Animator Toshiyuki Inoue recently shared insights into the unique production process and director Kiyotaka Oshiyama's dedication behind Look back anime film during a stage greeting held on July 5, 2024.

Inoue explained that Look backThe animation process was not done in the typical way, where sketches made by lead animators are finished by intermediate animators.

“Key animation involves drawing the main points of movement, and in-between animation fills in the gaps. Typically, the lines drawn by key animators are roughened and cleaned up by in-between animators. Typically, the key animator's lines do not appear on screen as is.”, Inoue said.

However, Look back preserved these rough sketches by coloring them directly and reflecting them onto the screen. This approach maintained the hand-drawn feel, contributing to the film's distinct visual experience.

Highlighting director Oshiyama's dedication, Inoue noted that in the last week of May, Oshiyama drew 1,000 frames.

He noted that the film was considered a relatively easy project, as it was based on a manga and would not require many movements.

However, as production progressed, Oshiyama became increasingly involved in the animation, and the film's style began to evolve.

Inoue had nothing but praise for Oshiyama's passion for animation. He said that Oshiyama is a maniac who is always looking for ways to push the boundaries of animation, stating that this passion is evident in every frame of Look back.

Inoue shared an example of the director's commitment, recalling an episode where he decided to increase the number of houses around Fujino's house, demonstrating his dedication to improving the animation.

He also praised a scene in which Fujino jumps in the rain, done by Oshiyama, which he said was an excellent example of animation that adds value beyond the original manga.

Reflecting on the project's development, Inoue expressed pride in what the small team had accomplished in about a year, considering it a remarkable achievement in anime history.

Of the film's 700 cuts, Inoue was responsible for about 25%, including the pivotal scene where Fujino and Kyomoto meet for the first time.

Inoue is known for his works in Tokyo Godparents, Actress of the Millennium, Paprika, Akira, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Bloomsamong others. He also served as a key animator on The Boy and the Heron.

He is known as the 'Perfect Animator', a title given to him by Mamoru Oshii. He is known for influencing the 'realistic' style of animation in the 1980s and 1990s, along with animators such as Hiroyuki Okiura, Shinji Hashimoto, and Mitsuo Iso.

Look back The anime film was released in Japanese theaters on June 28, 2024, and grossed over 227 million yen in its first three days.

Studio Duran is in charge of producing the anime film, while Kiyotaka Oshiyama will direct, handle the script and also the character designs. Look back.

The director had previously suggested that he intends to create the Look Back film differently from the manga.

Look back is a Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto. It was published in Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ in July 2021.

Source: Natalie in comics