The upcoming live-action film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga Look Back has released a batch of new scene photos, and it has also been officially selected for the Special Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is set to open in Japanese theaters on September 11, 2026.
Look Back originally debuted as a one-shot manga on Shonen Jump+ in 2021, quickly becoming a sensation. It topped the male category of “This Manga Is Amazing! 2022” and was later adapted into an anime film in 2024, which won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animation. This live-action version marks the first time a Fujimoto work has been adapted into a live-action film, and the collaboration with Palme d’Or-winning director Kore-eda (Shoplifters) has drawn significant attention since its announcement.
The story follows Fujino, a confident fourth-grader who draws four-panel manga for the school newspaper and is praised by her classmates. One day, she sees the work of her reclusive classmate Kyomoto and is stunned by her superior drawing skills. Determined to improve, Fujino keeps drawing but eventually gives up, feeling she can never catch up. However, on graduation day, she delivers Kyomoto’s diploma to her home and discovers that Kyomoto is a fan of her manga. The two bond over their shared passion for manga, spending irreplaceable time together creating stories. But a tragic event shakes their world.
The newly released scene photos were taken by photographer Hideaki Hamada, who spent about three months on set capturing the soft atmosphere of the film’s world and the everyday moments of Fujino and Kyomoto. The images include their first meeting, walking on a snowy road holding a copy of Shonen Jump, Fujino’s earnest gaze toward Kyomoto, and Kyomoto looking at the iconic yellow and green sketchbooks from the original manga.
The 51st Toronto International Film Festival, one of North America’s largest film festivals, runs from September 10 to 20. Its Special Presentations section showcases highly anticipated works from around the world, and the selection of Look Back positions it as a contender in the upcoming awards season, often seen as a precursor to the Academy Awards.
The film traces the 13-year journey of the two girls, from elementary school through their shared passion for manga, depicting growth and loss. The cast includes Natsuki Deguchi as Fujino and Aju Makita as Kyomoto, both of whom have appeared in Kore-eda’s previous works. The full cast and staff list is as follows:
Cast
- Natsuki Deguchi
- Aju Makita
- Fuuri Nanase
- Rikka Okada
- Kayo Noro
- Ryo Ikeda
- Miyu Sasaki
- Maho Yamada
- Kankuro Kudo
- Masaki Suda
Staff
- Original Story: Tatsuki Fujimoto (Look Back, published by Shueisha Jump Comics)
- Director, Screenplay, Editor: Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Music: Yuuta Bandou
- Cinematography: Senzo Ueno
- Lighting: Masachio Nishida
- Sound Recording: Kazuhiko Tomita
- Art Direction: Shinsuke Kojima
- Costume Design: Sachiko Ito
- Hair & Makeup Supervision: Katsuhiko Isami
- Assistant Director: Takamasa Nakayama
- Script Supervisor: Yoshiko Taguchi
- Casting: Toshie Tabata, Yoko Yamashita
- VFX Supervisor: Rento Ueda
- Line Producer: Shinichiro Muraoka
- Support: Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
- Planning & Producer: Daiki Kode
- Distribution: K2 Pictures
© Tatsuki Fujimoto / Shueisha
© 2026 K2 Pictures・Shueisha
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