Explore Artists’ Emotions and Evolution While Creating Look Back
Azabudai Hills Gallery will host a special exhibition featuring the anime film Look Back, tracing the artistic development of the film and exploring how the creative team adapted the original manga into an award-winning theatrical release.
Look Back is a passionate coming-of-age drama film that was released in June 2024. The film follows the confident Ayumu Fujino and the reclusive Kyomoto. Despite their different personalities, a love of drawing manga brings these two small-town girls together as they develop their talents.
Despite its concise 58-minute runtime, the movie earned more than 4.4 billion yen at the box office and received widespread acclaim in Japan and abroad. The film won a variety of awards, including the Best Animation Film award at the 48th Japan Academy Awards and the Best Feature Film award at the 2025 Tokyo Anime Award Festival. Look Back was directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and produced by Studio Durian, the studio also behind the animated series Chainsaw Man and The First Slam Dunk movie, which won last year’s TAAF Best Feature Film award.
Exhibition
Oshiyama explains that the exhibition is not just a record of the finished film, but an attempt to visualize the artistic process and the emotions/thoughts that sprung throughout the production. “Anime and manga are supported by the collective knowledge accumulated through the tireless pursuits of our predecessors,” said Oshiyama on the exhibit’s website.
The exhibition will feature many of Oshiyama and other animators’ original drawings for the first time, along with production notes and concept sketches. Look Back manga author Tatsuki Fujimoto will also display drafts from the original story.
Tickets
Advance tickets can be booked until March 28 on the official exhibition website, Lawson ticket, Animate and Klook for ¥2300 for adults and ¥1500 for junior high school students and under. Same-day tickets will also be available at the exhibition counter until March 29 for ¥2500 for adults and ¥1700 for junior high school students and under.
Exclusively for visitors who book with Lawson (¥4500), a special ticket includes a bag printed with an original illustration. The bag is an exclusive item that cannot be purchased anywhere else.
Collaboration Cafe
The exhibition will also feature a collaboration cafe at Azabudai Hills Gallery Cafe. The limited-edition menu will be inspired by the story and features Look Back artwork.
The menu includes a strawberry crepe, a chocolate banana crepe, Vienna coffee, orange juice, cafe latte and matcha latte.
