Double-dipping: When one manga adaptation just isn’t enough

Natsuki Deguchi (left) and Aju Makita star in Hirokazu Koreeda’s live-action adaptation of “Look Back,” based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga of the same name. Koreeda’s version explores friendship, creativity, ambition and loss while bringing Fujimoto’s story and characters into the world of live action. | © Tatsuki Fujimoto / Shueisha © 2026 K2 Pictures / Shueisha

Sep 11, 2026

When it was announced last year that the acclaimed manga “Look Back” by Tatsuki Fujimoto would be getting a live-action adaptation, I was both excited and confused. Excited because the film was being helmed by Hirokazu Koreeda, one of Japan’s best directors, and confused because an anime adaptation had already been released in 2024.

“Look Back,” which hits theaters Sept. 11, is far from the first double-dip in the long history of Japanese visual media. Popular manga titles have often been adapted into both live-action and anime films over the decades. While this can sometimes feel like a money grab, these releases also give audiences the chance to experience multiple takes on the same material.

A semiautobiographical manga by Fujimoto (“Chainsaw Man”), “Look Back” is a coming-of-age tale about two girls who team up to become professional manga artists. The anime film, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, was both a financial and critical success, earning more than ¥2 billion (around $13 million) and bagging a number of awards, including best animated feature at the Japan Academy Awards.

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