Two Young Manga Artists Chase Their Dreams in Trailer for Live-Action LOOK BACK
GKIDS has released the official US trailer for Look Back, the upcoming live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga, and it looks like a wonderful coming-of-age film about friendship, creativity, and two young artists chasing their dreams.
Directed by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Monster), the film follows two girls whose shared passion for drawing manga brings them together, even though they couldn't be more different.
Natsuki Deguchi stars as Fujino, a confident, outgoing student who earns praise for the manga she draws for her elementary school newspaper. Aju Makita plays Kyomoto, a talented but reclusive girl who struggles with severe social anxiety and admires Fujino's work.
Kyomoto dreams of becoming friends with Fujino, but when Fujino discovers just how talented Kyomoto is, admiration turns into jealousy. Eventually, the two connect through their love of manga and form a friendship that continues as they grow older and pursue their artistic ambitions.
The new trailer offers a look at their relationship, with gorgeous cinematography, charming small-town moments, and plenty of heart. Filmed in Nikaho City in northern Japan, the movie looks like it really captures the joy of creating something with someone who shares your passion.
The original Look Back manga debuted on Shonen Jump+ in 2021 and became a major hit in Japan. It was previously adapted into a critically acclaimed 2024 animated film directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, which marked his feature directorial debut.
Kore-eda's take brings the story into the real world, and he's a great filmmaker to tackle this material. His previous work, including Nobody Knows, Still Walking, Our Little Sister, and the Palme d'Or-winning Shoplifters, has shown how well he handles personal stories about family, childhood, and human connection. The director also recently made the sci-fi film Sheep in the Box.
If you're a fan of the original manga or the animated film, this looks like an adaptation worth checking out. Kore-eda seems to have found a beautiful way to bring Fujino and Kyomoto's friendship to life.
Look Back premiered at the 2026 Venice Film Festival and has since screened at the Toronto, London, Busan, and Warsaw film festivals. It opens in Japan in September, with GKIDS bringing the film to US theaters on December 30, 2026.