The anime film Look Back, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, has been awarded Best Animation of the Year at the 34th Annual Japan Movie Critics Awards. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on June 9, 2025.
A Story of Passion and Creation
Look Back is based on a one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man. The film portrays the story of two young girls who are united by their shared passion for creating manga.
The Japan Movie Critics Awards, presented by filmmakers to fellow filmmakers, recognized Look Back for its poignant portrayal of two girls united by their shared passion for creating manga.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
Look Back has garnered significant critical acclaim. It currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7 out of 10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 90 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim”.
The film has received numerous awards, including:
- Best Animation of the Year at the Japan Movie Critics Awards
- Grand Prix Award at the Niigata International Animation Film Festival
- Best Animated Picture award at the Hochi Film Awards
- Animation of The Year award at the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival
- Special Award at the Fujimoto Awards
- Best Animated Feature award at the Japan Academy Film Prize
It was also nominated for Film of the Year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Other Winners at the Japan Movie Critics Awards
Alongside Look Back, actors from the live-action adaptations of Let’s Go Karaoke! and Sayuri also received awards. Jun Saito won Best New Actor (Male) for his role in Let’s Go Karaoke!, and Toshie Negishi received the Golden Glory Award (Haruo Mizuno Award) for her role in Sayuri.
Here is a full list of winners of the 34th Japan Movie Critic Awards:
- Best Picture: Living in Two Worlds
- Best Director: Yu Irie for A Girl Named Ann
- Best Actor (Male): Ryo Yoshizawa in Living in Two Worlds
- Best Actor (Female): Yumi Kawai in A Girl Named Ann
- Best Supporting Actor (Male): Go Ayano in Maru, Yusaku Mori in Missing
- Best Supporting Actor (Female): Akiko Oshidari in Living in Two Worlds
- Best Documentary: Big Home
- Best Animation: Look Back
- New Director Award: Yoko Yamanaka for Desert of Namibia
- Best New Actor (Male): Jun Saito in Let’s Go Karaoke!, Chikara Motoyama in 11 Rebels
- Best New Actor (Female): Itsuki Nagasawa in Where Love Goes
- Screenplay Award: Sayaka Kai for adabana
- Matsunaga Bunko Award (Special Award): Toei Tsurugikai
- Golden Glory Award (Haruo Mizuno Award): Toshie Negishi for Sayuri
- Diamond Grand Prize (Nagaharu Yodogawa Prize): Mitsuko Kusabue for 90 Years Old – So What?
Release and Reception
Look Back premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June 2024. It was theatrically released in Japan on June 28, 2024, and grossed 2.04 billion yen (13.73 million USD) during its domestic run.
GKIDS screened the film in North America in October 2024, and it earned US$688,253 at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend. The film was released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on November 7, 2024.
About the Japan Movie Critics Awards
The Japan Movie Critics Awards have been running since 1991. Animated movies did not have their own category until 2012, when Wolf Children was the first to take home the award. The category was initially named Best Animation Feature Film but was changed to Animation of the Year in 2023. The winner last year was The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.
The Kiyotaka Oshiyama-directed film joins the ranks of highly decorated anime films, including Wolf Children, A Silent Voice, Night Is Short, Walk On Girl.
