Look Back Live-Action Film Adds Kenshi Yonezu, Tōko Miura, and Yōko Kuno in Special Guest Roles

The live-action version of Look Back has added three striking names to its creative lineup, and the mix is hard to ignore. We are talking about Kenshi Yonezu, Tōko Miura, and Yōko Kuno, each stepping into a special guest staff role for the film. It is one of those updates that makes a project feel bigger without needing fireworks. Although, let us be honest, rotoscoping is its own kind of fireworks.

A new layer for Look Back

The film’s official announcement revealed that Kenshi Yonezu will perform guitar for the movie under the credit name Shark Kick Guitar. At the same time, Tōko Miura will provide vocals for an insert song, while Yōko Kuno will direct a rotoscoped animation sequence built around their performance. That animated segment will be produced by Shinei Animation.

It is a curious combination, and that is exactly why it stands out. We have live-action, then music, then rotoscoped animation woven into the same film. Not exactly the quietest way to tell a story about manga artists, but certainly an eye-catching one.

Why these names matter

Kenshi Yonezu returns to Fujimoto’s orbit

Yonezu is no stranger to works linked to Tatsuki Fujimoto. He previously performed theme songs for the Chainsaw Man anime and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. His new credit, Shark Kick Guitar, is not random either. It points to the in-story manga title Shark Kick, which itself appears to echo Fire Punch.

That little detail gives the role some personality. It is not just a guest credit. It is a wink. A neat one, too.

Tōko Miura brings another familiar voice

Miura also arrives with a strong musical background. She previously worked with RADWIMPS on the soundtrack for Weathering With You. Her part here will be centered on vocals for an insert song, which suggests the film is aiming for a scene with a very distinct texture rather than simply background music.

Yōko Kuno handles the rotoscoped sequence

Kuno’s involvement may be the most visually intriguing part of the update. She worked as animation director on The Case of Hana & Alice and directed Ghost Cat Anzu, both projects known for extensive use of rotoscoping. That makes her a natural fit for a sequence that blends performance and animation.

In short:

• Yonezu adds guitar
• Miura adds vocals
• Kuno shapes the animated performance segment
• Shinei Animation handles production for that sequence

That is a compact guest team, but a very specialized one.

The film’s release plans

The live-action Look Back will open in Japan on September 11. Outside Japan, GKIDS plans a theatrical release in 2026 across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland.

The film has also started building a festival path. It screened at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival on May 15, and it is also set to screen at the London Film Festival in October.

A story about creation, friendship, and difficult choices

The story of Look Back follows two girls brought together by manga. Fujino is a talented artist with dreams of becoming a manga creator, while Kymoto starts out as a quiet admirer of her work. They are very different, but their shared passion turns them into a powerful team.

As their work begins to gain recognition, the story pushes them toward decisions that affect both their partnership and their creative future. It is a premise built on art, ambition, and the cracks that can form between people even when they are moving in the same direction.

Simple on paper. Not simple at all once people get involved. As usual, humans complicate everything. Even drawing.

The core staff behind the adaptation

Hirokazu Kore-eda is directing, editing, and writing the screenplay for the film. Yūta Bandō, also known as Taku Matsushiba, is composing the music.

Kore-eda’s presence gives the project a very specific identity. His filmography includes Shoplifters, Our Little Sister, and Air Doll, and that background suggests a measured, character-driven approach to the material.

The long path of Look Back

Tatsuki Fujimoto first published the Look Back one-shot on Shonen Jump+ in July 2021. The response was immediate, with more than 2.5 million views on its first day. The manga later became available digitally in English, and a print edition followed in September 2022.

Then came the anime film adaptation, which opened in Japanese theaters in June 2024. It debuted strongly, ranking at #2 by ticket sales and #1 in weekend earnings during its opening frame. In its first three days, it sold 135,000 tickets and earned 227 million yen, roughly US$1.40 million.

Later, GKIDS screened the anime film in North America in October 2024. Its U.S. opening weekend brought in US$688,253.

Fujimoto’s wider legacy

For many viewers, any new project tied to Fujimoto lands in the shadow of Chainsaw Man. The manga began in Weekly Shonen Jump in December 2018 and concluded its first part, the Kōan arc, in December 2020. Its second part, Gakkō-hen, launched on Shonen Jump+ in July 2022 and ended on March 24, or March 25 in Japan.

That history matters because it shows how much attention anything bearing Fujimoto’s name now attracts. Look Back may be a one-shot, but it no longer moves like a small work.

Between its cast additions, festival momentum, and unusual blend of live-action and animation, this adaptation is shaping up as one of the more distinctive anime-related film projects on the horizon.

Will this musical and rotoscoped approach deepen the story, or do we expect the original manga and anime film to remain unmatched? Tell us what you think.