This Anime will make you depressed,
something that will make you feel empty or might hit home.
It's not every day that I would go out of my way to recommend a 143-page one-shot manga.
It's a manga that speaks a personal story,
and in a quite literal sense,it's a very personal story,
with so many layers about two aspiring
artists, Fujino and Kyomoto,
but also a message about Fujimoto himself.
Yes, Tatsuki Fujimoto,
the author of Chainsaw Man,
his feelings and growth as
an artist from youth to adult.
Because if you combine Fujino
and Kyomoto, you get Fujimoto.
It's called Look Back,
and if you haven't read it yet, give it A quick read.
It's a reference to the song "Don't Look Back in Anger," and the title speaks for itself.
A beautiful, bittersweet, and painstaking story of regrets, insecurities, and the drive to continuously move forward.
It will make you question what really happened and what didn't. If we could take back one thing, just one thing in the past that might have changed the outcome of where we are now, what we are doing, what we could have done, would we do it?
Reading this manga left me with goosebumps
and hit me straight in the guts as we explore two different timelines.
What if Kyomoto never left the house
and never went outside for Fujino?
It's also a story of being able to learn
why we pursue our passions
and our insecurities behind them.
Or in this case, why does
Fujino and Kyomoto draw?
Fujino, who loved the attention she got
for it and to compete with Kyomoto,
and Kyomoto, who would draw out of boredom
and actually looked up to Fujino's works.
These two realized at some point they were
drawing for each other,
for the people that truly enjoy it.
Until the tragic incident
that took Kyomoto's life.
Kyomoto was not just a friend,
but also a part of Fujino to keep drawing.
The initial passion and childlike wonder
to pursue what you like doing simply
because it is what you like doing.
But at some point, that passion can change
from even the simplest
insecurities and fears.
Do others like it?
Do they hate it?
Do others draw better?
Zero job prospects for art degrees.
The fear of pursuing art as a career.
It could be a reflection of Fujimoto's
fear when applying to an art
school when he was younger.
That innocent child like wonder
is gone, just like Kyomoto.
Something we see as Fujino reflects on her
work, breaking down in grief,
a what-if story of wanting to take back
something from the past or an allegory
for losing a part of yourself.
That initial wonder of creating art,
creating manga,
something Something that a lot of us can
feel at times, regardless of what we do,
not just creating manga,
just looking back in our life.
Especially as an adult,
it's so much different just seeing
the world compared to back
when we were younger.
The changes in motivation.
Everything from the paneling and the tone
in this manga just adds
to the impact of the story.
This panel of Fujino just breaking down,
or this one page that just whispers
sadness, or the very last page that
screams the world keeps moving forward.
Tatsuki Fujimotor's ability to constantly
portray raw emotions is really something.
Please give this manga a read.
Even mangas like the author of Oyasami
Punpun, Inio Asano was praising this.
If you are reading Chainsaw Man Part 2,
you'll see that Asa mitaka
and Fujino have so many parallels.
Whether you read this story as the story
of two girls with an amazing friendship or
the story of the development of an artist,
it will definitely make
you feel something.
Yeah, that's about it.
Have a nice read.
Peace.