Kore-eda's 'Look Back' Debuts at Venice, Adapting Fujimoto's Manga into a Live-Action Drama

Key points

• The film premiered at the 2026 Venice Film Festival and is one of 21 titles competing for the Golden Lion award.
• It is the first live-action adaptation of a work by manga creator Tatsuki Fujimoto, who is also known for 'Chainsaw Man.'
• The story centers on two fourth-grade girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, who become rivals and then collaborators in creating yonkoma manga.
• Kore-eda stated he discovered the manga during the COVID-19 pandemic and was inspired to adapt it as a way to express gratitude to the author.
• The film features a dual-cast structure, with Natsuki Deguchi and Aju Makita playing the older versions of the protagonists, while Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada play the younger versions.
• The film is distributed internationally by GKIDS and in Japan by K2 Pictures, with a runtime of 100 minutes.

Background

This release follows the 2024 animated adaptation of 'Look Back' by Kiyotaka Oshiyama. Kore-eda, known for films like 'Shoplifters' and 'Monster,' has a history of adapting manga and exploring themes of human connection. The film was previously noted in September 2026 coverage for its patient pacing and lush cinematography by Senzo Ueno, which expanded the source material's timeline to explore the long-term impact of the characters' artistic partnership.

How outlets are covering it

DiscussingFilm praises the film as a 'strikingly emotional achievement' that effectively uses Kore-eda's signature tenderness to elevate the mundane aspects of childhood into a sweeping narrative, though it criticizes the script for underdeveloping the character of Kyomoto. BusinessWorld highlights the cultural significance of the adaptation, noting Kore-eda's comments that manga is now read like 'classical literature' and that the film captures the evolution of the creative process through the changing sounds of the pen. While DiscussingFilm focuses on the emotional resonance and performance continuity, BusinessWorld emphasizes the industry context and the actors' rigorous training in manga drawing before filming.

Why it matters

The film represents a significant crossover between the manga industry and live-action cinema, marking the first live-action adaptation of a work by one of Japan's most popular manga creators. Its presence at the Venice Film Festival signals the global recognition of manga as a serious literary and artistic form, moving beyond traditional animation adaptations. The film's success could influence how other high-profile manga works are adapted into live-action formats, potentially expanding the market for such projects.

What to watch

The Golden Lion award will be presented on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The film is scheduled for theatrical release later in 2026, with GKIDS handling international distribution and K2 Pictures managing the Japanese release. No specific release dates have been announced yet.