[48th Japan Academy Awards] Best Animation Award goes to "Look Back"

[48th Japan Academy Awards] Best Animation Award goes to “Look Back” – Yumi Kawai congratulates director Kiyotaka Oshiyama

The 48th Japan Academy Prize Awards ceremony was held on March 14th at the International Pavilion Pamir of the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, where director Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s “Look Back” won the Best Animation Award.
This film is a theatrical animation adaptation of a one-shot manga of the same name published in “Jump+” in 2021 by Tatsuki Fujimoto, a popular manga artist known for “Chainsaw Man”. It depicts the youth of two girls who continue to create manga wholeheartedly.
Director Oshiyama appeared on stage with animator Toshiyuki Inoue and voice actress Yumi Kawai. “Inoue-san, who is standing here, is a truly excellent animator, and a skilled staff member who has supported the animation industry for decades. Animation is an expression that is supported by the production of movies with skill. I believe that this film was made together with the staff who worked on this film, as well as the many animators and staff members who support the Japanese animation industry,” he said, expressing his gratitude.
As Studio Ghibli’s Nonaka Shinsuke served as the presenter, Director Oshiyama said, “I am honored to receive this award from Studio Ghibli. Seven years ago, I worked as an animation staff member on ‘How Do You Live?’ under Director Miyazaki Hayao. When I left the set, I said goodbye to Miyazaki-san, saying, ‘From now on, I will go and make my own movies,’ so it is a special and deeply moving feeling to be able to receive this award from Studio Ghibli.”
Kawai congratulated the winners, saying, “Ever since I saw the anime before I voiced it, I was captivated by how wonderful it is. I’ve been really excited and waiting for Director Oshiyama’s animation to reach people all over the world, so I’m very happy that this day has come, but at the same time, I feel like I knew it would happen. I’m really proud of ‘Look Back’, and I would like to express my respect to everyone who was involved.”
The winners of the Outstanding Animation Award went to “Ganbatte Ikimasshoi,” “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM,” “Haikyu!! The Movie: Battle at the Garbage Dump,” and “Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Five-Point Star.”