LOOK BACK (Subtle yet Overwhelming)

The Substance, Speak No Evil, Deadpool & Wolverine, Megaopolis, etc … etc. 2024 resulted in some very compelling yet questionable pieces of cinema that had everyone talking all year. Plenty of WTF moments, almost too many to choose from, but once I saw this certain film and its specific moments, I knew I had found my answer to this prompt.

This practically under-the-radar Prime Video gem, adapted from the original one-shot manga by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, brought tears to the eyes of many viewers including myself, but also left those wet eyes wide open.

For me, this hour-long anime movie has three, not one, but three key WTF moments that are all equal, in their own different ways, so instead of choosing one, you’ll get them all.

Number one.

Our protagonists, Ayumu Fujino and Kyomoto are two talented comic artists who both strive to become professionals in the respected craft one day. Fujino, a popular, confident middle-schooler creates pieces for her local newspaper and receives plenty of positive feedback for what she does. Kyomoto, however, may be the complete opposite. Other than her love for manga of course. She’s a truant student, never leaving her room and spends almost every waking minute writing and drawing. Kyomoto looks up to her fellow student, but when Fujino catches a glimpse of Kyomoto’s abilities, she becomes quite envious and becomes hell-bent on proving and improving her own creative abilities. 

Eventually, this one-sided feud ends when the two unpredictably meet and begin a desirable friendship. Their relationship, motivated and connected by mostly manga creation, turns their young lives into something they’ve both always wanted. They would become serialized.

As time goes on, the two obviously becoming older and wanting more, Kyomoto decides she wants to attend art school to further her abilities and develop a proper social structure for her usually introverted life. Fujino, unhappy with her best friend’s decision, continues to develop manga without her, but without the same amount of success. Fujino feels resentment and bitterness towards her former partner, but that certainly changes when an unexpected circumstance arises.

One regular-seeming day, Fujino finds herself watching a breaking news story about an axe-murdering student at the very same art school that Kyomoto attends. The student thought himself cheated and said he would kill any art student that he saw that day. Fujino frantically researches for more information and discovers the worst. Kyomoto was one of the casualties.

Everything the story offered up to this point was gentle and moving, like a warm blanket on a cold night, and since I did not see this coming, I couldn’t help but to respond with WTF. I should have known that something terrible was going to happen, but I suppose I was too busy enjoying the soft touch that this movie was offering. This first moment was definitely the hardest.

Number two.

Still shocked and dealing with the unexpected situation (both us, the audience and Fujino) we now come to the next part of this grueling stage of grief. Deciding which actions to take. Fujino finds herself dwelling and reminiscing about the good-old-days and can’t help but to feel regret when it comes to thinking about their fight and separation.

After quite some time wallowing in a state of nostalgia, Fujino, still and maybe forever heart-broken, finally realizes the best course of action. For her and Kyomoto. An overwhelming sense of duty and progress takes over and she decides to do them both the favour of continuing her creative process. An idea erupts, a sense of right-doing, write-doing. Fujino makes her finest piece yet. A story about a bad-ass karate student who saves art school learners from an axe-wielding psychopath. The panels show this karate kid pulverising the killer and eventually starting a beautiful friendship with one of the girls that she saved. The saved, offers to collaborate on manga creation when she returns from the hospital, which the saver happily agrees to. A wonderful homage to a real-life event and human connection.

To me this was the second WTF moment, but for a different reason. It didn’t necessarily make me think this in the traditional way, instead I thought to myself, Why The F— not? As in, why not use your formerly-shared craft to create the ultimate creation. Establishing a perfect tribute to a sought-after life once lived. It just felt right. Kyomoto wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Number three.

As we reach the end of the film and this review, we find our lonely protagonist, Fujino, back where she belongs. In her cozy apartment working away at her next installment. From here, we see the sun rising to start a new day while showing the back of Fujino amidst her creative process. Then, all of a sudden, the credits roll. 

At this moment, I have my third and final WTF moment. The reason for it is because I took a look at the duration of this anime and realized it was only 58 minutes long! I truly wish it was longer and I feel that it definitely could have been. I was hooked from start to finish and I would have been just as hooked if it lasted another 30 minutes or so. 

Of course, not the craziest moment, but nonetheless, I was like WTF.

There you have it. An innocent yet surprising hour-long anime film leaving me saying WTF in many ways. Job well done; And in case I didn’t say it enough, 

WTF!