Kore-eda’s ‘Look Back’ Transforms Fujimoto’s Manga into a Live-Action Masterpiece at Venice

Key points

• The film premiered in the competition section of the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
• It is a live-action adaptation of the one-volume manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, previously adapted into a 2024 anime.
• The story follows two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, who bond over their shared love of drawing manga.
• Kore-eda worked closely with child actors, hiring a manga instructor to teach them drawing techniques.
• The film was shot across an entire calendar year to capture natural seasonal changes in the rural setting of Nikaho.
• Critics noted a seamless transition between younger and older versions of the characters through recasting.

Background

Tatsuki Fujimoto’s 'Look Back' is a celebrated one-shot manga that gained significant popularity, leading to a 2024 anime adaptation directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama. Hirokazu Kore-eda, known for his humanist dramas, had previously adapted manga material but not one as commercially successful as this. The project was inspired by Kore-eda’s personal experience during the pandemic, where the manga provided him with motivation to continue filmmaking. The film is produced by K2 Pictures and distributed by GKIDS in the United States.

How outlets are covering it

IndieWire praised the film for its 'hyper-faithful' adaptation and 'dazzling' visual textures, noting that Kore-eda successfully translated the manga’s lush nostalgia into live-action. The Hollywood Reporter described it as a 'delicate charmer' but felt the feature-length expansion was 'padded' compared to the concise 2024 anime. Vulture highlighted the film’s emotional impact, calling it a 'classic Kore-eda' piece that resonates with audiences unfamiliar with the source material. Variety emphasized Kore-eda’s focus on the sounds of drawing, from pen to digital, and his transformation of monologues into dialogues to suit live-action realism. All outlets agreed on the strong performances of the child actors and the seamless recasting for older roles.

Why it matters

The film demonstrates Kore-eda’s ability to adapt popular commercial manga into a nuanced, humanist drama, bridging the gap between animation and live-action. It highlights the challenges and successes of translating a visually rich medium into a realistic one, offering a new perspective on the original story. The film’s success at Venice suggests a strong candidate for international awards and broad audience appeal, particularly given the global popularity of Fujimoto’s work.

What to watch

GKIDS will release 'Look Back' in U.S. theaters later in 2026. The film’s performance at Venice may influence its awards prospects, including potential Oscar consideration. Further reviews and audience reactions will determine its commercial success and cultural impact.