tickets coming soon.https://t.co/IKF8Nv0Thm pic.twitter.com/NcQeFaZ023
— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) August 23, 2024
According to Anime News Network, the film sold over 590,000 tickets and earned 1 billion yen (roughly $6 million USD) at the Japanese box office within the first two weeks of its release. It also became the latest obsession of video game auteur Hideo Kojima, who chronicled his multiple screenings on his official X/Twitter account.
“Look Back” is one of the most remarkable anime of the past decade. I’ve written commentary for it. The original work was amazing, too,” Kojima wrote. “I was shaken to my core! The tenderness, the kindness, the strength! Such rich expressions and sensitivity, surpassing even a live-action film! I was moved by the present and future of entertainment! Anime is truly incredible. I’ve already ordered Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga and can’t wait to “look back” on it.”
3 of my favorite animated films I’ve seen this year so far up to August. pic.twitter.com/yFyKhGqxzm
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 14, 2024
Coincidentally, GKid’s theatrical distribution of Look Back will follow its theatrical release of Netflix and Crunchyroll’s upcoming anime, Dandadan, which will screen its first three episodes on September 13. Likewise, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim animated film will hit theaters in December. All that’s to say, anime fans are eating good in theaters this fall.
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh
